iCloud Photos trouble - Error downloading photos - persistent trying to view/edit most pics using MacOS Photos App

Question

Level 1

19 points

iCloud Photos trouble - Error downloading photos - persistent trying to view/edit most pics using MacOS Photos App

Is it me? Or is it Apple??

For some time (like, I'm talking years), accessing photos stored in iCloud via the Photos app has proven to be tricky (at best) to outright impossible. The only roundabout method I have not had any problems with is using iCloud for browsers and selecting my pics on the online version of Photos and then downloading the compressed (if a batch) or original versions and subsequently loading them back into the Mac Photos app to be able to edit or make available for cross-app purposes or Album sharing.

It's not a 'lack of storage' on the MacBook Air (or whatever Mac I should be using at the time)
It's not an OS version specific issue as it has occurred over several versions
I have approx. 50,000 main library photos or images of one multiple, permitted/readable file types or other
It is more common with older photos in the library
It is not a file size problem as it happens to files as small as 50KB all the way up to 100MB+ in size
It can occur across variety of devices especially Mac (all of them), and including iOS, iPadOS
I doubt it is a network connectivity problem as it happens using home fibre right through to personal hotspot (5G) connections
I have a 2TB iCloud+ Storage Plan (as a part of Apple One subscription) that is only around 50% full

Between this issue with the Photos Library and the really irresponsible way that my uploaded Music Library has been VERY poorly managed since (and even before) the demise of iTunes, not to mention the mess that my Desktop and Documents home folders have become over the years, I honestly cannot give iCloud a passing grade. This is so Frustrating as I am cemented into the Apple ecosystem (device familiarity, skill-wise, socially and in turn with storage access) and really find pleasure in getting the most from their devices and especially when compared to comparative chore of using alternate systems. However, with cloud access and ever-enlarging file storage becoming such an ESSENTIAL factor for ease of work and social purposes, I will soon feel compelled to undergo a complete migration of all my digital history to a more dependable service/system.

Or am I just not doing something totally fundamental to working with iCloud??

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.2

Posted on Jul 4, 2025 9:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 5, 2025 8:03 AM in response to billyjack76

As with Yer_Man, I just can't figure out what "it" is that you keep referring to. I, and most people don't have trouble with iCloud Photos. You've spent a lot of space telling us how you feel, but you have unfortunately left out more useful information.

Are you using "Optimize Storage" with Photos?
Is your Photos Library in your user's Pictures folder on the Mac's internal drive?
Have you re-started your Mac in Safe Mode?
Have you tried creating a different User on your Mac to see if that works?
Do you have "Copy Items" checked in Photos' Settings>General?
" not a 'lack of storage' " doesn't tell us much. What percentage of your Mac's storage is free?

Maybe we can help. But keep in mind that we're more likely to try to help if you are polite, keep the emotions corralled, and remember that the people here are not causing your problems.

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,576 points

Jul 5, 2025 2:05 AM in response to billyjack76

If you want help you'll need to explain this:

accessing photos stored in iCloud via the Photos app has proven to be tricky (at best) to outright impossible.

How are you trying? How is it set up? Where is the library stored? Where does it fail? Hs it ever worked? The best way to get help is to focus on the issue in as much detail s possible.

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