How can I move photos back from Shared Photo Library to Personal Library?

Question

Level 1

7 points

How can I move photos back from Shared Photo Library to Personal Library?

I created the Shared Library this morning, choosing "Move everything to Shared Library" thinking I could go through and remove the few thousand I don't want to share, which would be easier than moving over the 40,000 I do.

But now I have created it I can't see any way to move photos back to Personal Library.

I have read online that supposedly you can select the photos in the iOS app, then click on the three dots in the circle icon, then choose "Move back to Personal Library". However that option doesn't ever appear on my device.

I have also noticed that in macOS Photos on Ventura, when you right click on a photo, there is an option "Move 1 Photo to your Personal Library", but that option is always greyed out for me.

I don't want to invite anyone to the Shared Library until I've removed those I don't want to share.

If this isn't possible, I'd like to completely undo the creation of the Shared Library, and start again. Is that possible?

Posted on Oct 25, 2022 7:30 AM

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Answer 1

danlucraft Author

Level 1

7 points

Oct 26, 2022 12:04 AM in response to Axel Foley

Thanks Axel

I checked the Photos Settings as you suggested, and there is no option to Delete Shared Library, only to Leave it.

Can you think of any reason why I wouldn't be able to see a Delete option?

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Answer 2

Axel Foley

Level 10

150,912 points

Oct 25, 2022 7:51 AM in response to danlucraft

On your iPhone, you should be able to select those photos and tap on the 3 dots (bottom right) and then choose Move to Personal Library. However, you have indicated that that option is not available on your iPhone.

Yes, you can Delete the Shared Library and keep those photos as well. Open Settings ➡️ Photos ➡️ Shard Library ➡️ Delete Shared Library

Axel F.

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Answer 3

Oct 26, 2022 1:50 AM in response to Axel Foley

I can't see any option to move the phone back from the Shared Library to the Personal Library on my iPhone, iPad, or Mac. I know that a user of the Shared Library who didn't originally upload the photo can't move a photo back to its own Personal Library. In my case I haven't shared my Library yet with anyone else, all the photos are mine, but I still can't get move some Shared Library photos back to my Personal Library. Feels like it's not supposed to work this way.

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How can I move photos back from Shared Photo Library to Personal Library?

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