Why are most of my iCloud photos missing, even though my iPhone still shows low-res versions?

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Level 1

4 points

Why are most of my iCloud photos missing, even though my iPhone still shows low-res versions?

I had approx 10,000 photos in icloud and had my Iphone 11 pro set to download the low res images of my photos to save space for many years. About 4 months ago while browsing some older photos I noticed a little exclamation mark on most of my older photos. These photos and videos can no longer be downloaded and are not even showing in icloud, even though the low res images are still on my phone.

My phone system still says I have around 10,000 photos stored on the phone, but icloud only shows about 1800.

I have lost over a decade of photos! Kids growing up and every major event in our lives!

What has happened? Anyone else have this issue?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 11 Pro

Posted on Jun 1, 2025 02:29 AM

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Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,823 points

Jun 2, 2025 01:47 AM in response to Krusty_71

Do you have other devices connected to iCloud Photos?

Did you at some point copy your photos onto an external drive or computer?

Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

Did you check directly in iCloud of missing photos?

If you're missing photos or videos in the Photos app - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,823 points

Jun 2, 2025 02:05 AM in response to Krusty_71

Did you also send Feedback to Apple directly?

Product Feedback - Apple

Until Apple fixes the issue in an upcoming update, you should backup your Photos data in iCloud regularly, as described in the related article above, just to be sure.

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Answer 3

Krusty_71 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 2, 2025 01:57 AM in response to Ingo2711

Wife and kids are linked to icloud photos and no one has moved anything onto an external drive. Nothing touched, there one day gone the next. Come to think of it I am pretty sure I noticed it after an IOS update.

FYI, I have been through apple support multiple times and they have done everything they can and have advised me that this is a known issue that apple are working on and that it should be fixed in an upcoming update. Well there has been at least 3 updates and nothing changes.

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Why are most of my iCloud photos missing, even though my iPhone still shows low-res versions?

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