New Phone, Not syncing pictures - will it still go into iCloud?

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Level 1

4 points

New Phone, Not syncing pictures - will it still go into iCloud?

Hi everyone!

i got a new iPhone 16 and would like to set it up. Is there a way to get everything i had from my old phone BUT the pictures?

like keep the pics on iCloud but not in my library? I saw them say i should turn off „sync this iPhone“ so I’m not sure.

And if so - will it still upload my new pictures/videos to iCloud If i stop syncing?

also open for other suggestions.

thank you!

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Aug 27, 2025 09:12 AM

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Answer 1

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

53,114 points

Aug 27, 2025 09:24 AM in response to xminasax

Basically no. If you do not have iCloud syncing turned on, new pictures will NOT go to iCloud. If you want to sync photos, then anything in iCloud will be on your device, that is the purpose of using iCloud. It is a syncing service to make those photos available on all devices, it is not an external storage solution where you can park photos in iCloud and only download the ones you want.

Also, if you have iCloud Photo syncing turned off on all devices, meaning you are not using iCloud Photos at all, for more than 30 days, the photos you had in iCloud will be removed.

Your choices are:

Turn off iCloud syncing and manage all photos independently on your devices. You can transfer a photo from one device to another using AirDrop.
Turn on iCloud syncing to make all photos available on every device that is using iCloud Photos.

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