How do I manage iCloud storage for photos on my iPhone and desktop computer?

Question

How do I manage iCloud storage for photos on my iPhone and desktop computer?

This is not solely to do with iPhone, and I am embarrassed to post this question: feels like I am getting more stupid in my old age. I am confused about the use of iCloud storage, particularly for photos.Apple seem to assume that we all have constant access to the internet, nd can afford subscriptions for large amounts of on-line storage. Neither is true in my case. I am OK with photos that I take with my iPhone being stored, temporarily, on iC;oud. I do not want them stored on my iPhone, ;png term. There isn't enough storage space for that. Furthermore, I do not wishn to browse my photo collection through the phone - I am visually impaired, and looking at imges on such a small screen is unsatisfactory. Instead I want to keep my photo library (ies) on my desktop computer. It has a capacious external SSD suitable for such purpose, and much larger than the iC;pud sstorage I am prepared to pay for.How do I set things up so that I don't keep enormous numbers of images on my phone, and don't run out of iCloud storage? I am happy to have iC;oud as a means to coordinate data from apps like messages, contacts, Pages between my various devices, but I don't need it for data-heavy apps like Photos, at least not beyond its use as a transfer medium.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Use of iCloud storage

iPhone XR, iOS 18

Posted on Dec 17, 2025 10:59 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

427,181 points

Dec 18, 2025 3:13 AM in response to grahamfromforres

I don't know if this is the best solution but I have turned off iCloud photo syncing with my computer. Every now and then when my iCloud storage is getting full (I only use the 5 free GB) I will sign into iCloud using a web browser and download the photos there to my computer. I then make sure they are also backed up on another drive. Finally I delete them from iCloud, usually while I am signed into iCloud with the browser.

Read this support article Change which apps sync and store data with iCloud - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Dec 18, 2025 5:37 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks for that. I suppose then that you still enableSync with iCloud on th phone? As long as I disable sync on the computer, am I sfe deleting images from iCloud?

Actually, I have the cheapest paid option: 1€ per month for 50GB. A while back I was doing a long distance hike for 5 or 6 weeks, and I ran out of the free iCloud storage. So I bought a but more, and have nevr cancelled that subscription: 12€ a year I can afford!

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Answer 3

Dec 18, 2025 7:47 AM in response to grahamfromforres

Since you're paying $1/ month, you can do what Limnos suggested, but without the (to me) awkwardness of using a browser with iCloud. The trick is to have two Photos Libraries on your computer--one large one, the Archive, for all your pictures, and the smaller one, the System Library, to synchronize with your phone. Again, when iCloud gets near your limit, you just use Photos>Import to load the pictures into the Archive Library, and delete them from the System Library. Any editing, captions, locations, etc, will be transferred lickety-split. This will work for a 5GB free iCloud storage-- you just have to do it more often.

There's really not much to do to set this up. This article is about setting up a new System Library on an external drive:

Make a New System Library connected to iCloud… - Apple Community

Let us know if you need help with working out either sort of system…

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Answer 4

Limnos

Level 10

427,181 points

Dec 18, 2025 10:09 AM in response to grahamfromforres

By disabling iCloud syncing for photos on my computer then nothing I do on my iPhone with photos affects anything on my computer. When I copy them from iCloud online I am just downloading them. They are still in iCloud until I then delete them.

Worth remembering: iCloud is a syncing service. It is not a backup service. You can use it as a temporary backup but don't rely upon it as an archival service or even as a long-term backup.

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Answer 5

Dec 18, 2025 10:11 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

That sounds much easier, thank you. I already hve more than one photos library, but I hadn't thought of the trick of using a transfer library as the system library. Good way to overcome the lack of a simple import from iCloud.

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Answer 6

Dec 18, 2025 10:42 AM in response to grahamfromforres

I'm glad that made sense! Since you're using multiple Libraries, you should investigate the trusted 3rd party app PowerPhotos ($40.) This makes using multiple Libraries way easier-- just drag and drop folders, albums, or pictures from one Library to another, maintaining the organization structure. It also offeres list views of Libraries, a versatile duplicate finder, batch editing of metadata, and you can search through all Libraries. PowerPhotos is always open on my Mac when I'm using Photos. There is a free trial version to let you see what it does, and some of the functions in the free version are not limited.

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