Helping a friend free up some iCloud storage. How do I just upload all the photos on a phone to a Mac and then delete them from iCloud without deleting them from the Mac? Basically just separating photos from iCloud. They don’t need them remotely and only want them on the computer.

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Posted by ellunchboxo

Gtown

Member since Feb 2009

19107 posts

Posted on 4/12/20 at 3:33 pm to jlovel7

Air Drop them into a folder.

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Posted by scottfruget

Member since Nov 2010

3392 posts

Posted on 4/12/20 at 4:16 pm to ellunchboxo

Plug phone in Mac usb. Go to import tool from camera/scanner (can’t think of name but comes standard on a Mac) import photos to Mac folder. Delete from phone

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Posted by dallastigers

Member since Dec 2003

7912 posts

Posted on 4/13/20 at 5:36 pm to jlovel7

You can turn off the iCloud part in Photos app on a Mac. Just make sure to download full size versions from iCloud first.

You can then sync or transfer photos using a few different methods.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201302#importmac

quote:
You can use the Photos app to import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac without using iCloud Photos. These steps also work for importing images from digital cameras and SD cards.

Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes on your Mac. Importing photos to your Mac requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later.

Connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or digital camera to your Mac with a USB cable.

If you're using an SD card, insert it into the SD slot on your Mac, or connect it using a card reader.

You might need to unlock your iOS device using your passcode. You might also see a prompt on the iOS device asking you to Trust This Computer. Tap Trust to continue.

On your Mac, the Photos app automatically opens. If it doesn't, open the Photos app. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device.

If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the Import tab at the top of the Photos app, or click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

To import a selection of photos, click the ones you want, then click Import Selected.

To import all new photos, click Import All New Photos. the Import screen in iTunes

You can now disconnect your device from your Mac. If you imported photos from an SD card or other USB device, safely eject the device first.

In macOS High Sierra or later, imported photos appear in the Photos app's Import album.

If you're using an earlier version of macOS, you'll find them in your Last Import album.

Photos and videos that you sync from your computer to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using iTunes can't be imported back to your computer.

AirDrop can be used for wireless back and forth of some after.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203106

Depending on when Apple ID set up they might still be able to use Photo Stream to access Photos (not videos) between devices for past 30 days

quote:
With My Photo Stream, you can access recent photos that you took with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or that you uploaded from your Mac or PC.

Cloud Photos
Uses your iCloud storage.
As long as you have enough space in iCloud, you can store as many photos and videos as you like.
Stored in the original format at full-resolution.
You can turn on Optimize Storage and save space on your device.
Edits are stored in iCloud and stay up to date on your Apple devices.

My Photo Stream
Doesn't count against your iCloud storage.
Uploads your last 30 days and up to 1000 photos.
Downloads to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in a smaller resolution.
On your Mac or PC, your photos download in full-resolution.
Edits you make won't update across your devices.

If you recently created your Apple ID, My Photo Stream might not be available. If My Photo Stream isn't available, use iCloud Photos to keep your photos and videos in iCloud.