Photos appearing on Macbook and iPhone

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Level 1

4 points

Photos appearing on Macbook and iPhone

I recently wanted to free up space on my iPhone 13, so clicked on an option to do so that was related to the photos app. I can’t remember what the option was now, but after I selected it, photos that I take on my phone appear on laptop, and photos that I upload on to my laptop appear on my phone. I prefer the old way where the photos did not cross over, so I am just wondering how to fix this issue. (I cannot find any option on my phone storage to fix it.)

iPhone 13, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 10, 2024 2:55 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 11, 2024 8:23 AM in response to OliviaW12

You probably clicked "Optimize Storage." This works by storing full sized files at iCloud.com, and keeping smaller screen-sized images on your phone. Then, if you want to edit or zoom in, the full sized pictures are temporarily loaded from iCloud.

If your laptop also has iCloud turned on in Photos, then both devices will be looking at the same pictures that are stored at iCloud.com, so the Photos Libraries will be synchronized. iCloud Photos is a synchronization service.

If you're using a Mac ( I don't know how it works on Windows, etc,) you can turn off iCloud in Photos' Settings>iCloud, like here:

As you can see, I have iCloud Photos turned on, and I don't use "Optimize" on my 2TB Mac.

Does this work for you?

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Answer 2

Nov 12, 2024 6:38 AM in response to OliviaW12

Yeah, I was suggesting turning off iCloud on the Mac. Are you, in fact, using a Mac? What OS?

If you're using a Mac, then the iCloud setting for Photos is in Photos' own settings rather than in System Settings. So, in Photos, you click on the little apple in the upper left, open Settings, and pick iCloud. The picture I showed was the iCloud Settings dialog.

When you turn off iCloud in Photos, the computer's Photos will be disconnected from your iPhone's Photos and from iCloud.com.

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