iCloud offers users several ways to back up their photos, both new and old. With iCloud Photo Library, photos can be accessed from all devices connected to a user’s iCloud account. iCloud will store a user’s entire photo library, including older photos, as long as there is sufficient storage available.
However, iCloud does not automatically backup all photos indefinitely without user input. There are some factors that determine how long iCloud retains photos and whether old photos need to be manually backed up.
How iCloud Photo Library works
The iCloud Photo Library syncs photos across devices connected to an iCloud account. When enabled, it automatically uploads new photos taken to the cloud. Here is a quick overview of how iCloud Photo Library works:
- Photos are uploaded from devices to iCloud.
- Uploaded photos are then synced down to all other signed-in devices.
- Any edits made on one device will be reflected on all other devices.
- Photos are stored in their original resolution with storage optimization.
This system allows all photos in the library to be accessible from any device, whether new photos just taken or older photos from years past.
As long as the iCloud Photo Library is enabled and there is sufficient storage, users do not have to manually back up photos. iCloud will automatically store any photos added to the library.
iCloud storage limits
One factor that affects iCloud’s ability to retain older photos is the storage limit on a user’s account. Here are the storage options available on iCloud:
- 5GB: Free storage provided to all users.
- 50GB: $0.99/month.
- 200GB: $2.99/month.
- 2TB: $9.99/month.
The free 5GB of space can quickly fill up with photos and other data. Once the storage limit is reached, iCloud will stop automatically backing up photos until more space is freed up.
Older photos are more likely to be deleted by iCloud to make room for new ones if you are using a free account with limited storage space. Purchasing additional storage expands the available space for storing photos.
Optimize iPhone Storage setting
Another factor is whether Optimize iPhone Storage is enabled for iCloud Photo Library. This setting automatically manages storage space on an iPhone by uploading full resolution photos to iCloud while retaining smaller versions on the device.
When enabled, the full originals may be deleted from the device to save local storage. But the photos remain safely stored in iCloud at their original resolution as long as there is sufficient cloud storage.
If Optimize iPhone Storage is disabled, then all original photos will be stored locally even if there is not enough device storage. So disabling this feature increases the likelihood of old photos being deleted from the cloud first.
iPhone backups
It’s important to note that simply having iCloud Photo Library enabled does not automatically back up an entire iPhone. Separate iPhone backups need to be completed to ensure older photos not stored in the photo library are backed up.
An iCloud iPhone backup includes photos, messages, contacts, and other data. These backups occur automatically once per day when the iPhone is connected to power, Wi-Fi, and have sufficient iCloud storage. Older device backups are automatically deleted by iCloud after a period of time.
So photos not in the photo library may not persist over time in iCloud backups. It is recommended to occasionally create manual backups of iCloud data and photos to a computer or external drive.
Manually downloading photos from iCloud
While iCloud aims to seamlessly sync photos across devices, it can be useful to manually download a backup of photos, especially older ones, for redundancy. Here are some ways to download photos from iCloud:
- On a Mac, use the Photos app to import photos from iCloud Photo Library to the local library.
- On Windows, use the iCloud Photos app to select and download photos and videos.
- Sign into icloud.com to view Photo Library and manually download photos.
- Use third-party apps like iMazing to export photos from iCloud to other storage.
Manually downloading or exporting photos provides an additional backup not reliant on what iCloud removes over time. This can be important for ensuring you maintain access to older photos.
Turning off iCloud Photo Library
Disabling iCloud Photo Library stops the automatic syncing to iCloud. New photos will no longer be uploaded. Any photos already in the cloud remain there at their original quality.
However, turning off Photo Library means photos will no longer sync across devices. Photos taken on one device while iCloud Photo Library is disabled will NOT be synced to other devices.
It is recommended to only disable Photo Library temporarily if needed, and not as a long-term solution for maintaining iCloud storage of older photos. Leaving it off puts your photo collection at risk of being lost or fragmented across devices and services.
Using other cloud services
While iCloud provides convenient photo storage and sync for Apple devices, there are limitations on retaining older photos. Other cloud storage services like Google Photos and Amazon Photos offer alternative options:
- Google Photos – Provides unlimited free storage for photos under 16MP.
- Amazon Photos – With an Amazon Prime membership, get unlimited full-resolution photo storage.
- Dropbox – 2TB of storage for $9.99/month to store photos and files.
For comprehensive long-term backup of a photo library including older photos, using an additional service like Google or Amazon Photos may be worth considering.
Local photo backups
For the most reliable backup of older photos, local storage may be the best solution. Here are some options for manual photo backups:
- External hard drives – Store entire photo libraries locally.
- USB flash drives – More portable physical backup of important older photos.
- Desktop apps – Use photo software to maintain local copies and organize photos.
- Printed photo books – For cherished older photos, printed books provide a physical backup.
While local backups require manually copying photos on a regular basis, it provides complete control over your entire photo library.
Conclusion
To summarize:
- iCloud Photo Library automatically backs up new photos added after enabling the feature.
- Older photos may be deleted over time as storage limits are reached.
- Manually downloading important photos provides an additional backup.
- Using other cloud services or local storage gives more control over long-term retention of older photos.
While iCloud provides convenient syncing, it has limitations for indefinite backup of your entire photo library. Combining iCloud with other manual backup solutions is recommended to securely preserve all your precious photos for the long term.