How does iCloud Photo Library backup photos & save iCloud space

I was reading about how to free up some space on my iCloud account (5GB).
Since the Camera Roll is the only thing that is backed up to iCloud, I would periodically import all my photos to iPhoto and delete them from my device.  This would make the Camera Roll pictures move over to my other albums which are NOT backed up to iCloud.  Now I ran into some apple documentation which explains what exactly gets backed up on an iOS device and its reads like this:
Photos and videos on your iOS devices, unless you turn on iCloud Photo Library beta on your iOS 8.1 device. If you turn on iCloud Photo Library beta, your photos and videos are already stored in iCloud, so they aren’t included in your iCloud Backup.
So basically if I turn on this iCloud Photo Library on my iOS device, it won't back up any photos to iCloud, because they are already stored in iCloud?  What does that mean?  Is this going to free up some iCloud space if I turn it on on my device?  If so, how exactly does it work that will save me space?
Thanks

santiagofrommiami wrote:
And of those 4.3GB of backup, my Photo Library is 1.4GB.
So my question is, how do I prevent my Photo Library from being backed up to the cloud, since I already have a backup of it everytime I connect to iPhoto and it copies all those photos to my mac?
I don't know, sorry. It's supposed to work alongside Photos & iCloud, so that photos are stored only once. When it doesn't work you have a couple of options as I see it –
Delete the old backups on iCloud to hopefully start over (I don't like deleting the only backup of anything).
Forget about iCloud backups & use iTunes to backup instead, it might not be suitable if you have no computer etc.
Buy more storage for iCloud.
I don't use iCloud backup, it bemuses me with issues like this, there is no easy way to resolve when it fails.
And one more question while we are at it...can I erase iphoto from my computer now that I have the new Photos app?
That is up to you. If you are happy you do not need it & have a backup of it go ahead & remove it. You can re-download it from the app store if it is already in your Mac App store account.

Similar Messages

  • HT204264 Do my photos still backup in my iCloud if I don't have my iCloud library beta on?

    Do my photos still backup in my iCloud if I don't have my iCloud library beta on?

    They are included in an iCloud backup if you don't have iCloud Photo Library turned on. See the following quote from the section of what is included in an iCloud backup from iCloud: iCloud storage and backup overview
    Photos and videos on your iOS devices, unless you turn on iCloud Photo Library beta on your iOS 8.1 device. If you turn on iCloud Photo Library beta, your photos and videos are already stored in iCloud, so they aren’t included in your iCloud Backup.
    Be aware that the contents of an iCloud backup are not viewable at iCloud.com and are only usable when doing a full restore to an iOS device or when transferring to a new iOS device. Because of that I also import my photos to a computer for safekeeping. Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or Windows PC - Apple Support

  • How to turn off using photo library in Screen Saver?

    Hi, Is there anyway to turn off screen saver (and desktop) in using my photo library (Aperture)?  Currently it is using my entire photo library as screen saver and I wanted to turn it off.  Clicking on the "-" button in the Screen Saver preference pane does not remove Aperture photo library from the list.  I had OS 10.7.3 installed.  Thanks.

    The Aperture, iPhoto, and Photobooth icons stay permanently.
    If you don't want to show your Aperture library, just pick a different screen saver.
    -Graham

  • ICloud photos library for Photos app Yosemite sync issues

    Strangely, after enabling iCloud photos library on Photos app. It does sync all the lowres image into Photos app but the downloading of hires is always stuck.
    Even if I leave it to sync overnight and it just stay the same until the next morning.
    Anyone has facing the same issues?
    Thanks.

    After two weeks I'm on my 6th attempt (6th from-scratch library) just trying to get the download and sync features to work. As of this morning the sync appears to be working but the fact that after 12 hours of "downloading" my library of 53,000 images is only 9 gigabytes, I'd say, yes, my high-resolution images are not coming down either. I have definitely set to download originals to my Mac.

  • How do you delete photos from the photo library and photo stream?

    I have photos that were sent to me by email that I accidently saved to my phone. I would like to delelte the photos but there is no "trash" in the Photo Stream or Photo Library.  I cannot figure how to delete the photos.

    You cannot delete photos from photo library. Photo library is just a huge view of every photo on your iPhone. It is not meant to be deleted unless you do it from iPhoto. However, the only way to delete photo library off your iPhone is to also delete the photos you synced. Think of photo library as you would with your iTunes library: it is just a giant list view of all your music (photos). But then you have playlists (albums) which organize the photos. Also, the photos are not duplicates. When you view a photo from an album, it is the same photo as in your photo library. It's just a shortcut. It takes up no space. However, photos saved from an email should be saved in your camera roll and can be deleted. As for photostream; if you go into it, and hit edit, you can select photos to be deledted. To delete the whole photostream, go to the list of photostreams and hit the blue arrow on the right of the name and you should see an option to delete the photostream. Hope this helped! Good luck.

  • How does one change library from 1,5 to 2,0?

    How does one transform 1.5 photo library to 2.0 library within Aperture 2.0?
    Thanks!

    Mitch Aunger wrote:
    and of course you have a backup of your library before you start... right???
    Of course - everyone uses Time Machine, right ?

  • 'Photos Library Recovered Photos' folder in Pictures

    After a successful iPhoto to Photos migration, I have noticed a folder in 'HD > Users > xxxx > Pictures'  - titled 'Photos Library Recovered Photos'.
    The folder contains 112 images.
    When I open the Photos.app all my photos from my previous iPhoto Library seem to be there and everything is functioning correctly.
    So why has this folder appeared and where have these images come from?

    Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
    Look there for a Folder called 'Import' or 'Importing'.
    Drag it to the Desktop. *Make no other changes*.
    Start iPhoto. Does that help?
    If it does then look inside that folder on your desktop. Does it contain anything you want? If not you can trash the folder.
    Regards
    TD

  • What is "Photo Library" in Photos application?

    I think this happened since upgrading to iLife 09, but I'm not sure.
    I used to have two albums in Photos: Camera Roll and iPod. The latter is an album in iPhoto and I have iTunes set to sync with just that album.
    But now I have three albums in Photos: Camera Roll, iPod and Photo Library.
    Photo Library's contents are exactly the same as iPod.
    But where did it come from? There is no album in iPhoto called "Photo Library" or any album set to sync except for the album called iPod.
    Anybody have any idea?
    Thanks,
    doug

    Not sure why "Photo Library" was not available on your iPhone previously, which was not normal.
    This has nothing to do with which iLife or iPhoto version you are using, or if you have selected all photos in your iPhoto library to be transferred, or just one iPhoto album, or several iPhoto albums.
    All photos transferred to your iPhone via the iTunes sync process are stored in your iPhone's Photo Library - regardless how many photos are selected to be transferred or the number of different folders or albums of photos are selected to be transferred.
    I have a number of iPhoto albums selected to be transferred to my iPhone. All photos in all albums are stored in my iPhone's Photo Library. The photos in the albums below are not duplicated. The photos in the different albums include a link or pointer to the original photos stored in the iPhone's Photo Library. This way, you can view the photos in a particular album only by selecting the album, or all photos available in all albums by selecting Photo Library.
    The filing structure for iPhoto, iTunes, and the Address Book on your Mac is the same.
    You can't place a photo in an iPhoto album without the photo being available in your main iPhoto library, and a photo can be available in multiple iPhoto albums without being duplicated. Delete a photo from your iPhoto library that is available in an iPhoto album and the photo will no longer be available in the album either.
    The filing structure for iTunes playlists and for Address Book Groups is the same.
    There is nothing wrong with your iPhone now, but there was something wrong with it before if your iPhone didn't have a Photo Library, which is where all photos transferred from your computer are stored on your iPhone.

  • "Photo library" in "Photos"

    well like i said, i have an iPod touch 4,
    the "Photo Library" in "Photos" doesnt appear as it used to some days before so any solutions?
    FYI: I already tried resetting it but didnt work

    it means it doesnt appear anymore as it used to appear some days before

  • My Mac mini won't recognize photo library in itunes so I can download pics from library and free up space in memory, I was able to download camera role but not photo library that takes up more space.

    My Mac mini won't recognize iphone 4 photo library in itunes so I can download pics from library and free up space in memory, I was able to download camera role but not photo library that takes up more space. Help thanks

    The photo sync is one-way: Computer to phone. Photos synced to your phone will have to be extracted from your phone using third-party software, if you want them on your computer, as Apple makes no provision to do so. Since you're using a Mac, you can use this:
    http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/

  • HT4847 How can I delete old backups on my iCloud so that I can just backup my latest things?

    How can i delete old backups on my iCloud so that I can jsut backup what is on my device now, and not from a year ago

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
    All backups made on iCloud overwrite the old one, so you have only the latest backup with your most recent files. If you have a backup of an old device, open Settings > iCloud > Storage and Backup > Manage Storage, select the backup and delete that backup

  • HT1391 How does one delete apps or files from iCloud Permanently so I may re-download without retrieving existing cloud file?for example the U2 Marketing fast , an Album I have no interest in...is now in my Cloud.. How can I remove this File from iPhone &

    How does one delete apps or files from iCloud Permanently so I may re-download without retrieving existing cloud file?for example the U2 Marketing fast , an Album I have no interest in...is now in my Cloud.. How can I remove this File from iPhone & cloud

    Hey there Matt.dvs1,
    Although there is not a way to remove past purchases from your iTunes account completely, you can hide them so that you don't have to see them if you don't want to. This article will help you do that:
    iTunes Store: Hiding and unhiding purchases - Apple Support
    Hide your purchases
    Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
    From the Store menu, choose Store > Sign In, and then enter your Apple ID and password.
    Go to the iTunes Store.
    Click Purchased from the Quick Links section on the right side of the iTunes Store.
    Choose a content type by clicking Music, Movies, TV Shows, Apps, or Books from the top of the window.
    A list of your purchased items for the content type you are viewing will appear. Mouse over the item you want to hide until an X appears its top-left corner.
    A confirmation dialog will appear once you click the X.
    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
    All the best,
    Sterling

  • Does iCloud photo Library just duplicates my iCloud photos Backup? or uses the same copy?

    Hi,
    So i want to enable both iCloud backup AND Photo Library. But, i was wondering, how will it be held?
    After turning on the iCloud Photo Library, will the photos in the Backup get deleted? or it uses them and share them between the two services?
    Or it just upload all the photos again and i'll have two copies of my photos in my iCloud?

    Hi,
    So i want to enable both iCloud backup AND Photo Library. But, i was wondering, how will it be held?
    After turning on the iCloud Photo Library, will the photos in the Backup get deleted? or it uses them and share them between the two services?
    Or it just upload all the photos again and i'll have two copies of my photos in my iCloud?

  • TS3992 Turn off photo library backup in iCloud

    I used to be able to turn off backing up my iPad photo library to iCloud in iOS 7. It's now missing in iOS 8. The only option now is to turn my camera roll on and off. My iPads backup size had gone from 200 MB to 6 GB. Has anyone else noticed this?
    Thanks!

    I checked the FAQ and it doesn't answer my question. Before I turn on the iPhoto library beta I had 40gb about 30gb of that are photos and videos and 10gb were iphone data backup. I Have the 200gb plan, before and during iphone library ON my storage says 160gb available. Now that it's off my iCloud storage says 190gb available. it's been off for the past 5 days and it still shows 190gb available. My iPhone is backed up daily so it doesn't seem like its backing up my photos at all.

  • Photo library as screen saver

    How can I have my entire photo library as my screen saver, not just my photo stream via icloud.

    Go into settings - screensaver. Your computer must be on and running iTunes. Select your photo library and it will start transferring. Note: only a small portion is cached to the device, typically around 100 photos.

Maybe you are looking for