How to Turn Off iCloud Photos on Mac

iCloud is the keystone on which the entire Apple ecosystem is based. Every device syncs data into the iCloud, connected to all the other devices allowing for seamless integration between them. In this tutorial, we will see, how to turn off iCloud Photos on mac.

One such application is the Photos app; if you have enabled iCloud Photos on your Mac and iPhone, a low-quality version of the pictures or videos in your iCloud account is downloaded onto your Mac, which might be eating up your storage.

It is not uncommon to see photos and videos take up over 20 GB or more of your storage space on your Mac just because the iCloud sync is turned on between your iPhone and Mac. You can prevent this by turning off the sync between the devices.

Furthermore, if you want to delete all the iCloud photos, Apple has got you covered on that end too. Along with that, you can also recover all your original images and videos thirty days from the time and date of deletion.

Table of Contents

How to Turn Off iCloud Photos on Mac

The first aspect of turning off iCloud Photos on Mac starts with turning off iCloud sync which is very easy; follow the instructions below to see how it is done.

Sign in to your Mac and open the Photos app from the dock or use a Spotlight search to do the same if the application isn’t on the dock. Press the Command-Space shortcut to open the search bar and type in “photos.” Hit enter to open the application.
With the application open, click on the Photos tab on the menu bar and select Preferences from the list. Subsequently, you can also use the Command-comma shortcut to do the same.
Click the iCloud tab within the Preference window and uncheck the box next to iCloud photos.

Now your Mac will stop syncing the photos from your iCloud account. However, you still need to delete the images to free up space. Use the instructions given below to do that.

Open the Photos app from the dock or use a Spotlight search to do the same if the application isn’t on the dock. Press the Command-Space shortcut to open the search bar and type in “photos.” Hit enter to open the application.
Click on the Library tab from the side menu and select the images you want to remove.
Draw out the contextual menu by right-clicking on the pictures and choosing Delete from the list. Subsequently, you can also use the Delete key to do the same.
Head over to the Recently deleted tab from the side menu and select the Delete all button from the top of the window.
Choose Delete when asked for confirmation.

Read How to Zoom in on Mac With Mouse

How to Increase iCloud Storage Space on Mac?

Apple’s iCloud offers only 5 GB of free storage space that can run out pretty quickly if you’re not vigilant about what you decide to save. The first method to upgrade your iCloud storage is to buy more space. Furthermore, read the instructions provided below to learn how to do that.

Sign in to your Mac.
Select the Apple logo on the menu bar.
Select System Preferences from the list and click on the Apple ID tab at the top.
Select Manage from the bottom of the window and click on Add storage.

Choose any plan you want and click Next. It will ask you for your Apple ID to verify, and after that, the space will be allocated to you instantly.

Read How to Sign Out of App Store on Mac

What Happens If I Run Out of Storage Space on iCloud?

If you run out of storage, your photos and videos won’t be synced onto your iCloud drive. Furthermore, make sure you either buy additional storage or free up space by deleting unused files on your iCloud drive if you fill out your storage space.

Can I Remove All iCloud Photos From My Mac?

Yes, you can turn off iCloud Photos from everywhere. Read the instructions given below to see how to do it.

Sign in to your Mac.
Select the Apple logo on the menu bar.
Choose System Preferences and head over to the Apple ID tab.
Click on Manage at the bottom of the window.
Choose Photos from the list on the left side, click on Turn off, and hit delete.

What happens if I turn off iCloud photos on my Mac — Remove All iCloud Photos From My Mac

Read How Do I Delete Bookmarks On My Mac

How to Restore Deleted iCloud Photos on Mac?

If you want to get all the deleted photos back, you’re in luck—iCloud stores your photos and videos for thirty days after deletion. Read the instructions provided below to learn how it is done.

Sign in to your Mac.
Open the Photos app from the dock or use a Spotlight search to do the same. Press the Command-Space shortcut to open the search bar and type in “photos.” Hit enter to open the application.
Move the cursor over to the menu bar and click on Photos. Choose Preferences from the list. Subsequently, you can also use the Command-comma shortcut to do the same.
Select the iCloud tab and choose Download Originals to this Mac.

Can I Restore Deleted iCloud Photos From My iPhone?

Yes, just like on a Mac, you can download and keep the original photos on your phone. Read the instructions provided below to do it.

Open your iPhone and head over to the Settings app.
Click on the top tab with your name and select iCloud from the list.
Click on the Photos tab and choose Download and keep originals.

Now all the original photos and videos will be downloaded onto your iPhone, given that it has been less than thirty days from the time of deletion.

Read How To Make A Pdf File Smaller On Mac

Conclusion

Well, that’s it for this article. As you saw, iCloud is seamlessly integrated with all Apple devices, making syncing photos and videos from one device to the other effortless.

However, this can also be a little annoying when you don’t want certain pictures or videos to be synced and available on every device logged in with your Apple ID.

We hope that the methods mentioned in this article help you to turn off iCloud Photos on mac. Be sure to check all the other tips and tricks too.

You may like the following mac tutorials:

Carissa

I am Carissa Gudinoa, a technology buff, and Office online and Apple expert with over 9 years of experience. I am passionate about helping others get the most out of their Apple devices. I have written extensively about Apple products and technologies. I am committed to providing my clients with the best possible service and am always up-to-date on the latest Apple products and features. I also write extensively on other software available for use at minimal cost or free. This includes Word Online, Outlook Online, Excel Online, and other Office online programs… Check out more.