My Macbook is beginning to run out of space to 'Keep originals' of the photos I have in the Photo Library, and I don't want the only copy of the photos to be in the cloud. How can I create a hard copy of the library, probably on an external hard drive, after unchecking 'Keep originals' on the Mac? Can my Mac save photos from iCloud Photo. Jul 09, 2019 Tap the iCloud tab and then under iCloud Photo Library, Tick the Download Originals to This Mac. If you make this change, your Mac starts downloading all those photos in full res—this could take quite a bit of time depending on how many photos you store on iCloud. An additional backup for iCloud photo library is necessary. Follow our guide to backup iCloud photos to Mac/PC computer, or external hard drive, USB drive, or make.
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Photos User Guide
Import your photos and videos into your photo library so you can organize and edit them with Photos. You can import photos and videos in a variety of ways:
Using iCloud: Turn on iCloud Photos on your Mac and other devices (such as iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV) to access your entire library automatically. See Use iCloud Photos to store photos.
By syncing your Mac with an iPhone or iPad: If you don’t use iCloud Photos on your Mac, you can sync your Mac and a connected iPhone or iPad to transfer photos. See Sync photos between your Mac and iPhone or iPad.
From cameras or mobile devices: Connect a camera, iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device and import photos and videos from the device. See Import photos from a camera or phone.
From storage media: Import photos or videos saved on a hard disk or other storage device. See Import photos from hard disks, DVDs, and other devices.
From other apps: Import photos and videos sent to you in an email or text message, or downloaded from Safari. See Import photos from Mail, Safari, and other apps.
By default, imported photos are copied into the Photos library. If you prefer, you can store photos and videos outside the Photos library—for example, in a folder on your Mac or on an external hard drive—and still view them in Photos. If you ever need to move content stored outside the library into your Photos library, you can do that, too. See Change where Photos stores your files.
Note: iCloud Photos doesn’t manage photos and videos stored outside the Photos library.
How to transfer photos from iCloud to Mac? Here in this post, we introduce you four simple ways to transfer photos from iCloud to your Mac.
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We love taking photos with our iPhones and store them on Mac and iCloud for preservation. However, if our cherished photos on Mac are lost due to the wrong operation or system crash, how to get them back by exporting from iCloud?
When it comes to transferring photos from iCloud to Mac, normally, we have two choices – one is transferring photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac, and the other is transferring photos from My Photo Stream to Mac. However, for most of us, we don’t clearly know what iCloud Photo Library or My Photo Stream is, and photos waiting to be transferred are iCloud Photo Library photos or My Photo Stream photos.
To decide which way to go, all you need to do is checking on your device with the following steps:
Go to Settings > iCloud > Photos > Check whether iCloud Photo Library is on.
If iCloud Photo Library is enabled, you can transfer photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac, if it is off, you can transfer photos from My Photo Stream. No matter what kind of iCloud photos you want to transfer to Mac, here in this guide you can find what you want.
Also Read: Differences Between My Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Library >
Part 1. Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac
Photo Library uploads all photos to iCloud and keeps them up to date across devices and you also can get access to them through iCloud.com. To transfer photos from the iCloud Photo Library to Mac, please refer to the two methods below.
Method 1. Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac Through iCloud Preference Panel
Step 1. Go to iCloud Preference Panel > Click Options next to Photos.
Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac Through iCloud Preference Panel – Step 1
Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac Through iCloud Preference Panel – Step 2
Method 2. Transfer Photos from iCloud to Mac with AnyTrans
Though convenient transferring photos from iCloud to Mac by enabling Photo Library is, this method does have its limitations. What if we just want to save some instead of all iCloud photos to your iMac/MacBook? There, AnyTrans is needed.
AnyTrans is specialized in managing iCloud data. AnyTrans supports transferring iCloud contents to Mac or PC and it is easy to transfer photos from iCloud to Mac with AnyTrans. Second, to that, AnyTrans could also help you delete and edit iCloud contents, like contacts, notes. Last but not least, AnyTrans even allows you to sync iCloud contents to another iCloud account. Here are steps to transfer photos from Photo Library to Mac with AnyTrans.
Step 1. Free Download AnyTrans and launch it on Mac > Click iCloud icon and login an iCloud account.
Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac with AnyTrans – Step 1
Step 2. iCloud Category Management > Photos.
Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac with AnyTrans – Step 2
Step 3. Hold Command key and choose pictures you want to backup > Click Download.
Transfer Photos from iCloud Photo Library to Mac with AnyTrans – Step 3 How to open mac library.
Part 2. Transfer Photos from My Photo Stream to Mac
My Photo Stream uploads and imports photos automatically to all devices, but only photos were taken recent 3 months, 1000 maximum. Here are two methods for transferring photos from My Photo Stream to your iMac or MacBook.
Method 1. Transfer Photos from My Photo Stream to Mac by Setting Up iPhoto
Step 1. Click iPhoto > log in iCloud Account.
Step 2. Click iPhoto on the upper left corner > Choose Preferences.
Transfer Photos from My Photo Stream to Mac via iPhoto – Step 2
Step 3. Choose iCloud > Check the box of My Photo Stream.