How to Backup iCloud Photo Library to Any Location

Why Do You Need to Backup iCloud Photo Library? Having an iCloud Photo Library backup is crucial for several reasons: 1. **Data Loss Prevention**: Accidents happen, and you might accidentally delete photos or videos from your iCloud library. A backup ensures that you have a copy of your precious memories in case of unintended removal. 2. **Device Loss or Damage**: If you lose your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or it gets damaged, having a backup of your iCloud Photo Library means you can restore your media to a new device without losing anything. 3. **Syncing Across Devices**: Backing up your iCloud Photo Library allows seamless synchronization across multiple devices. This way, you can access your photos and videos from any device signed in with the same Apple ID. 4. **Storage Limitations**: iCloud offers limited free storage. If you exceed your storage capacity, a backup can help you manage your media by freeing up space, while still keeping a copy safe elsewhere. 5. **Security and Privacy**: Backing up your photos provides an additional layer of security. In case of a breach or unauthorized access to your iCloud account, your photos will still be safe in another location. 6. **Version History**: Some backup solutions keep multiple versions of your files, allowing you to revert to a previous version if needed. 7. **Organizational Ease**: With a backup, you can easily sort, organize, and manage your photo library outside of iCloud, which may offer more flexibility and customization options. In summary, backing up your iCloud Photo Library protects your valuable media from potential data loss, device issues, storage constraints, and security threats, providing peace of mind and easy access to your memories.

iCloud Photos will automatically keep your photos synchronized across all your Apple devices, such as your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Whether you capture an image using a camera or your iPhone, chances are you'll store your most cherished photos on your Mac. Photos are crucial files that individuals wish to safeguard, as they represent timeless memories that enable us to relive and share with others.

But what happens when those photos are lost or damaged? iCloud only offers 5GB of free storage, and for valuable photos, you might desire a secondary copy as a safety net. Hence, it is crucial to backup your iCloud photo library.

How to Back Up iCloud Photo Library to External Hard Drive

The external hard drive has gained significant popularity owing to its convenience and cost-effectiveness. Consequently, it's advisable to backup iCloud photos to an external hard drive. Here are two methods to achieve this backup process: 1. Using a Computer: - Connect the external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable. - Launch an application like Finder (for Mac) or File Explorer (for Windows). - Navigate to the 'Photos' app or your iCloud account on your computer, where your photos are stored. - Select the photos you wish to backup or choose to transfer all of them. - Drag and drop the selected photos into the desired folder on your external hard drive, or use the "Export" function within the Photos app. - Ensure the transfer is complete before disconnecting the external hard drive. 2. Using Third-Party Backup Software: - Choose a reliable third-party backup software that supports iCloud integration, such as iMazing, tools MobiSaver, or AnyTrans. - Install and launch the software on your computer. - Connect your external hard drive to your computer. - Sign in to your iCloud account within the software. - Select the 'Photos' option and choose the photos you want to backup or opt for a full backup. - Initiate the backup process to your external hard drive. - Wait for the process to finish and safely eject the external hard drive. These methods ensure your iCloud photos are securely backed up on an external hard drive, providing an additional layer of protection for your precious memories.

Method 1: Manually Copy iCloud Photos to an External Hard Drive

Copying iCloud photos to an external drive is a straightforward method, ideal for those new to computers. Follow these detailed steps: 1. Connect your external drive to your computer: Ensure that you have a USB cable or appropriate connector to link your external hard drive to your Mac or PC. 2. Launch Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows): This is where you'll manage files and access your connected external drive. 3. Locate the iCloud Photos folder: On a Mac, open "Photos" app, then go to "File" > "Show Photos in Finder." On Windows, you'll need to access your iCloud account through the web browser or the iCloud app to download the photos first. 4. Select the photos you want to copy: You can choose individual photos or entire albums by clicking on them while holding down the "Command" key (Mac) or "Ctrl" key (Windows) to select multiple items. 5. Copy the selected photos: Click "Edit" > "Select All" (or press "Command+A" on Mac or "Ctrl+A" on Windows), then right-click and choose "Copy." 6. Paste photos to the external drive: Navigate to the external drive in Finder or File Explorer, right-click in an empty area, and select "Paste" (or use "Command+V" on Mac or "Ctrl+V" on Windows). 7. Wait for the transfer to complete: Depending on the number of photos and the speed of your external drive, this process may take some time. 8. Verify the copied photos: Once the transfer is finished, check the external drive to ensure all photos have been copied successfully. 9. Safely eject the external drive: Before disconnecting, make sure to safely eject the drive from your computer's system tray or menu bar to prevent any data loss. That's it! Your iCloud photos are now stored on your external drive.

Step 1. Download iCloud. (You can download it from the Photos app.)

Step 2. Click on Finder, then scroll down to Pictures and locate the Photos Library.

Step 3. Copy the photos from the Photos library and paste them onto an external hard drive that is already connected to your computer.

Method 2: Another Approach to Backup iCloud Photos to an External Drive

You can also follow these steps to back up iCloud photos to an external drive:

Step 1. Choose the photos you want to download.

Step 2. Sign in to iCloud and then review the available photos for download.

Step 3. Visit iCloud.com and sign in using your Apple ID.

Step 4. You will see the following user interface, where you should select "Photos" to start managing the photos stored in your iCloud account.

Step 5. Find the photos you want to back up to an external hard drive, then click "Download" in the top-right corner of the screen.

How to Backup iCloud Photo Library to Another Cloud Service 1. **Choose a Backup Service**: First, decide which cloud service you want to use for backup, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. 2. **Sign Up/Sign In**: Create an account with your chosen cloud service if you don't have one already, and log in to the web interface or the corresponding app on your device. 3. **Enable Downloading Photos**: Ensure that the cloud service allows downloading and uploading of photos. Some services may require adjusting settings to enable this feature. 4. **Connect Your Devices**: Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable. Unlock your device and trust the computer if prompted. 5. **Download iCloud Photos**: On your computer, open the Photos app (on macOS) or iPhoto (on older versions of macOS). If you're using Windows, download and install iCloud for Windows, then open it. Sign in with your Apple ID and sync your photos. 6. **Export Photos**: In the Photos app, select all the photos and videos you want to back up, or choose "Select All." Then, export them to your computer's hard drive. On macOS, you can do this by right-clicking and choosing "Download Originals to the Mac." On Windows, you'll need a third-party tool like iMazing to transfer the photos. 7. **Upload to the New Cloud Service**: Upload the exported photos and videos to your chosen cloud service. This process might take some time depending on the size of your library and your internet speed. 8. **Organize and Sync**: Organize your photos in the new cloud service as desired, and ensure the auto-upload feature is enabled so that any new photos added to your device are backed up. 9. **Disable iCloud Photo Library (Optional)**: If you no longer wish to use iCloud Photo Library, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Photos on your iOS device, and turn off "iCloud Photo Library." Be aware that this will stop syncing your photos across devices. 10. **Backup Regularly**: To keep your backups up to date, repeat this process periodically, especially after significant events or when you've taken many new photos. Remember that each cloud service has storage limitations, so consider upgrading to a paid plan if necessary to accommodate your entire photo library.

Cloud backup software, such as Google Drive and OneDrive, has recently become increasingly popular. Backing up your iCloud photos to the cloud is another option for you. Here are the detailed steps on how to back up your iCloud photos to OneDrive: 1. **Sign in to iCloud**: First, access iCloud.com using any web browser. 2. **Select Photos**: Once logged in, click on the "Photos" app from the list of available services. 3. **Enable Download Options**: Make sure you have the latest version of iCloud Photos or enable "Download and Keep Originals" in your iCloud settings to ensure high-quality photos are backed up. 4. **Sign in to OneDrive**: Open a new tab and visit OneDrive.com, then sign in with your Microsoft account credentials. 5. **Create a New Folder**: In OneDrive, create a new folder where you want to store your iCloud backups. 6. **Download iCloud Photos**: Manually download your iCloud photos by selecting them one by one or using the "Download all" feature (if available). Save them to the newly created OneDrive folder. 7. **Sync to OneDrive**: If you have the OneDrive desktop app installed, ensure it's running and configured to sync the folder you saved your photos in. This will keep your photos updated on both platforms. Please note that this process may take some time depending on the number of photos you're transferring and your internet speed. Additionally, manual downloads might not be the most efficient method for large photo libraries; consider using third-party tools designed for syncing or transferring between cloud services for a more automated solution.

Step 1. Install the OneDrive app.

Step 2. Download the photos from iCloud to File Explorer on your computer.

Step 3. If you've completed the OneDrive setup, move the photos into the OneDrive folder.

A Comprehensive Solution: Utilize Professional Software to Backup Photos on Mac Backup Photos on Mac with Dedicated Software

A Mac computer has its own photo library, and numerous photos are saved locally on the device. Thanks to the 5GB of free storage offered by iCloud, you can also back up your photos on your Mac instead of storing them solely on iCloud. In such cases, professional backup software like Todo Backup becomes useful. This backup utility allows you to create a backup of your Mac's photos.

Todo Backup for Mac is a robust software solution for backing up and restoring files. This tool enables you to set up an automatic, stealth backup schedule, create system backups, compress file images to save storage space, and encrypt files to safeguard your privacy. It allows you to create a bootable backup, enabling swift system restoration in case of crashes. Additionally, it offers the functionality of disk cloning. You have the flexibility to store backups on various locations, such as a hard drive, external device, FTP server, network share, NAS, DVD, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Final Thoughts

That's everything you need to know about backing up iCloud photos. I hope the detailed instructions were helpful. In summary, you can backup your iCloud photos to an external hard drive or another cloud service. Additionally, if you wish to avoid using iCloud storage space, you can utilize professional backup software to save your photos on your Mac computer. A tool like Todo Backup can be used to backup your computer's photos, thus freeing up more space in your iCloud storage. Choose the method that best suits your needs to securely store your important photos.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How do I backup all my iPhone photos? To backup all your iPhone photos, you can follow these steps: 1. **Using iCloud:** - Ensure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi. - Go to `Settings` on your iPhone. - Tap on your Apple ID at the top. - Select `iCloud`. - Tap on `Photos`. - Toggle on `iCloud Photos`. If prompted, choose to `Optimize iPhone Storage` or `Download and Keep Originals`, depending on your preference. - Wait for your photos to upload. This may take some time depending on the number of photos and your internet speed. 2. **Using iTunes (on a computer):** - Connect your iPhone to a computer using a USB cable. - Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later). - Click on your iPhone icon in the top left corner. - Click on the `Photos` tab. - Check the box next to `Sync Photos`. - Choose the source from which you want to sync photos (e.g., your computer's photo library). - Click `Apply` or `Sync` to start the backup process. 3. **Using Google Photos:** - Download and install the Google Photos app from the App Store on your iPhone. - Open the app and sign in with your Google account. - Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner. - Select `Settings`. - Tap on `Backup & Sync`. - Turn on `Backup & Sync`. - You can also choose the `Upload size` preference (High quality or Original). - Your photos will now start backing up to Google Photos. Remember that each method has its storage limitations and costs, so choose the one that best suits your needs.

For an iPhone user, navigate to Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos and toggle the setting on. This will automatically upload your photos to iCloud whenever your device is connected to Wi-Fi, regardless of the location.

2. Does deleting photos from iPhone also delete them from iCloud?

When you delete a photo from the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it will also be removed from your iCloud Photos and any other devices where you've signed in with iCloud Photos. It will no longer contribute to your iCloud storage usage.

3. How do I Download more than 1000 Photos from iCloud?

To download individual photos from iCloud to your computer, follow these steps: 1. Access iCloud on your computer. 2. Navigate to the Photos app or section. 3. Select each photo you want to download by clicking on it. 4. Once a photo is selected, click on the cloud icon located in the top right corner of your screen. This will initiate the download process for that specific photo. If you wish to download multiple photos at once, you can do so using Moments: 1. In the Photos app, view the Moments section. 2. Find the Moment that contains the photos you want to download. 3. Click on the small "+" (plus) sign located in the top right corner of that Moment's thumbnail. 4. A checkmark will appear on each photo within that Moment, indicating they are selected. 5. With the photos selected, click on the cloud icon in the top right corner to download all the chosen photos to your computer.

4. Are iCloud photos stored locally? Photos stored in iCloud are not automatically downloaded and stored locally on your device unless you specifically enable the "Download and Keep Originals" option in the Photos settings. When this option is turned on, your device will store all photos and videos from iCloud, allowing you to access them even without an internet connection. Otherwise, your device will only store low-resolution versions of the photos for offline viewing, and the full-resolution versions will be downloaded when you're connected to Wi-Fi and charging.

Your photos are stored on your device in their original, high-resolution form, which means they can take up a significant amount of space on your iPhone or iPad. With iCloud Photos, you can free up space on your device while still having access to your entire photo collection.