by We all know the feeling of running out of storage space on our Mac, and then being forced to delete some precious photos to free up space.
But wait, what if you don’t want to lose those photos forever?
Relax, there’s a way to delete photos from your Mac without deleting them from iCloud.
How To Delete Photos On Mac Without Deleting From iCloud?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the simple steps to achieve this, as well as explore other options for optimizing your Mac’s storage space.
Steps to Delete Photos from Mac but Not iCloud:
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Go to iCloud in System Preferences
First things first, open System Preferences on your Mac, and click on the Apple ID icon labeled “Apple ID” in the top right corner. This will take you to the iCloud settings.
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Uncheck the Box Next to Photos
In the iCloud settings, you’ll see a list of apps that are synced with iCloud. Find the Photos app and uncheck the box next to it. This will turn off sync for Photos.
Your Mac may ask if you want to delete the photos from your Mac. If you want to delete all of your photos from your Mac, click “Yes.”
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Delete Unwanted Photos
Once you’ve turned off sync for Photos, the photos you delete from your Mac will no longer be deleted from iCloud.
If you haven’t already deleted all of your photos, you can now go ahead and delete any photos you don’t want on your Mac.
For more information on managing iCloud storage, check out the Apple Support page.
Other Options for Optimizing Storage Space:
In addition to deleting photos from your Mac but not iCloud, Apple offers a few other options for optimizing your storage space.
#1: Store in iCloud
The “Store in iCloud” option saves all your files, photos, and messages that haven’t been recently used on iCloud, only downloading them when needed.
This way, they don’t take up space on your Mac, but you can still access them whenever you want.
To enable “Store in iCloud,” follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple icon on the top menu bar.
- Click on “About this Mac”.
- Click on “Storage”.
- Click on the “Manage” button.
- Click on “Store in iCloud”.
After completing these steps, your files, photos, and messages that haven’t been used or opened recently will be stored on iCloud.
#2: Optimize Storage
“Optimize Storage” works similarly to “Store in iCloud,” but it’s specifically for your Apple TV and recent email attachments.
To enable “Optimize Storage,” follow these steps:
- Go to “About this Mac”.
- Click on “More Info…”.
- Click on “Storage”.
- Click on “Storage Settings”.
- Click on “Optimize Storage”.
This will save your previously watched TV shows and movies on the cloud, freeing up space on your Mac, but still allowing you to access them on demand.
#3: Reduce Clutter
The “Reduce Clutter” option helps you sort through and find files, photos, or messages that you no longer need and offers the option to delete them.
To use “Reduce Clutter,” follow these steps:
- Go to the storage section in “About this Mac”.
- Click on “Manage”.
- Click on “Reduce Clutter”.
This will bring up apps, documents, and other items that are taking up a lot of space, allowing you to choose what to delete and what to keep.
#4: External Storage
Regardless of whether your photos are saved on iCloud, your Mac, or both, it’s always a good idea to have an external hard drive as a backup. This will protect your photos in case your device is broken or you get locked out of your Apple account.
If you don’t have a large number of photos, a thumb drive should suffice. If you require a lot of space, look into getting an external hard drive with a large storage capacity.
#5: Reenabling iCloud Photos Sync
If you want to reenable sync for Photos, simply go back to System Preferences, click on iCloud, and check the box next to the Photos app icon. You may need to log in with your Apple ID.
Keep in mind that when you restore sync, photos that were previously deleted from Photos may be deleted from iCloud as well. Double-check that you haven’t lost any photos, and if you have, you can recover them.
#6: Recover Deleted Photos
If you’ve accidentally deleted photos from iCloud, don’t worry – Apple stores recently deleted photos in the “Recently Deleted” album for 30 days.
To recover deleted photos, follow these steps:
- Go to your iCloud account under Photos.
- Open the “Recently Deleted” album in the sidebar.
- Select the photos you want to keep.
- Click “Recover”.
This should restore the photos to your iCloud Photos. Just remember that after 30 days, the photos will be permanently deleted from iCloud, and there’s a slim chance of getting them back.
FAQs:
- Why would I want to delete photos on my Mac without deleting them from iCloud?
You may want to free up space on your Mac without losing your photos altogether. By deleting photos from your Mac but not from iCloud, you can still access them from other devices and the iCloud website.
- Can I delete photos from my Mac without deleting them from iCloud?
Yes, you can. There are a few different ways to do this, including using the Photos app on your Mac or iCloud.com.
- How do I delete photos from my Mac without deleting them from iCloud using the Photos app?
- Open the Photos app on your Mac.
- Select the photos you want to delete.
- Go to the “File” menu.
- Select “Export” > “Export Unmodified Original”.
This will save a copy of the photos to your Mac’s hard drive while leaving the original photos in iCloud.
- How do I delete photos from my Mac without deleting them from iCloud using iCloud.com?
- Go to iCloud.com.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click on the “Photos” app.
- Select the photos you want to delete.
- Click the trash can icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Delete”.
This will remove the photos from your Mac, but they will still be available in iCloud.
- Will deleting photos from my Mac delete them from all my devices?
No, deleting photos from your Mac will only remove them from that device. If you have iCloud Photo Library turned on, the photos will still be available on your other devices and the iCloud website.
- Can I recover deleted photos from iCloud?
Yes, you can. Deleted photos are kept in the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app for 30 days. After that, they are permanently deleted from iCloud. If you want to recover a deleted photo, simply go to the “Recently Deleted” album and select “Recover.”
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Conclusion:
Deleting photos from your Mac doesn’t have to mean losing them forever.
By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can delete photos from your Mac while keeping them safely stored in iCloud.
Additionally, Apple offers several other options for optimizing your Mac’s storage space, such as “Store in iCloud,” “Optimize Storage,” and “Reduce Clutter.”
And don’t forget, backing up your photos on an external hard drive is always a smart move.
With these tips, you can keep your Mac running smoothly while preserving your precious memories.
