You can't keep photos only on iCloud because iCloud Photos is a sync service, meaning deleting from one device deletes from all; however, you can free up space on your device by turning on "Optimize iPhone Storage" to keep full-res originals in iCloud and smaller versions locally, or by turning off iCloud Photos sync entirely (but then photos won't update across devices).
Note: Optimize iPhone Storage helps save full-resolution photos and videos to iCloud and keep the smaller, device-sized photos and videos on your iPhone. However, when you open the Photos app, the photos and videos there can still be viewed in original quality.
iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone's data, including photos, to the cloud. This ensures that even if you delete a photo from your device, it remains accessible through iCloud. To enable iCloud Backup, go to “Settings” > [Your Name] > “iCloud” > “iCloud Backup” and toggle the switch to “On”.
How to upload photos to iCloud from Mac
It is not possible, to remove Photos from the Library, but keep them in the albums, because albums cannot store photos. All photos are stored once in the library, and the albums are just linking to the photos in the library. When you delete a photo from the library, it will vanish from all albums.
Shared Albums don't count towards your iCloud Storage, but there are limits to the number of photos, albums and invitations you can share.
When you turn on iCloud Photos, your photos and videos automatically upload to iCloud. They're not duplicated in your iCloud backup, so keep backup copies of your library.
Local Copies on Your iPhone: Fortunately, the photos stored on your iPhone itself should not be affected by the downgrade in iCloud storage. Your photos will remain on your device, and you can continue to access and manage them locally.
Files: You can store your documents, presentations, and other files in iCloud Drive, and access them on all your devices and on the web. Your files stay up to date everywhere.
You can delete photos from your iPhone but keep them in iCloud by turning off iCloud photo sharing. You can also use a different iCloud account to keep the previous account's iCloud photos safe. Another solution is to use a different cloud server, like Dropbox or OneDrive, to back up the photos.
Yes, if you use iCloud Photos (iCloud Photos), deleting a photo from your iPhone will also delete it from iCloud and all other synced devices because it's a sync service, not just a backup; it removes the item from the entire library. You can choose to stop syncing before deleting to keep them in iCloud, but then new photos won't sync. To free up space while keeping originals in iCloud, use the "Optimize iPhone Storage" feature in Photos settings.
iCloud Drive is a file storage and sharing service, while iCloud Photos is a photo and video storage service. Both services use strong encryption to protect your data, and they share the same storage space. The choice between the two depends on your specific needs and preferences.
By default, your photos and videos are stored on your device in their original, high-resolution version. This means that they use a lot of space on your iPhone and iPad. With iCloud Photos, you can make more space available on your device and still have access to your entire full-resolution collection wherever you go.
What happens if you turn off iCloud Photos accidentally? Don't worry, everything will keep on iCloud eventually, you can download all the photos and videos from iCloud.com to the device that you might disable iCloud Photos. Thus, there is nothing to worry about.
After you upgrade, you're billed monthly. See the monthly pricing and plans per country or region below. * Not all features are available in all countries or regions. Without access to your IP address, some websites may require extra steps to sign in or access content after you turn on iCloud Private Relay.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and boom, you'll get a recommendation to offload unused apps. It's like a soft delete since the apps stay in your library, along with their saved data, to be re-downloaded whenever you need them.
On your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro
How to Tell If Photos Are on iPhone or iCloud?
Apple iCloud Photos
Using iCloud to store your photos makes a lot of sense if you use all Apple devices.
By default, your photos and videos are stored on your device in their original, high-resolution version. This means that they use a lot of space on your iPhone and iPad.
2000 Photos taking 80GB, with iCloud Photos enabled (Enough iCloud Storage).
Choose 50GB if you're an individual with a moderate photo library and basic needs; get 200GB if you take lots of videos, have multiple Apple devices, or want to share storage with your family for a better value and more space for large media. The 200GB plan offers significant extra storage for media and family sharing, while 50GB is often enough for just documents and lighter photo usage.