To turn off iCloud Photos on one iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos, and switch off syncing. Choose to download a full copy first so you keep the original photos. To stop it everywhere, use Turn Off and Delete in iCloud storage, which deletes iCloud's copies after 30 days.
Turning off iCloud Photos can mean two very different things. One stops a single device syncing. The other stops iCloud Photos for your whole account and, after a while, deletes the photos stored in iCloud. Mix them up and you can lose pictures or end up with a phone full of low-quality copies. Here's each one, step by step, with the safety checks that matter. It's worth reading both before you tap anything, because they're only a couple of screens apart in Settings and look very similar.
Choose the right option
| You want to | Do this | What happens to iCloud's copies |
|---|---|---|
| Stop this one phone or iPad syncing | Turn off sync on the device | They stay in iCloud and on your other devices |
| Stop using iCloud Photos altogether | Turn Off and Delete in iCloud storage | Deleted after 30 days |
Turn off iCloud Photos on one iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud, then Photos.
- Turn off the sync switch for this iPhone.
- Choose Download Photos and Videos to keep full copies on the phone, or remove them from the phone.
Apple's warning matters here. If you had Optimise iPhone Storage on, the photos on your phone are smaller versions, not originals. Unless you choose to download a full copy, what you're left with won't be at original resolution. Make sure there's enough space on the phone before you download, because a large library can take many gigabytes.
Turn off iCloud Photos for your whole account
- First, download your originals to a Mac, PC or external drive.
- Check you have enough storage on the device or drive for them.
- Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Storage.
- Tap iCloud Photos.
- Choose Turn Off and Delete Photos.
Apple then deletes your photos and videos from iCloud 30 days later. During those 30 days you can change your mind with Undo Delete in the same place, and get everything back. After that, they're gone, so don't leave the download until the last week.
Shared Photo Library first
If you own an iCloud Shared Photo Library, Apple says you have to delete it before you can turn off iCloud Photos. Move any photos you want to keep into your personal library first, and warn the people you share with, because the shared library disappears for them too.
On a Mac
Open the Photos app, then Settings, and click the iCloud tab. Untick iCloud Photos. Before you do, choose Download Originals to this Mac and wait for the download to finish, so the Mac has full copies rather than optimised ones.
Download your originals safely
- On a Mac, set Photos to Download Originals and wait until the library finishes updating.
- On a Windows PC, use iCloud for Windows to download photos and videos to a folder.
- On the web, sign in to iCloud.com, open Photos, select photos and download them.
- Check a few photos and videos open at full size before you delete anything, including some of the oldest ones in the library.
If your menus look different
Apple notes that on iOS 17 or earlier the labels differ slightly, for example Photos may appear as iCloud Photos with a simple switch. The idea is the same: turning off the switch on one device is the single-device option, and anything that says Turn Off and Delete is the whole-account option.
What you'll notice afterwards
Once a device stops syncing, new photos you take there won't appear on your other devices, and edits you make won't carry across either. Photos you take on your other devices won't arrive on this one. If you've downloaded full copies, they're now a separate, local library, so you'll need your own backup plan for it, whether that's a computer, an external drive or another cloud service. Don't leave a phone's only copy of years of photos sitting on the phone alone.
Why you might keep it on
iCloud Photos is the reason a lost or broken iPhone doesn't mean lost photos. If your aim is just to stop running out of iCloud space, turning it off isn't the only answer. Deleting videos, duplicates and old backups may get you enough room. My guide to photos disappearing from the camera roll explains how syncing and optimised storage work, which helps you decide.
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My verdict
To stop one device syncing, turn off sync in Settings, your name, iCloud, Photos, and choose to download full copies first. To leave iCloud Photos completely, download every original to a computer or drive, check them, then use Turn Off and Delete, knowing you have 30 days to undo it. Never do the whole-account option until your originals are safely somewhere else. For more on getting good photos to start with, see how to change your iPhone camera resolution.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off iCloud Photos on my iPhone?
Settings, your name, iCloud, Photos, then turn off sync and choose to download a full copy.
Will turning off iCloud Photos delete my photos?
Turning it off on one device doesn't delete iCloud's copies. Turn Off and Delete removes them after 30 days.
Can I undo turning off iCloud Photos?
Yes. You have 30 days to choose Undo Delete.
Why are my photos low quality after turning off iCloud Photos?
The phone kept optimised versions. Download full copies before turning it off.
Do I need to delete a Shared Photo Library first?
Yes, if you own one, Apple requires that before turning off iCloud Photos.
How do I turn off iCloud Photos on a Mac?
In Photos, open Settings, click iCloud and untick iCloud Photos after downloading originals.
