How to Disable Automatic iCloud Uploads of Your Entire Photo Library on an iPhone

Co-authored by Gonzalo Martinez

Last Updated: April 8, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow will teach you how to disable automatic uploads of the photo library on your iPhone to your iCloud account.

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1
Open the iPhone’s Settings. This is the grey icon with cogs located on one of the home screens. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 30 March 2021}
- It may also be located in the “Utilities” folder on a home screen.
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This is in the fourth set of options.

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3
Sign in to your iCloud account (if necessary).
- Enter your Apple ID and password. ^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Gonzalo Martinez
  Computer & Phone Repair Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 30 March 2021}
- Tap Sign in .
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5
Slide the iCloud Photo Library button to the Off position. This will stop automatic uploads of your entire Photos library to iCloud. ^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 30 March 2021}
- Note that this will only disable uploads from your iPhone. You will have to make the same changes on an iPad or Mac to stop uploading your library from those devices.
- If you want all of your photos in their original (unreduced) quality on your phone before you disable iCloud syncing, select Download and Keep Originals before disabling.
- Photos already uploaded to iCloud will remain there. You can opt to remove these from the Manage Storage section of the iCloud menu. Even after removal, photos will remain on your account for 30 days as a grace period to download any you want before final deletion. ^{[4]
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  Research source}

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Tips

If iCloud Photo Library is disabled, but you still see unwanted photos appearing in your iCloud account. Also make sure the My Photo Stream option in the same menu is disabled to remove automatic uploads of your latest photos.

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[1]

Expert Source

Gonzalo Martinez
Computer & Phone Repair Specialist

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How to Disable Automatic iCloud Uploads of Your Entire Photo Library on an iPhone

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