DB Labs
Updated March 8, 2026
By Jack Smith, iOS Developer at DB Labs
How to Download All Photos from iCloud
If your iPhone shows small thumbnails instead of full-resolution photos, or you want a local backup of your entire library, here is how to download everything from iCloud.
Before You Start
Check two things before downloading:
- Available storage: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see your free space. You need enough room for your full photo library.
- iCloud Photos enabled: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and confirm iCloud Photos is toggled on.
Download All Photos to iPhone
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Open Settings and tap your Apple ID name
Open the Settings app. Tap your name at the very top to open your Apple ID settings.
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Tap iCloud, then Photos
Tap iCloud, then tap Photos in the apps list.
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Select Download and Keep Originals
Under iCloud Photos, tap Download and Keep Originals. This replaces the compressed thumbnails with full-resolution files stored directly on your device.
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Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in
Open the Photos app. You will see a progress bar at the bottom of the library view. Keep your iPhone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. The download happens in the background and may take hours or days depending on library size.
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Verify the download is complete
When the progress bar disappears, all photos are downloaded. You can also tap any photo and swipe up — you will see the full file size rather than a thumbnail size.
Download to Mac
Open the Photos app on Mac
Launch the Photos app on your Mac.
Go to Photos > Settings > iCloud
Click Photos in the menu bar, then Settings (or Preferences on older macOS), and click the iCloud tab.
Select Download Originals to this Mac
Click Download Originals to this Mac. All full-resolution photos will sync to your Mac's Photos library over time.
Download to Windows PC
Install iCloud for Windows
Download and install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store.
Sign in and enable Photos
Open iCloud for Windows, sign in with your Apple ID, and check the box next to Photos. Click Apply.
Find your photos in File Explorer
Open File Explorer and go to the iCloud Photos folder. All your photos and videos will sync here automatically.
Download via iCloud.com
For selective downloads without installing anything, go to icloud.com/photos in any browser. Sign in, select photos, and click the download icon. Note: You can select up to 1,000 photos at once via the website.
Clean Up Before Downloading
Before downloading your entire library, use Swype to delete photos you do not want. Less clutter means faster downloads and less storage used.
Download Swype FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to download all iCloud photos?
It depends on your library size and internet speed. A 5,000-photo library on a fast connection may take a few hours. A 50,000-photo library could take multiple days. Keep your iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi during the process. Avoid switching to cellular — the download pauses on cellular by default.
Will downloading iCloud photos delete them from iCloud?
No. Downloading to your device does not remove photos from iCloud. iCloud Photos keeps everything synced — deleting a photo on your device also deletes it from iCloud (and all other devices). Downloading just ensures you have a full-resolution local copy alongside the iCloud copy.
How do I download all iCloud photos to my computer?
On Mac: Open Photos > Settings > iCloud > Download Originals to this Mac. On Windows: Install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store, sign in, enable Photos, and find your library in the iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer. You can also download directly from icloud.com in any browser.