DB LabsDB Labs

Updated March 16, 2026

By Jack Smith, iOS Developer at DB Labs

How-To

How to Download All iCloud Photos to Mac

Whether you want a local backup, are switching away from iCloud, or need to free cloud storage, here are three ways to download your entire iCloud photo library to your Mac.

March 16, 2026  ·  7 min read

Quick Answer

The easiest method: open the Photos app on your Mac, go to Photos > Settings > iCloud, and select Download Originals to this Mac. This downloads full-resolution copies of every photo and video from iCloud to your Mac's hard drive. The download runs in the background and may take hours to days for large libraries. You need enough free disk space to hold your entire library (check size at iCloud.com > Account Settings). Alternative methods include downloading via iCloud.com or using File > Export in the Photos app for more control over format and location.

Method 1: Download Originals via Photos App

This is the simplest and most reliable method. It downloads all original files to your Mac's Photos library.

1 Open Photos Settings

Open the Photos app on your Mac. Go to Photos > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS). Click the iCloud tab.

2 Select Download Originals

Select Download Originals to this Mac instead of "Optimize Mac Storage." This tells macOS to download full-resolution versions of every photo and video from iCloud.

3 Wait for Download to Complete

The download happens in the background. Open the Photos app and scroll to the bottom of your library -- it shows "Downloading X items" with a progress indicator. Keep your Mac on, connected to Wi-Fi, and plugged into power. A 10,000-photo library typically takes 4-12 hours depending on internet speed.

Method 2: Download via iCloud.com

This method works on any Mac, even without iCloud Photos set up in the Photos app.

  1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID
  2. Click Photos
  3. Select all photos: press Cmd+A (or select specific photos)
  4. Click the download button (cloud with downward arrow)
  5. Photos download as ZIP files to your Downloads folder

Note: iCloud.com downloads in batches of up to 1,000 photos at a time. For large libraries, you will need to repeat the process multiple times. This method is slower but does not require the Photos app.

Method 3: Export from Photos App

For maximum control over file format and destination folder:

  1. Open Photos and select the photos you want to export (Cmd+A for all)
  2. Go to File > Export > Export Originals (or Export X Photos for converted format)
  3. Choose a destination folder (can be an external drive)
  4. Click Export

Export Originals preserves the original HEIC, JPEG, or RAW format. Export X Photos lets you convert to JPEG or TIFF if needed for compatibility.

Storage Requirements

Before downloading, check that your Mac has enough free disk space:

  • Go to iCloud.com > Account Settings to see your iCloud Photos size
  • On your Mac, click Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage to check available space
  • You need at least 10-20% more free space than your library size to account for the download process
  • If your Mac does not have enough space, use an external drive: export photos directly to the external drive using Method 3
Important: If you are downloading to create a backup before canceling iCloud, do not turn off iCloud Photos until the download is completely finished. If you turn it off mid-download, you will lose access to photos that have not been downloaded yet.
Tip: Before downloading your entire library, clean it up to avoid wasting disk space on photos you do not need. Use Swype Photo Cleaner on your iPhone to quickly sort through photos -- swipe left to delete, right to keep. The deletions sync to iCloud, so your Mac download will be leaner and faster.

Download Less, Keep More

Clean your iCloud library before downloading to your Mac. Less clutter means faster downloads and less disk space used.

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device, zero uploads

Download on theApp Store

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+

You Might Also Like

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download all photos from iCloud to my Mac?

Open Photos on your Mac, go to Photos > Settings > iCloud, and select Download Originals to this Mac. The download runs in the background. Keep your Mac on and connected to Wi-Fi until it completes.

How much space do I need to download all iCloud photos?

You need at least as much free space as your iCloud library. Check your library size at iCloud.com > Account Settings. A 10,000-photo library is typically 30-50 GB. If your Mac lacks space, export to an external drive.

Can I download iCloud photos without the Photos app?

Yes. Go to iCloud.com, sign in, click Photos, select all (Cmd+A), and click download. Photos download as ZIP files in batches of up to 1,000.