--- title: "How to Download All iCloud Photos to Mac" description: "Download all your iCloud photos to a Mac. Three methods: Photos app original downloads, iCloud.com bulk download, and manual export. Full storage requirements." url: https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/download-all-icloud-photos-to-mac/ date: 2026-03-16 --- Updated April 7, 2026 By Jack Smith, iOS Developer at DB Labs # 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 ## 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 Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ ### You Might Also Like - [Backup iPhone Photos Without iCloud](https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/backup-iphone-photos-without-icloud/) - [Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer](https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/transfer-photos-iphone-to-computer/) - [iCloud vs iPhone Storage Explained](https://dblabsapps.com/guides/icloud-vs-iphone-storage-explained/) - [How to Delete Photos from iCloud](https://dblabsapps.com/how-to/delete-photos-from-icloud/) ## 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.