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Apple shut down My Photo Stream in 2023. It can no longer upload or transfer photos, and it is not available as a recovery service. Check the Photos libraries on your devices and any computer or external copies you made. For ongoing access across Apple devices, use iCloud Photos—but remember that it syncs changes and deletions, so keep a separate copy of important images.
What happened to My Photo Stream?
Apple stopped accepting new My Photo Stream uploads on June 26, 2023, and shut the service down on July 26, 2023. Its temporary photo-transfer stream is no longer available. Apple’s shutdown notice said photos in the stream were already stored on at least one of a user’s devices. That does not guarantee that every photo is still on a device you can access.
Look in the Photos library on each iPhone, iPad, or Mac you used with My Photo Stream, and check any computer or external drive where you may have saved images. Do not expect to recover photos from the retired stream itself.
What iCloud Photos does—and what it does not
iCloud Photos stores photos and videos in their original formats at full resolution in iCloud, then makes the library available on supported devices and on the web. Use the same Apple Account on each device you want to sync. Apple’s iCloud Photos guide explains that edits and deletions sync too: deleting a photo on one connected device deletes it from the others.
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- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Deleted items can be restored from Recently Deleted for 30 days, according to Apple’s current support guidance accessed September 27, 2026. After that period, they are permanently deleted. iCloud Photos is therefore a synchronized library, not an independent archive that protects you from every deletion or account-access problem.
Turn on iCloud Photos
On iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap iCloud, then Photos.
- Turn on Sync this [device]. The exact label may vary with the device and software version. See Apple’s iCloud device setup instructions.
On Mac
Open the Photos app’s settings and enable iCloud Photos. Make sure the library you want to sync is set as the System Photo Library. Apple’s setup guide has the Mac-specific steps.
Rank #2
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Choose how much space originals use on your device
With Optimize Storage enabled, full-resolution originals remain in iCloud while smaller versions are kept on the device when needed. Choose Download and Keep Originals if you want full-resolution copies stored locally and have enough device space. The initial sync can take time; Apple says the duration depends on library size and internet speed.
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Photos and videos in iCloud Photos count toward your iCloud storage. Apple’s support guidance accessed September 27, 2026, says an iCloud account includes 5 GB of free storage. Whether that is enough depends on your library and other iCloud content. If you need more space, Apple offers iCloud+ storage plans; check the current tiers and prices for your country because they vary by region and can change. See Apple’s iCloud Photos support page.
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- 【Wide Compatibility】Supports PS4 5/xbox one/Windows/Linux/Mac and other operating systems, ensuring seamless integration with game consoles,various laptops and desktops .
- Important Notes for PS/Xbox Gaming Devices: You can play last-gen games (PS4 / Xbox One) directly from an external hard drive. However, to play current-gen games (PS5 / Xbox Series X|S), you must copy them to the console's internal SSD first. The external drive is great for keeping your library on hand, but it can't run the new games.
Keep an independent copy of important photos
Apple says iCloud Photos items are not duplicated in iCloud Backup and recommends keeping backup copies of your library. A separately saved copy is useful because a deletion in a synced library propagates to connected devices.
Export from Photos on a Mac
Select the photos in Photos, then choose File > Export and save them to a Finder location, such as an external storage device. For more detail, see Apple’s Photos guide to downloading from iCloud.
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- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
Import from an iPhone or iPad to a computer
Apple documents transferring photos over USB and importing them to a Mac or PC. On Windows, the documented workflow uses Apple Devices and Microsoft Photos. Follow Apple’s transfer instructions. If Optimize Storage is on, some originals may be in iCloud rather than on the phone, so download the originals or use iCloud Photos on the computer before relying on a cable import for full-resolution files.
Choose the arrangement that fits your needs
| Option | How changes and deletions behave | Internet and iCloud storage | Local space and independent copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCloud Photos | Edits and deletions sync across connected devices. | Requires internet for syncing and uses iCloud storage. | Optimized storage can reduce device space; the synced library is not an independent copy. |
| Computer or external drive copy | Changes to the iCloud library do not automatically update an exported copy. | Does not require iCloud storage for the saved copy; transferring or downloading originals may require internet. | Uses space on the computer or drive and provides a separate copy. |
| Both | iCloud changes still sync, while the separately saved copy remains distinct unless you replace or delete it. | Uses iCloud storage for the synced library; internet is needed for syncing or downloading. | Requires room for the copy on a computer or external drive as well as any locally stored originals. |
The right choice depends on whether you prioritize automatic access across devices, a locally controlled copy, or both. Apple’s guidance on iCloud Photos and photo transfers describes the respective workflows.
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