If I Delete Photos from iPhone, Is It Deleted from iCloud?
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When preparing to sell your old iPhone, one of the most important steps is ensuring your photos and videos are safely stored before wiping your device. Many iPhone users wonder if I delete photos from my iPhone, they are deleted from iCloud. The answer depends on how your iCloud Photos settings are configured.
Understanding how iCloud syncing works can help you safely delete photos from your iPhone without losing them forever. This is especially important if you plan to sell your phone through ecoATM, where securely erasing your local storage ensures your personal data remains private.
How iCloud Photo Library Works
The iCloud Photo Library automatically syncs photos across all Apple devices signed into the same Apple account. This means that when you delete a photo from your iPhone Photos app, it is also removed from iCloud and any other Apple devices connected to your Apple ID.
However, there are ways to delete photos from your iPhone while storing them in iCloud or another backup service. If you’re selling your old phone but want to keep your pictures and videos, follow the steps below to protect your files before wiping your device.
How to Delete Photos from iPhone Without Deleting Them from iCloud
If you want to delete photos from your iPhone storage but keep them in iCloud, you must turn off iCloud photos before deleting them.
Steps to Turn Off iCloud Photos Before Deleting
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
- select icloud > photos.
- toggle iCloud photos to off.
Once iCloud photos are turned off, any photos and videos you delete from your iPhone will not be removed from cloud storage. This allows you to free up iPhone storage while keeping your files safely uploaded to iCloud, which is essential if you don’t want to accidentally delete a photo.
Using Google Photos or Other iCloud Alternatives
If you want to remove photos from your iPhone but keep them backed up online, you can use iCloud alternatives like Google Photos.
How to Use Google Photos to Store Your Pictures
- download and install the Google Photos app from the app store.
- Open Google Photos and sign in with your Google account.
- enable backup and sync in the app settings.
- wait for all the photos to be uploaded before deleting them from your iPhone.
Once your photos are backed up to Google Photos, you can delete them from your iPhone without worrying about losing them. Google Photos also offers free storage options, making it a great alternative to iCloud for saving your files.
Managing Recently Deleted Photos
When you delete a photo from your iPhone Photos app, it is first moved to the recently deleted folder before being permanently deleted. Photos in the recently deleted folder remain for 30 days before being erased from your device.
How to Permanently Delete Photos
- Open the photos app and go to albums.
- Scroll down and tap recently deleted.
- Select the photos you want to remove.
- Tap delete permanently.
This step is crucial if you prepare to sell your iPhone through ecoATM. If you reset your phone, photos in the recently deleted folder might still be recoverable.
How to Erase Your iPhone Before Selling
If you plan to trade in or sell your old device, it’s important to completely erase your iPhone after backing up your files.
- Sign out of your iCloud account and Apple ID in settings.
- Go to settings > general > transfer or reset iPhone.
- Tap erase all content and settings.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to reset your phone.
After performing these steps, your iPhone will be wiped clean and ready to sell.
Why Use ecoATM to Sell Your Old iPhone
ecoATM is one of the easiest and safest ways to sell your old iPhone for instant cash. Unlike online marketplaces where you have to wait for a buyer, ecoATM provides a quick and secure way to trade in your device.
Benefits of Using ecoATM
Selling your phone through ecoATM ensures that your old device gets a second life while you get paid instantly. Before trading it in, follow the steps above to back up your files and delete your data properly. Once you do, turning your unwanted device into new cash will only take a moment.
FAQs
Can I delete photos from my iPhone but keep them on my old iCloud account?
Yes, you can delete photos from your iPhone while keeping them on iCloud, but you must first turn off iCloud Photos. If iCloud Photos is enabled, any changes you make to your photos on one device will sync across all devices linked to the same Apple ID. To keep photos in iCloud but remove them from your iPhone, disable iCloud Photos in Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos, then delete them from your iPhone.
How do I delete photos from my iPhone but not from iCloud?
To delete photos from your iPhone while keeping them in iCloud, follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap your Apple ID and select iCloud.
- Go to Photos and turn off iCloud Photos.
- Delete the photos from your Photos app on your iPhone.
Since iCloud Photos is disabled, the deleted photos will only be removed from your iPhone and not from iCloud.
Do deleted photos on iPhone delete from iCloud?
If iCloud Photos is turned on, any photos you delete from your iPhone will also be removed from iCloud and all other Apple devices linked to the same account. However, deleted photos will first go to the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app, where they remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. To avoid losing photos, ensure they are backed up elsewhere before deleting them from your device.
How do I keep photos from iCloud on iCloud only?
To keep photos on iCloud but remove them from your iPhone, disable iCloud syncing and free up local storage.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Apple ID > iCloud > Photos.
- Turn off iCloud Photos.
- Use iCloud.com or another Apple device to access and download your photos.
- Delete photos from your iPhone.
Alternatively, you can move your photos to another cloud storage service like Google Photos before deleting them from your iPhone.
