How to access iCloud Photos on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iPhone photos are powerful, while iCloud's connectivity makes photos easy to share across devices.

Isn't it great?

For example, I can take pictures on my phone, edit them later on my Mac, and vice versa. I like this ease of accessing the same photos without having to manually upload to the cloud.

Using iCloud Photos is like having a magic wand that automatically syncs all media to all Apple devices, so you don't have to worry about manually transferring photos or videos. And, you can easily share your memories with friends and family by creating shared albums.

But if you've just turned to Apple, you might be wondering where or how to view iCloud photos. I think I can help.

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How to access photos on iCloud

In this article, you will learn how to view iCloud photos and easily manage your media with this super convenient and powerful tool.

• View photos via iCloud Photos app
• Access your photos on your Mac
• View iCloud photos in your browser
• Why can't I see my iCloud photos?

View photos via iCloud Photos app

The easiest way to view iCloud photos is through the Photos app. The real question is – is it linked to iCloud? If the Photos app is not connected to iCloud, only photos taken or saved from a specific device are displayed. This means you cannot view photos shared from other Apple devices you have. So make sure you have connected your Photos app to iCloud.

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Apple ID.
2. Click "iCloud" > "Photos".
3. Then, turn on Sync this phone.

To open iCloud photos on your Mac:

1. Go to the Apple menu bar > select System Settings.
2. Click on your Apple ID > iCloud > Photos.
3. Then, open Sync this Mac.

Once you connect your photos to iCloud, Apple will upload all photos to the cloud. Simply open the Photos app on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to access your media collection.

To browse photos by album and category, click Albums in the bottom menu. You can also click Search to find photos by keyword, location, or date range.

If you need more information, I recommend checking out this guide on how to upload photos to iCloud.

Access your photos on iPhone

Here is how to view iCloud photos on your iPhone and iPad using the Photos app:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Click "Repository" to view all shared photos.
3. Click "All Photos".

If you see "Synchronized with iCloud" or "Synchronized x entries to iCloud" at the bottom, it means that iCloud photos are enabled and your media is synchronized across devices.

Tip Before you send all your photos to iCloud, it is best to delete blurry, duplicate, and unwanted images you took on your iPhone. Apple only offers 5GB of free storage, so I recommend using CleanMy®Phone to scan your iPhone or iPad and filter out images you don't need. This way, you won't fill your iCloud storage with junk files.

Access your iCloud photos on your Mac

So, how do you access photos in iCloud on your Mac? Very simple.

There are actually two ways to do this, one is to use the Photos app and the other is to use it in the browser via iCloud.com. But before we start, let's check if the iCloud photos are turned on on your Mac device.

To access iCloud photos on your Mac:

1. Click on the Apple logo on the left side of the menu bar
2. Select System Settings from the menu
3. Then click on Apple ID
4. Select iCloud
5. If necessary, use your Apple ID to log in
6. Finally, open the iCloud Cloud Drive.

The Photos app is the best way to view, sort, and share photos saved on iCloud.

View iCloud photos in the Photos app

I like to edit photos on the big screen, although most of my photos are taken with my phone. I'll also save the screenshots I've captured for work on iCloud as well. Using photos, I can easily organize them in my library, knowing they have been simplified on my iPad and iPhone as well.

So, if you are using a Mac, open Finder > Apps > Photos. Click "Database" to view all photos.

Check your Apple ID

If you cannot see photos shared from another device, make sure you are logged in with the correct Apple ID. Next, check if your device is linked to iCloud.

Here's how to do this on your iPhone:

1. Click "Settings".
2. If you are not logged in, please log in with your Apple ID.
3. Click Apple ID > iCloud > Photos.
4. Open Sync this iPhone.

On a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Apple menu bar > select System Settings. Check if you see your Apple ID on the left.
2. If you are not logged in, please log in.
3. Click on your Apple ID > iCloud.
4. Click Photos > Open Sync This Mac.

Unless you experience network outages, misconfiguration, or other software issues, you can view the iCloud Photo Gallery from the MacBook itself.

View iCloud photos in your browser

When you send images to iCloud, Apple saves them on a remote server. If you don't have quick access to your Mac or iPhone, you can still see these images—as long as you have a web browser.

I can't tell you how many times this feature saved me! Some time ago, my cousin asked for some photos of our last trip together. I realized I didn't bring my MacBook, but I quickly accessed my iCloud photos from my friend's iPad.

So, here's how to do this on your browser:

1. Open Safari.
2. Go to icloud.com.
3. Sign in with your Apple ID.
4. Click "Photo".
5. Browse all uploaded photos in the library, memories, albums and other folders.

Now, you can access iCloud photos even if you don't carry your Mac, iPhone, or iPad with you.

Why can't I see my iCloud photos?

When you upload photos to iCloud from your iPhone, you want to see them on your Mac. vice versa. But sometimes this doesn't happen. I have had this happening myself, especially when I want to show my friends pictures of my recent trip.

So, what's the problem? If iCloud photos are not synced to your device, how do you view them?

I'll share several scenes that may prevent iCloud photos from showing.

Network issues

If you are not connected to the internet, you cannot sync your photos to iCloud. The image file will remain on your device until it is connected to the internet again. Similarly, if your network connection is not good, iCloud photos may not be synced across devices.

Quick checks using applications like WiFi Signal can tell you if your Mac is experiencing network problems and can help you with troubleshooting steps.

The application alerts you when your device is connected to or disconnected from the network or switches to a different access point. This feature can help identify connection issues that may prevent your photos from syncing with iCloud.

Apple ID error

Another possible reason is that you forgot to perform iCloud photo login, especially after having someone else log into your Mac.

Remember that your iCloud photos are connected to your Apple ID. If you log out of the device, you cannot view, change, or delete photos in iCloud. Also, if someone else logs into your device, you will see their iCloud photos, not yours.

Thankfully, the solution here is simple. Simply use your Apple ID to log in to your device and sync your iCloud photos.

iCloud photos not opened

Apple allows you to control the types of files to be uploaded and synced with iCloud. If for some reason you accidentally turn off the photos, you won't be able to see them on other devices. As a digital solution expert, I see this problem often. Just a quick check to make sure you have allowed iCloud photos to sync.

Please read also:

• Backup iPhone to iCloud
• Log out of iCloud from Mac
• Transfer photos from Android to Mac
• How to activate your new iPhone

Software outdated

If you have been updating your Mac, iPhone, or iPad for a while, you should update it now. Sometimes, Apple adds new features and fixes to its services, such as iCloud. iCloud photos may not work unless you update properly.

Too many files to sync

Yes. This can happen, especially if you move a large number of photos from your camera to your Mac. Even with a good internet connection, it can take 30 minutes or more to move 1,000 HD photos.

Personal experience: If you are looking for a faster way to sync photos to iCloud, I highly recommend you try AnyTrans for iOS. I personally have used this powerful file transfer app, which is very useful for moving a large number of photos between your device and iCloud.

Here is how to use the application to sync iCloud.

1. Install and open AnyTrans for iOS.
2. In the Cloud tab, log in to your iCloud.
3. Click "Photo".
4. Click the iCloud Sync button.

Now, I won't say you'll see photos on all devices right away, but at least it can reduce some waiting time.

The device is in low power mode

If your device goes into low battery mode, it will turn off certain features to extend battery life, including iCloud sync. Therefore, unless you force iCloud sync or reconnect the device to power, you cannot upload photos to the cloud or view photos uploaded by other devices.

iCloud insufficient storage space

Apple provides 5 GB of free iCloud storage for all users. If you have used them, you cannot upload more files to the cloud unless you have signed up for iCloud to extend storage space limitations. Alternatively, you can delete photos that are no longer needed on iCloud. If you choose the latter, read this guide to learn how to delete photos from iCloud.

How to view photos in iCloud (Solved)

Typically, you should not experience problems viewing, changing, or sorting photos on iCloud. Of course, you may have problems occasionally and I hope the tips I share will help you.

Most importantly, you can also better manage iCloud photos using the apps I mentioned:

• CleanMy®Phone allows you to delete unwanted photos to avoid uploading them to iCloud storage.
• AnyTrans for iOS helps you transfer and sync large numbers of photos between all devices faster.
• WiFi Signal scans your network for signal quality issues that prevent iCloud from syncing.

You can find the apps I listed on the Setapp platform, including other useful ones that can help you improve productivity on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. By the way, Setapp offers a 7-day free trial, so you should give it a try now!

Frequently Asked Questions

> How to access my iCloud photos across devices?

Use your Apple ID to log in to the device you want to view iCloud photos. Then, make sure you have iCloud Photos Sync turned on.

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos > Turn on Sync This iPhone.

On your Mac, go to the Apple menu bar > System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos > Turn on Sync This Mac.

Once you have done this, you can view iCloud photos on these devices.

Is there a way to access old iCloud photos?

If you can't find the photos you are looking for, visit iCloud.com. You will find all the photos you upload, including older ones. They may be in the Album or Library. If you have deleted them, go to the Recent Deleted folder and recover your photos.

If someone owns your iCloud, can they see your photos?

Anyone with access to your iCloud can view and delete your iCloud photos. To prevent this from happening, please do not share your Apple ID and password. Also, turn on two-factor authentication to add another layer of security checks to prevent strangers from logging in.

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