To get all your photos back from iCloud, the method depends on whether your photos were recently deleted or if you simply want to download your entire iCloud Photos library to a device.
The most common way to recover recently deleted photos is through the iCloud website.
If you've accidentally deleted photos or videos from your iCloud Photos, they are stored in the Recently Deleted album for a limited time (usually 30 days) before being permanently removed. You can recover them easily using these steps:
- Go to iCloud Photos: Open your web browser and navigate to icloud.com/photos.
- Sign In: If prompted, sign in to your Apple Account with your Apple ID and password.
- Access Recently Deleted: In the sidebar on the left, click on the Recently Deleted album.
- Select & Recover:
- To select individual photos or videos, click on them.
- To select multiple items, hold down the
Commandkey (Mac) orCtrlkey (Windows) and click each item, or click "Select" at the top right to select a range. - Once selected, click the Recover button located in the top right corner.
Your selected photos and videos will be restored to your main iCloud Photos library and will reappear on all your devices with iCloud Photos enabled.
Important Considerations for Recently Deleted:
- Time Limit: Photos and videos remain in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days. After this period, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
- Storage Space: Recovering items will count towards your iCloud storage limit.
- Device Sync: Once recovered on iCloud.com, they will automatically re-sync to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices using iCloud Photos, provided you have sufficient device storage.
Downloading All Your Photos and Videos from iCloud Photos
If "getting all your photos back" means downloading your entire iCloud Photos library to a local device, rather than recovering deleted items, you have a few primary methods:
1. Downloading from iCloud.com
You can download selected photos or your entire library directly from the iCloud website. This is useful if you want to create a local backup or move photos to a new computer.
- Visit iCloud Photos: Go to icloud.com/photos and sign in.
- Select Items:
- To download specific photos, click on them to select.
- To select multiple items, click the "Select" button at the top right, then click on individual photos or drag to select a range.
- To select all photos in a moment or across your entire library, click "Select" and then "Select All" from the top-left options (or press
Command + Aon Mac,Ctrl + Aon Windows).
- Initiate Download: Click the Download button (cloud icon with a downward arrow) in the top right corner.
- For multiple items, they will typically download as a
.zipfile. You may need to unzip it afterward.
- For multiple items, they will typically download as a
2. Using iCloud for Windows or macOS Photos App
For a more integrated and automatic download experience, use the dedicated iCloud Photos integration on your computer:
- On macOS: If you're using a Mac, your Photos app is natively integrated with iCloud Photos. Ensure Photos > Settings > iCloud is set to "Download Originals to this Mac." This will download all full-resolution photos and videos from iCloud to your computer, provided you have enough storage.
- On Windows: Download and install iCloud for Windows. Once installed and signed in:
- Open iCloud for Windows, click "Options" next to Photos.
- Enable "iCloud Photos" and "Download new photos and videos to my PC."
- You can choose the location where photos are downloaded.
- Click "Done" and "Apply." Your iCloud Photos will begin downloading to the specified folder.
3. Syncing Directly to Your iOS/iPadOS Device
To ensure all your photos are available on your iPhone or iPad, verify your iCloud Photos settings:
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.
- Ensure iCloud Photos is toggled On.
- Select Download and Keep Originals. This option will download the full-resolution versions of all your photos and videos to your device, ensuring they are always accessible even offline. Be mindful of your device's storage space.
By utilizing these methods, you can effectively recover deleted photos or download your entire iCloud Photos library, ensuring all your precious memories are back where you need them.
