To get your photos sent to iCloud, you need to turn on iCloud Photos on your Apple devices. This feature automatically syncs your entire photo and video library to iCloud, allowing you to access it from any of your Apple devices and on the web.
Enabling iCloud Photos Sync
The primary way to get your photos sent to iCloud is by activating the iCloud Photos feature on your iPhone and Mac. This synchronization process ensures that new photos taken on one device are uploaded to iCloud and become available on all linked devices.
Here are the steps based on the reference provided:
On your iPhone:
Getting photos from your iPhone to iCloud involves a few taps in your device's settings.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on your Apple ID (Your Name) at the top.
- Select iCloud.
- Tap on Photos.
- Toggle Sync this iPhone to the ON position (green).
Once "Sync this iPhone" is enabled, your iPhone will begin uploading your photo library to iCloud, provided you have enough iCloud storage available and are connected to Wi-Fi (by default, cellular uploads can be configured).
On your Mac:
Similarly, you can set up your Mac to sync its photo library with iCloud.
- Go to the Apple menu bar () in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- Click on Apple ID in the sidebar.
- Select iCloud.
- Click on Photos.
- Check the box or toggle for Sync this Mac (the exact wording might vary slightly by macOS version).
Enabling "Sync this Mac" will integrate your Mac's Photos library with iCloud Photos, syncing existing photos and any new photos imported to the Photos app on your Mac.
Why Use iCloud Photos?
Turning on the sync feature, as described above, is essential for:
- Automatic Uploads: Photos and videos you take or import are automatically uploaded to iCloud.
- Access Everywhere: View, edit, and share your photos and videos from any of your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV) and iCloud.com.
- Storage Optimization: Save space on your devices by keeping full-resolution originals in iCloud and storing device-optimized versions locally.
- Backup: Your entire library is safely stored in iCloud.
By following the steps to turn on "Sync this iPhone" or "Sync this Mac," you activate the service that automatically sends your photos to iCloud, keeping them updated across all your devices.
