To download original photos from iCloud: (1) iPhone: Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Photos → "Download and Keep Originals", (2) Web: iCloud.com → Photos → Select → Download → "Unmodified Original", (3) Windows: Install iCloud for Windows with "Download originals" enabled, (4) Mac: Photos Settings → Download Originals to this Mac.
Understanding iCloud Photo Storage
iCloud Photos stores your entire photo library in Apple's cloud servers at full resolution. However, by default, your devices store only optimized (compressed) versions to save space. When you need the full-quality originals, you must explicitly download them.
Where your photos actually are:
- iCloud (cloud): Full-resolution originals (3-8MB each)
- Your device: Optimized versions (300KB-1MB) if "Optimize Storage" enabled
- Downloaded originals: Only if you switch to "Download and Keep Originals"
Method 1: Download Originals to iPhone/iPad
1 Enable "Download and Keep Originals"
This setting downloads full-resolution versions from iCloud and stores them permanently on your device.
1. Open Settings app on iPhone or iPad
2. Tap your name at the top (Apple ID section)
3. Tap iCloud
4. Tap Photos
5. Under "Photos," select "Download and Keep Originals"
6. Wait for download process to complete
7. Progress shown at bottom of Photos app: "Downloading X photos"
8. Keep device on Wi-Fi and charging for faster completion
Download Time:
• 100 photos: 5-15 minutes
• 1,000 photos: 30-90 minutes
• 10,000 photos: Several hours
• Depends on Wi-Fi speed and photo sizes
Ensure sufficient free space BEFORE enabling:
• 1,000 photos = ~5GB needed
• 5,000 photos = ~25GB needed
• 10,000 photos = ~50GB needed
Check free space: Settings → General → iPhone Storage
If insufficient space, iOS will warn "Not Enough Storage" and won't download. Free up space first or use alternative methods (iCloud.com, Windows).
What Happens:
- iOS downloads full-resolution originals from iCloud
- Replaces optimized versions with originals on device
- All future photos saved at full resolution
- Photos remain backed up to iCloud
- AirDrop and exports now send full quality
Verify Download Completion
Check if originals have fully downloaded:
- Open Photos app
- Go to Library tab
- Scroll to very bottom
- If downloading: Shows "Downloading X photos" or "X photos"
- If complete: Only shows photo count, no download message
Alternative check: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Photos
Storage size should significantly increase after download completes.
Method 2: Download from iCloud.com (Any Device)
2 Web Browser Download
Access and download full-resolution originals via any web browser without affecting device storage.
1. Open web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
2. Go to iCloud.com
3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password
4. Enter two-factor authentication code if prompted
5. Click Photos icon
6. Wait for library to load (may take a minute)
7. To download specific photos:
• Click photos while holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) for multiple
• Or Shift-click for range selection
8. To download all photos:
• Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select all
• Or scroll and click while selecting
9. Click download icon (cloud with down arrow) in top toolbar
10. Choose download format:
• "Unmodified Original" (select this for full quality)
• or "Most Compatible" (converts HEIC to JPG)
11. Click Download
12. Photos download as ZIP file (large selections)
13. Extract ZIP to access full-resolution originals
Download Limits:
• Single photo: Downloads immediately
• 2-999 photos: Downloads as single ZIP
• 1000+ photos: Multiple ZIPs created
• No file size limit, but large selections may take time
Advantages of iCloud.com:
- Doesn't use device storage
- Works from any computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook)
- Can download entire library or specific selections
- Choose between original format or JPEG conversion
- No software installation required
Unmodified Original:
• Exact file as captured by iPhone (HEIC/HEIF format)
• Preserves all EXIF metadata (date, location, camera settings)
• Smallest file size
• May not open on Windows without codec
Most Compatible:
• Converts HEIC to JPG automatically
• Opens on any device/platform
• Slightly larger file sizes
• Metadata preserved
• Best for Windows users or sharing
Recommendation: Use "Most Compatible" for Windows/sharing, "Unmodified Original" for Mac or archival.
Method 3: Download to Windows PC
3 iCloud for Windows
Install iCloud app on Windows to automatically sync full-resolution photos.
1. Open Microsoft Store on Windows
2. Search for "iCloud"
3. Install "iCloud for Windows" (official Apple app)
4. Launch iCloud app after installation
5. Sign in with Apple ID
6. Check the box next to "Photos"
7. Click "Options" button next to Photos
8. In Photos Options:
• Check "iCloud Photos"
• Check "Download new photos and videos to my PC"
• Important: Check "Download originals to this PC"
• Set download folder (default: Pictures\iCloud Photos)
9. Click "Done"
10. Click "Apply" in main window
11. Photos begin downloading automatically
12. Check progress in download folder
Default Location:
C:\Users\[YourName]\Pictures\iCloud Photos\Downloads
How iCloud for Windows Works:
- Syncs full-resolution originals to PC automatically
- New photos appear in download folder within minutes
- Two-way sync: Photos added to "Uploads" folder go to iCloud
- Doesn't affect iPhone storage (can keep "Optimize" enabled on phone)
- Originals stored locally on PC
• Windows 10 or later
• Sufficient disk space for photo library
• Microsoft Store access (some corporate PCs block)
• Active iCloud account with iCloud Photos enabled
If Microsoft Store unavailable, download from apple.com/icloud/setup/pc.html (older version)
Troubleshooting Common Issues:
Photos Not Downloading
- Verify "iCloud Photos" enabled on iPhone (Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Photos)
- Check internet connection on PC
- Restart iCloud app: System tray → iCloud icon → Sign Out → Sign In
- Ensure sufficient disk space on PC
HEIC Files Won't Open
- Install "HEIF Image Extensions" from Microsoft Store
- Or in iCloud Photos Options, ensure "Download originals" is checked and restart
- Alternative: Use "Most Compatible" option in iCloud.com instead
Method 4: Download to Mac
4 Mac Photos App
Configure Mac to download and store full-resolution originals from iCloud Photos.
1. Open Photos app
2. Go to Photos menu → Settings (or Preferences in older macOS)
3. Click iCloud tab
4. Check "iCloud Photos" if not already enabled
5. Select "Download Originals to this Mac"
6. Close Settings
7. Photos begin downloading from iCloud
8. Monitor progress: Photos menu → Window → Activity
9. Keep Mac connected to power and internet
10. Download completes when Activity window shows no pending downloads
Download Location:
Photos Library: ~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary
(This is a package file containing all originals)
Export Photos from Mac:
1. Select photos in Photos app
2. File → Export → Export [X] Photos
3. Set options:
• Photo Kind: "Unmodified Original"
• File Naming: Your preference
• Include: Check "Location Information" and "Title and Keywords" for metadata
4. Choose destination folder
5. Click Export
6. Full-resolution originals saved to folder
Mac Storage Requirements:
- Photos Library can grow to 50-200GB+ for large collections
- Check free space: Apple menu → About This Mac → Storage
- Consider external drive for massive libraries
- Time Machine backups will also include Photos Library
Method Comparison
| Method | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone/iPad Settings | Always having originals on phone | Instant access, full quality exports/AirDrop | Uses 5-50GB+ device storage |
| iCloud.com | One-time downloads, limited device storage | No device storage used, any platform, selective download | Manual process, requires re-downloading if needed again |
| iCloud for Windows | Windows users wanting automatic sync | Automatic sync, originals on PC, frees iPhone space | Requires software install, uses PC storage |
| Mac Photos | Mac users, photographers, editors | Native integration, easy organization/editing, automatic sync | Uses Mac storage, requires Mac |
Download Full iCloud Photo Library
To download your ENTIRE photo library (thousands of photos):
Option 1: Google Takeout (via Transfer)
Apple partners with Google to allow direct transfer of full libraries.
- Go to privacy.apple.com
- Sign in with Apple ID
- Select "Transfer a copy of your data"
- Choose "Transfer to Google Photos"
- Follow prompts to authorize Google account
- Transfer takes 3-7 days for large libraries
- Download from Google Photos using Google Takeout
Option 2: iCloud.com Batch Downloads
Download in batches of 1000 photos at a time.
- iCloud.com → Photos
- Select first 1000 photos (Ctrl+A selects all visible)
- Download as ZIP
- Repeat for next batch
- Tedious but works for full library backup
Option 3: Mac Export
Best option if you have Mac.
- Download originals to Mac (Method 4 above)
- Select all in Photos app (Cmd+A)
- File → Export → Export Unmodified Originals
- Export to external drive (if library is large)
- Preserves folder structure and metadata
Verify Photo Quality After Download
Ensure you downloaded full-resolution originals:
Check File Size:
• Full-res photos: 3-8MB typical
• Optimized photos: 300KB-1MB
• If downloaded files are under 1MB, they're optimized, not originals
Check Resolution:
• Windows: Right-click → Properties → Details → Dimensions
• Mac: Get Info → More Info → Dimensions
• Should be 3000×4000 (12MP) or higher
• NOT 1600×1200 or similar (that's optimized)
Check EXIF Data:
• Use metadata viewer or properties
• Should include date taken, camera model, location
• Stripped metadata indicates possible compression
Visual Check:
• Zoom to 100% (actual pixels)
• Sharp detail visible
• No obvious pixelation or compression artifacts
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to download originals from iCloud?
Depends on library size and internet speed. 1000 photos takes 30-90 minutes on typical home Wi-Fi (50-100 Mbps). 10,000 photos can take 6-12 hours. Download speeds: iCloud.com is fastest for bulk downloads; iPhone sync is slowest due to mobile optimization. Always use Wi-Fi, never cellular data.
Will downloading originals use my iCloud storage?
No. Originals are already in iCloud (that's where they're downloading FROM). The download uses your device/computer storage, but doesn't consume additional iCloud storage quota. Your iCloud storage usage remains the same whether you download originals or not.
Can I download originals without keeping them on device permanently?
Yes, use iCloud.com method. Download to computer as needed, delete after use if space is limited. Originals remain in iCloud. Or on iPhone, temporarily switch to "Download and Keep Originals," export needed photos via AirDrop/cable, then switch back to "Optimize" to reclaim space.
Why is "Download and Keep Originals" grayed out on iPhone?
Causes: (1) iCloud Photos not enabled (enable it first), (2) Not signed into iCloud, (3) Insufficient iPhone storage for full library (need to free up space or use alternative download method), (4) iCloud storage full (though rare), (5) iOS bug (restart phone).
Do downloaded originals include Live Photos motion and sound?
Yes, when downloading "Unmodified Original." Live Photos download as two files: JPG/HEIC (still image) and MOV (video). Keep both files together. Most Compatible mode converts to HEIC+MOV. Windows/Android may only show still image; Mac/iPhone show full Live Photo.
Best Practices
For iPhone Users with Limited Storage:
✓ Keep "Optimize iPhone Storage" enabled
✓ Use iCloud.com for occasional full-res downloads
✓ Or set up iCloud for Windows/Mac for automatic sync
For iPhone Users with Ample Storage:
✓ Switch to "Download and Keep Originals"
✓ Always have full-resolution on device
✓ AirDrop and shares send full quality
For Backup/Archival:
✓ Download entire library to external drive via Mac
✓ Or use iCloud.com batch downloads
✓ Keep multiple backups (3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite)
✓ Verify file sizes and quality after download
For Professional Photography:
✓ Never rely solely on iCloud for originals
✓ Download immediately to computer after shoots
✓ Use iCloud as backup, not primary storage
✓ Keep RAW files separately (iCloud Photos supports but heavily compressed)