Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Velli

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 1, 2013
1,315
1,656
I'm pretty sure this issue arose with iOS 11: I have iCloud syncing turned on, and would like it to be. However, even though I have about 30 gig free on my 64 GB SE, whenever i take a picture or video it is IMMEDIATELY uploaded to iCloud, and then deleted on my device. Which means, if I want to send the picture or video I just took, i have to wait for it to re-download from iCloud - which sometimes takes a few minutes! I have way too many pictures to turn iCloud off, and I really want to keep the intelligent sync, so that I have access to all of my photos. Is there any way I can make sure that new photos are actually staying on the device, and only old photos are in the cloud?
 
  • Like
Reactions: canesalato
It sounds strange that the images and videos would be automatically deleted, but the closest thing I can think of is that you might have “optimize iPhone storage” enabled under Photos settings. This means that original photos and videos are uploaded to iCloud Photo Library and optimized versions are left on the device. I believe that would cause videos for instance to be downloaded when you try to view them.
 
wow, I was ready to post this exact same issue, but I found your thread first.

I have the same problem: pictures I shoot, they immediately become unavailable for immediate viewing. And I have almost 10GB free space. From what I can remember, this didn't happen to me before iOS 11. I, also, have optimize iphone storage on, but I think it's way too aggressive.
 
I am having the same issue. Just noticed it in the last few weeks and I believe it is ios11 related. I have over 40gb free, so the os seems to be super aggressive with saving storage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: canesalato
I have the same issue. I’m still looking for reason for this. I know that iOS use a lot of gigs of cache and recently I downloaded many music albums and also connect to iwatch, so I dont know what exactly made this change.
[doublepost=1512947393][/doublepost]From Apple:

If you turn on Optimize Storage, iCloud Photo Library automatically manages the size of your library on your device. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and space-saving versions are kept on your device. Your library is optimized only when you need space, starting with the photos and videos you access least. You can download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you need them. You can use Optimize Storage on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac.
 
Same.


From Apple:

If you turn on Optimize Storage, iCloud Photo Library automatically manages the size of your library on your device. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and space-saving versions are kept on your device. Your library is optimized only when you need space, starting with the photos and videos you access least. You can download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you need them. You can use Optimize Storage on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac.

Yes, this has been a feature for a while. But it has NEVER deleted aggressively like this. Also it has always only uploaded via wifi, but for me this “removing from device” occurs on cellular IMMEDIATELY after I take a pic. Today I was on a hike, took a photo, and attempted to send it in iMessage, but it had to redownload the pic I had literally just taken moments earlier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: canesalato
I turned off optimized storage until bug is fixed. I swear pictures didn’t leave the device before. Not if you had space and took photos with camera on the current used iPhone.
 
I noticed the same on my iPhone 7 Plus.

Also i have 18 GB left on my iPhone. In the past, before iOS 11 it would keep a lot more photos on my actual phone bringing the free space down to about 6 GB instead of 18
 
Did they fix this in 11.2.1? Mines been better tonight. Not sure if it's just being better right now or if it will stay that way.
 
Same problem here. So goddamn frustrating. My phone still has half of it's space available so it should definitely not be storing photos I just took up in the cloud. It never did before on of the most recent iOS 11 updates.
 
I think i'm having the same issue, but to take this a step further I can't edit or share my pic/videos. When I try to edit the download icon comes up and never moves. When I try to share my Photos app gets stuck. Only photos I took right away work. I feel like there is an issue with iCloud that's causing this.
 
Jup, I got the exact same problem to. I contacted Apple and the supports guy told me that it works correctly and that when your iCloud library is larger then your iPhone storage capacity is then this should happen. I told him over and over that I still have 12 gb free of storage but every picture goes directly to iCloud and left my iPhone.. And still he told me it works correctly. Don't think so, this is something recently..
 
Jup, I got the exact same problem to. I contacted Apple and the supports guy told me that it works correctly and that when your iCloud library is larger then your iPhone storage capacity is then this should happen. I told him over and over that I still have 12 gb free of storage but every picture goes directly to iCloud and left my iPhone.. And still he told me it works correctly. Don't think so, this is something recently..

How large is your photo library on iCloud? Sounds like he’s saying if you have 20GB on iCloud but only 12GB free on the device, no pics will stay on the phone unless all pics can stay on...

If that’s true, Apple really needs to make that optimize storage option smarter and start by deleting the oldest pics first to still give you 10%-20% free storage space left over.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macfacts
i'm not sure of the settings people are using.
i give my settings below. i'm not currently experiencing the problem OP mentioned.

my settings are:

iPhone: (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download and Keep Originals (On)
Cellular Data (On)
Unlimited Updates (Off)
Transfer to Mac or PC (Automatic)
Upload to My Photo Stream (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (Off)
Summarize Photos (On)

mac (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download Originals to this Mac (On)
Summarize Photos (On)
My Photo Stream (Off)
Optimize Storage (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (On)

i have 100GB left on mac / 30GB left on iPhone / 90GB left in iCloud Storage
 
How large is your photo library on iCloud? Sounds like he’s saying if you have 20GB on iCloud but only 12GB free on the device, no pics will stay on the phone unless all pics can stay on...
160 GB iCloud Photo-library with 20 GB free in iCloud.

If that’s true, Apple really needs to make that optimize storage option smarter and start by deleting the oldest pics first to still give you 10%-20% free storage space left over.
I always thought that this was how it works.

i'm not sure of the settings people are using.
i give my settings below. i'm not currently experiencing the problem OP mentioned.

my settings are:

iPhone: (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download and Keep Originals (On)
Cellular Data (On)
Unlimited Updates (Off)
Transfer to Mac or PC (Automatic)
Upload to My Photo Stream (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (Off)
Summarize Photos (On)

mac (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download Originals to this Mac (On)
Summarize Photos (On)
My Photo Stream (Off)
Optimize Storage (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (On)

i have 100GB left on mac / 30GB left on iPhone / 90GB left in iCloud Storage

With this setup I assume your have more total memory on your iPhone than your iCloud Photo-library is in total. Otherwise you wouldn't have the option 'download and keep original' and that isn't the option we are using here because me iCloud Photo-library is larger than my iPhone storage capacity.
 
Apple’s photo cloud solution is the worst. Total crap. I stopped using it years ago. I have all their confusing bs storage features and settings turned off. I have a local Camera Roll only. I take pictures. They store on my phone. They auto copy permanently to Google Photos. Done.

The people in charge of Apple’s cloud / photo solution are idiots.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Apple Fritter
160 GB iCloud Photo-library with 20 GB free in iCloud.


I always thought that this was how it works.



With this setup I assume your have more total memory on your iPhone than your iCloud Photo-library is in total. Otherwise you wouldn't have the option 'download and keep original' and that isn't the option we are using here because me iCloud Photo-library is larger than my iPhone storage capacity.

my total total iPhone total capacity is 128GB (maximum for 6s)
my total total iCloud storage is 400BG.

so iCloud is more than my iPhone.
 
i'm not sure of the settings people are using.
i give my settings below. i'm not currently experiencing the problem OP mentioned.

my settings are:

iPhone: (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download and Keep Originals (On)
Cellular Data (On)
Unlimited Updates (Off)
Transfer to Mac or PC (Automatic)
Upload to My Photo Stream (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (Off)
Summarize Photos (On)

mac (Photos app)
iCloud Photo Library (On)
Download Originals to this Mac (On)
Summarize Photos (On)
My Photo Stream (Off)
Optimize Storage (Off)
iCloud Photo Sharing (On)

i have 100GB left on mac / 30GB left on iPhone / 90GB left in iCloud Storage
my total total iPhone total capacity is 128GB (maximum for 6s)
my total total iCloud storage is 400BG.

so iCloud is more than my iPhone.

But then, with the setting 'Download and Keep Originals (On)' you don't have all your pictures on your phone
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.