How to Download Photos from iCloud to an External Drive
If you have a lot of photos stored on iCloud, you might want to download them to an external drive for various reasons. For example, you might want to save some storage space on your iCloud account, create backups of your precious memories, or transfer your files to another device or computer.
Fortunately, there are different methods to download photos from iCloud to an external drive, depending on what device or browser you are using. In this article, we will show you three easy ways to do it.
download photos from icloud to external drive
Method 1: Download Photos from iCloud.com
This method works for any device or browser that can access iCloud.com, such as a PC, a Mac, or an iPad. You will need an internet connection and an external drive that is compatible with your device.
Step 1: Change the default download location to the external drive
Before you start downloading photos from iCloud.com, you need to change the default download location of your browser to the external drive that is connected to your device. This way, you can save time and avoid moving or copying files later.
Here is how to do it for different browsers:
Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > General. Next to File download location, click the drop-down menu and select Other. Then navigate to your external drive and click Select.
Chrome: Go to Chrome > Preferences > Advanced > Downloads. Next to Location, click Change and select your external drive.
Firefox: Go to Firefox > Preferences > General > Files and Applications. Next to Save files to, click Browse and choose your external drive.
Remember to switch back the default download location once you finish downloading photos from iCloud.com.
Step 2: Access iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple IDStep 3: Select the photos you want to download
Once you are signed in to iCloud.com, click the Photos icon to view your photos and albums. You can select the photos you want to download in different ways:
Individual photos: Click on a photo to select it. You will see a blue checkmark on the top right corner of the photo. You can select more photos by clicking on them one by one.
Multiple photos: Click and drag your cursor over the photos you want to select. You will see a blue border around the selected photos.
All photos: Click the Select Photos button on the top right corner of the screen. Then click Select All on the top left corner of the screen. You will see a blue checkmark on every photo.
You can also select photos by date, album, or media type by using the tabs on the left side of the screen.
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Step 4: Click the download button and wait for the photos to be downloaded to the external drive
After selecting the photos you want to download, click the download button on the top right corner of the screen. It looks like a cloud with an arrow pointing down.
A pop-up window will ask you if you want to download the unmodified originals or the most compatible versions of your photos. The unmodified originals are the original files that were uploaded to iCloud, while the most compatible versions are smaller files that have been converted to JPEG format. Choose the option that suits your needs and click Download.
Depending on the number and size of your photos, it may take some time for them to be downloaded to your external drive. You can check the progress of your downloads by looking at the download icon on your browser.
Method 2: Download Photos from iCloud for Windows
This method works for Windows PC users who have iCloud for Windows installed on their computers. You will need an internet connection and an external drive that is compatible with your PC.
Step 1: Download and install iCloud for Windows on your PC
If you don't have iCloud for Windows already, you can download it from . Follow the instructions to install it on your PC and restart your computer if necessary.
Step 2: Sign in with your Apple ID and select Photos as one of the features you want to use
Open iCloud for Windows and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You will see a list of features that you can use with iCloud for Windows, such as Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, etc. Make sure that Photos is checked as one of the features you want to use and click Apply.
Step 3: Click the Options button next to Photos and check the box for iCloud Photo Library
Click the Options button next to Photos and you will see a window with different options for managing your photos with iCloud for Windows. Check the box for iCloud Photo Library, which will allow you to access all your photos and videos from iCloud on your PC.
Step 4: Choose a location for the downloads folder and change it to the external drive
By default, iCloud for Windows will create a folder called iCloud Photos in your Pictures folder, where it will download your photos from iCloud. You can change this location by clicking Change next to Download new photos and videos to my PC. Then navigate to your external drive and select or create a folder where you want to store your photos. Click OK and then Done.
Step 5: Wait for the photos to be downloaded to the external drive
iCloud for Windows will start downloading your photos from iCloud to your external drive. Depending on the number and size of your photos, it may take some time for them to be downloaded. You can check the progress of your downloads by opening File Explorer and looking at the iCloud Photos folder on your external drive.
Method 3: Download Photos from Photos App on Mac
This method works for Mac users who have the Photos app installed on their computers. You will need an internet connection and an external drive that is compatible with your Mac.
Step 1: Open the Photos app on your Mac and go to Preferences
Open the Photos app on your Mac and click Photos > Preferences from the menu bar. This will open a window with different settings for managing your photos with Photos app.
Step 2: Click the iCloud tab and check the box for iCloud Photo Library
Click the iCloud tab and check the box for iCloud Photo Library, which will allow you to access all your photos and videos from iCloud on your Mac.
Step 3: Choose Download Originals to this Mac as the option for storing photos
Under the iCloud Photo Library option, you will see two choices for storing photos on your Mac: Download Originals to this Mac or Optimize Mac Storage. Choose Download Originals to this Mac, which will download the full-resolution versions of your photos from iCloud to your Mac. This will ensure that you have the best quality photos on your external drive.
Step 4: Wait for the photos to be downloaded to your Mac
The Photos app will start downloading your photos from iCloud to your Mac. Depending on the number and size of your photos, it may take some time for them to be downloaded. You can check the progress of your downloads by looking at the status bar at the bottom of the Photos app window.
Step 5: Connect the external drive to your Mac and drag and drop or copy and paste the photos from the Photos app or the Pictures folder to the external drive
Once the photos are downloaded to your Mac, you can connect the external drive to your Mac and transfer them to the external drive. There are two ways to do this:
Drag and drop: Open the Photos app and select the photos you want to transfer. Then drag and drop them to the external drive icon on your desktop or in Finder.
Copy and paste: Open Finder and go to the Pictures folder. You will see a file called Photos Library, which contains all your photos from the Photos app. Right-click on it and select Show Package Contents. Then go to Masters and you will see folders with dates that correspond to when you took or imported your photos. Copy and paste the folders or individual photos that you want to transfer to the external drive.
Remember to eject the external drive safely before disconnecting it from your Mac.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you three easy methods to download photos from iCloud to an external drive. You can choose the method that works best for you depending on what device or browser you are using. By downloading photos from iCloud to an external drive, you can save storage space, create backups, or transfer files easily.
Here are some tips or suggestions for managing photos on iCloud and external drives:
Delete unwanted photos from iCloud: If you have a lot of photos that you don't need or want anymore, you can delete them from iCloud to free up some storage space. To do this, go to iCloud.com or the Photos app and select the photos you want to delete. Then click the delete button and confirm. The deleted photos will be moved to a Recently Deleted album, where they will stay for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can also delete them from there if you want to remove them immediately.
Free up iCloud storage space: If you are running low on iCloud storage space, you can free up some by using different options, such as buying more storage, using iCloud Photo Library with Optimize Storage option, or turning off iCloud Photo Library altogether. To learn more about these options, check out .
Access photos on different devices: If you want to access your photos on different devices, such as an iPhone, an iPad, or a Windows PC, you can use iCloud Photo Library, which will sync your photos across all your devices that are signed in with the same Apple ID. To enable iCloud Photo Library on your devices, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photo Library.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to downloading photos from iCloud to an external drive:
Q: How do I download all my photos from iCloud at once?
A: If you want to download all your photos from iCloud at once, you can use any of the methods we have described in this article. However, if you have a lot of photos, it may take a long time and consume a lot of bandwidth. A faster way to download all your photos from iCloud at once is to request a copy of your data from Apple. To do this, go to , sign in with your Apple ID, and follow the instructions to request a copy of your data. You can choose what data you want to download, including photos. Apple will prepare a file with your data and send you a link to download it within a few days. You can then download the file to your computer and extract the photos to your external drive.
Q: How do I download photos from iCloud to an external drive on iPhone or iPad?
A: If you want to download photos from iCloud to an external drive on iPhone or iPad, you will need an external drive that is compatible with your device, such as a Lightning or USB-C flash drive. You will also need the Files app on your device, which allows you to manage files and folders on your device and external drives. To download photos from iCloud to an external drive on iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
Connect the external drive to your device and open the Files app.
Tap Browse and locate the external drive under Locations.
Tap Select and choose a folder where you want to store your photos on the external drive.
Tap the three dots icon on the top right corner of the screen and select New Folder. Name the folder as you wish and tap Done.
Tap the folder you just created and then tap the three dots icon again. Select Add from iCloud Drive.
Navigate to the Photos folder on your iCloud Drive and select the photos you want to download. You can select individual photos, multiple photos, or all photos by tapping Select on the top right corner of the screen.
Tap Add on the bottom right corner of the screen and wait for the photos to be downloaded to the external drive.
Q: How do I download photos from iCloud to an external drive without a computer?
A: If you don't have a computer, you can still download photos from iCloud to an external drive using your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. You will need an external drive that is compatible with your device, such as a Lightning, USB-C, or micro-USB flash drive. You will also need an app that can access iCloud.com, such as Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. To download photos from iCloud to an external drive without a computer, follow these steps:
Connect the external drive to your device and open the app that can access iCloud.com.
Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Tap the Photos icon and select the photos you want to download. You can choose individual photos, multiple photos, or all photos by tapping Select Photos on the top right corner of the screen.
Tap the download button on the top right corner of the screen and choose whether you want to download the unmodified originals or the most compatible versions of your photos.
A pop-up window will ask you where you want to save your photos. Tap Save to Files and select your external drive as the location. Then tap Save.
Wait for the photos to be downloaded to the external drive.
Q: How do I download photos from iCloud to an external drive on Android?
A: If you have an Android device, you can download photos from iCloud to an external drive using a web browser, such as Chrome or Firefox. You will need an internet connection and an external drive that is compatible with your device, such as a micro-USB or USB-C flash drive. To download photos from iCloud to an external drive on Android, follow these steps:
Connect the external drive to your device and open the web browser.
Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Tap the Photos icon and select the photos you want to download. You can choose individual photos, multiple photos, or all photos by tapping Select Photos on the top right corner of the screen.
Tap the download button on the top right corner of the screen and choose whether you want to download the unmodified originals or the most compatible versions of your photos.
A pop-up window will ask you where you want to save your photos. Tap Download and select your external drive as the location. Then tap OK.
Wait for the photos to be downloaded to the external drive.
Q: How do I view my photos on an external drive?
A: To view your photos on an external drive, you need a device that can read and display them, such as a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or a smart TV. You also need a cable or adapter that can connect your external drive to your device, such as a USB-A, USB-C, Lightning, or micro-USB cable or adapter. To view your photos on an external drive, follow these steps:
Connect the external drive to your device using the cable or adapter.
Open the file manager or the photo viewer app on your device and navigate to the external drive. You will see a folder with your photos, which may be named iCloud Photos, Photos Library, or something else depending on how you downloaded them.
Open the folder and select the photos you want to view. You can also play a slideshow of your photos by tapping the play button on the top right corner of the screen.
I hope you found this article helpful and learned how to download photos from iCloud to an external drive. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 44f88ac181
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