How Do I Get My Photos From the Cloud?
"My photos are in the cloud. How do I get them?"
This is one of the most common questions I get. And the answer depends on which cloud.
Let's break it down.
First: Which cloud are you using?
| You have | Photos probably in |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iCloud |
| Android | Google Photos |
| Both | Check both |
iCloud Photos (iPhone)
Your photos might be on your phone, in iCloud, or both.
To check:
- Open Settings
- Tap your name at the top
- Tap iCloud → Photos
If "Sync this iPhone" is on, your photos are backing up to iCloud.
To see them on a computer:
- Go to iCloud.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Click Photos
You can download them from there.
Google Photos (Android or iPhone)
Google Photos is a separate app. Your photos might be backing up there even if you didn't realise.
To check:
- Open Google Photos app
- Tap your profile picture (top right)
- Tap "Backup" — it'll show if it's on
To see them on a computer:
- Go to photos.google.com
- Sign in with your Google account
Download whatever you need.
What if they're not in either?
Then they're only on your device. Which means:
- If you lose your phone, you lose them
- If you get a new phone, you'll need to transfer them manually
This is fixable. Get in touch and I'll help you set up a backup that works.
Not sure where your photos are?
Get in touch