iCloud Photos: Optimize Storage vs. Download Originals – Which One Should You Choose?
Reading Time: 5 minutes iCloud Photos is a powerful tool that ensures all your photos and videos are saved in their original, high-resolution quality. To help you manage storage efficiently across your devices, iCloud Photos offers two key options: Optimize Storage and Download Originals. These settings allow you to balance storage space and accessibility, making it easier to handle large photo libraries on devices with limited capacity. However, while iCloud Photos provides smart storage options, these can sometimes lead to issues depending on your choice.
When setting up iCloud Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll need to select one of these options to manage your library effectively.:
- Optimize (device name, like iPhone) Storage:
- Saves space on your device by storing original photos and videos in iCloud and keeping space-saving versions locally. This is an important feature, as many users face space-related issues. We previously wrote how you can use iCloud to save space on your device.
- Automatically optimizes storage when needed, starting with the least-accessed files.
- Allows you to download original files over Wi-Fi or cellular whenever required.
- Download and Keep Originals:
- Stores original, full-resolution photos and videos in both iCloud and on your device, giving you instant access to your library without the need for downloads.
Both options have their pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on your storage needs and usage preferences. Since you have these two choices, you may wonder which one to pick. In this article, I’ll explain the differences between these options, their positive and negative aspects, and what to consider to make the best choice for managing your iCloud Photos.
Should You Choose Optimize Storage or Download Originals?
First, let us explore where you can find these settings, and then I will talk about both options in more detail. You can easily adjust your iCloud Photos storage preferences on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here’s how:
On iPhone, iPad
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top to access your Apple ID settings.
- Select iCloud, then tap Photos.
- Choose between Optimize [Device] Storage or Download and Keep Originals based on your preference, as you can see below.
On Mac
- Open the Photos app.
- In the menu bar at the top, click Photos and select Settings (or Preferences, depending on your macOS version).
- Navigate to the iCloud tab.
- Select either Optimize Mac Storage or Download Originals to this Mac to suit your needs, as you can see below.
Deciding between Optimize Storage and Download Originals depends on your device’s storage capacity, internet access, and how you use and back up your photos. While Optimize Storage offers significant storage savings, it also introduces some complexities and potential downsides that you should carefully consider.
Optimize Storage: The Advantages
- Efficient Use of Device Storage:
By storing full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and keeping compressed versions on your device, Optimize Storage helps free up valuable local storage. This is especially beneficial if your device has limited space. - Automatic Management:
iCloud Photos automatically determines which files to optimize based on usage, ensuring that the least-accessed photos take up minimal space on your device.
Optimize Storage: The Disadvantages
- Dependence on Internet and Apple’s Servers:
To access original files, you’ll need a reliable and fast internet connection. This can be problematic when commuting, traveling abroad where internet access is expensive, or during long-distance flights. Additionally, access depends on Apple’s servers being available, which could cause delays if they are temporarily down. I myself picked the Optimize option. For instance, when I wanted to share a photo while in a rural area, I couldn’t access it because my device couldn’t download it due to poor internet connectivity. - Limited Control Over Local Photos:
You cannot choose which photos remain stored locally and which are optimized. This means you might find yourself unable to access an important photo or document when you need it most. For example, trying to retrieve a business document during an urgent situation, only to discover it’s not available offline, can be frustrating or even embarrassing. - Local Storage as a Bottleneck:
The local storage on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac determines how many optimized photos you can keep accessible. For instance, on my iPhone with minimal storage, the optimized versions take up about 10%–20% of the total library size in iCloud. If you can only spare 20 GB for optimized photos, you should aim to keep your iCloud Photo Library below 200 GB. Exceeding this could result in blank thumbnails for photos that cannot even be optimized locally. - Backup Challenges:
Backing up your photos becomes more complex with Optimize Storage enabled:- iCloud Backup: Your device’s iCloud Backup excludes photos, as they’re already stored in iCloud.
- Local Backups: Backing up your device to a computer using Finder or iTunes can include photos, but only those stored locally. If most of your photos are optimized, they won’t be part of the backup, leaving you vulnerable to accidental deletions. To ensure important photos are not lost, you’ll need to take extra precautions, such as manually downloading critical files or using a secondary backup method.
- iCloud Storage Limitations:
The free iCloud storage plan only includes 5 GB, which may not be enough for large photo and video libraries. To make this option viable, you might need to upgrade to a paid iCloud storage plan, adding extra costs. Do not worry, if you change your mind later, you can downgrade your plan too.
When to Choose Optimize Storage
If your device has limited storage, you have reliable internet access, and you don’t frequently need offline access to your full-resolution photos, Optimize Storage is an excellent choice. However, it requires careful planning regarding your library size and backup strategy to avoid potential inconveniences or data loss.
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