If your iCloud Photos are not syncing

You might notice your photo syncing has paused. Here's what to do.

Check the status of your library in Photos

If your photos aren't syncing, check the status bar in the Photos app for a status message, then follow the onscreen directions or learn what your status message means.

On your iPhone or iPad

In iOS 18 or later:

1. Open the Photos app.

2. Tap the profile button in the upper corner.

3. Check your library status below your name and photo count.

   

In iOS 17 or earlier:

1. Open the Photos app.

2. In the Library tab, tap All Photos.

3. Scroll to the bottom to see the status bar.

On your Mac

1. Open the Photos app.

2. Select Library in the Photos sidebar.

3. Click All Photos in the toolbar at the top of the window, then scroll to the bottom.

What your status message means

If your photos aren't syncing, do not turn iCloud Photos off. Syncing with iCloud pauses for a variety of reasons.

If you see Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode

If you see a message that says Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode, syncing paused to reduce network data usage or save battery. You can turn these behaviors on or off in Settings.

If you see Optimizing Battery Power, Optimizing System Performance, or Poor Network Connection

If you see a message that says Optimizing Battery Power, Optimizing System Performance, or Poor Network Connection, syncing paused to improve power, performance, and network connection. Tap Sync Now to force syncing, or wait a few minutes for syncing to resume automatically.

If you see Low Battery

If you see a message that says Low Battery, syncing paused because your battery charge is below 20 percent. Charge your device to resume syncing.

If you see [Device] Needs to Cool Down

If you see a message that says [Device] Needs to Cool Down, syncing paused to protect your device from overheating. You might see an option to Sync Now—if not, wait a few minutes to let your device cool down.

If you see iCloud storage is full

If you see a message that your iCloud storage is full, syncing paused because you exceeded your iCloud storage limit. Upgrade your storage plan or reduce the amount of storage that you're using.

If you see Move Photos to Personal Library to Continue Syncing

If you see a message that says Move Photos to Personal Library to Continue Syncing, syncing paused because a Shared Library owner has hit their storage limit. After they upgrade their storage plan or reduce the amount of storage they use, your Personal Library syncs again.

If your photos still aren't syncing

1. Connect your device to power and to Wi-Fi.

2. Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account that you use on your other devices.

3. If you set up iCloud Shared Photo Library, check your Library view. When you move photos to your Shared Library, you no longer see them in your Personal Library.