8 Solutions to Fix iCloud Photos Not Syncing

"I have iPhone 8 with iOS 11.0.3. Lately, my iCloud photo library is not syncing the photos. I tried to disable and then enable the iCloud Photo Library but didn't fix the problem. Please help."

iCloud is a kind of service offered by Apple to help users manage their iPhone data. Users can use it to back up specific app data or sync the whole device to the "cloud" to prevent data loss. Also, they can use it to sync data among devices. Regardless of the great convenience iCloud brings to users, it also comes with some problems such as the "iCloud photos not syncing" issue that we're going to talk in this guide. To help you tackle this issue, we collect some feasible solutions. Before solving this problem, it's smart for you to learn about why are your iPhone photos not syncing to your PC/Mac so that you can avoid making the same mistake in the future.

Also Read: iCloud Storage Full? Here is How to Manage iCloud storage

Why are my iPhone photos not syncing to my Mac or PC?

Many factors might lead to this issue. It is possible that your Mac or PC is going to sleep or disconnecting the internet. Or your Photos Stream has been disabled on your device. Besides, there are some other reasons (as follows) that might result in this issue:

• Low Data Mode has been enabled for your WiFi and cellular connection.
• iCloud Photos has been disabled on your iPhone/PC/Mac.
• Apple ID is not correct.
• iOS system errors.

Based on the possible reasons we listed above, we collect some feasible solutions to fix it. First of all, you can take a quick look at the Page Content so that you can quickly find the answer that suits your need.

Part 1. Fixes to "iCloud Photos Library not Syncing" Issue

iCloud Photos Library is an option on your iPhone that enables you to back up and sync any photos and videos you take to iCloud. When you enable the iCloud Photo Library, it can use Optimize Storage to upload your files to iCloud and gives you access to your photos. It works well most of the time, but sometimes it goes wrong and stops you from syncing photos. If that happens to you, don't worry, the following solutions can help you out.

1. Checking internet connection

Syncing photos to iCloud require a stable internet connection to complete. So the first thing you need to do is to check whether there is an available WiFi or Cellular on your device. If there's something wrong with your WiFi, try to fix it before syncing. If you are using cellular data for uploading photos, then you should make sure that the cellular data on your iPhone has been enabled, here are the steps:

Step 1. Go to your Settings on the iPhone > Photos > Wireless Data.

Step 2. Tap on Wireless Data > Choose "WLAN & Cellular Data" to allow iCloud to sync your photos via WiFi or cellular(when there is no WiFi available, it will automatically use cellular)

2. Checking iCloud storage

Running short of iCloud storage might be another factor that stops your iCloud photos from syncing. To tackle this "iCloud photo library not updating" issue, you can go to your Settings to check if there is sufficient iCloud storage for syncing. If there is enough iCloud storage, you can directly navigate to the next solution. However, if there is not enough storage, you'll need to manage the iCloud storage by buying more storage or deleting some unwanted apps.

3. Turn off/on iCloud Photo Library

If both solutions above are useless, then you can try to turn off and turn on the iCloud Photo Library to fix this problem.

Step 1. Go to the Settings app > iCloud > Photos.

Step 2. Toggle the "iCloud Photo Library" to the Off position.

Part 2. Fixes to "iCloud Photos Not Syncing to Mac/Windows 10" Issue

You may have experienced or are experiencing the problem that iCloud photos not syncing to Mac/Windows 10. When you face this issue, don't worry, the following solutions will get you out of the trouble.

1. Check your Apple ID

Making sure that you're logging into the same Apple ID on your iPhone and computer (Mac or PC). If they're using different Apple IDs, the photos won't be synced. Here are ways to check.

On the iPhone: Go to the Settings app and tap your profile, then the email address related to your Apple ID will be displayed below your Name.

On the Mac: Open System Preference and click "iCloud," and then you will see your Apple ID and email address appear under your profile.

On Windows: Open iCloud app on your PC. Then, you will find the Apple ID and email address appear under the iCloud logo.

2. Enable iCloud Photo Library on the PC/Mac

If you have disabled iCloud Photo Library on your computer, then your photos won't be synced either. To enable it, you can follow the steps listed below.

On Windows: Open iCloud for Windows on your PC > Open iCloud > Sign in with your Apple ID > Select "Photos" > Click "Options" > Select "iCloud Photo Library" > Click "Done" > Click "Apply."

On Mac: Go to System Preference > Choose "iCloud" > Click "Options" > Check to enable "iCloud Photo Library" > Click "Download Originals to this Mac."

3. Update iCloud for Windows

Usually, an update can not only bring functional improvements hut also brings bug fixes to a software. The iCloud for Windows is no exception. By updating it to the latest version, you may also fix this issue easily.

Step 1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your Windows screen > Type Apple Software Update in the search field.

Step 2. Open Apple Software Update to check if there are any updates are available. If there is, you can select the checkbox next to iCloud for Windows and click on the Install button to install it.

Part 3. Fixes to "Photos not Syncing to iCloud" Issue

If you want to sync photos across iOS devices but fail to do it. Here are some easy solutions to fix this issue.

1 Check your Apple ID

Make sure that you're logging into the same Apple ID on the iOS devices that you want to sync. To check it, you can go to the Settings app and view the email address under your profile.

2 Update iOS to the Latest

Other than iCloud being a problem, it could be your current iOS version that's keeping your photos from syncing correctly. So, try to update your iOS to the latest version.

Part 4. Using an Alternative Way to Sync iPhone Photos to Your Computer

It is really time-consuming to use the above-introduced eight solutions one by one to try if they work, especially for those who are pushed for time. To save your time, we recommend you sync iPhone directly with an alternative tool - EaseUS MobiMover - one of the world's best iPhone transfer software that can not only help you upload photos to the computer but also offer you the way to sync photos between iOS devices. Besides, it has many functions like:

• Manage your iPhone data like music, photos, videos, contacts by transferring, exporting/importing.
• Back up your iPhone files to the computer without erasing.
• Supports almost all iOS models in almost all iOS versions.

Now, you can download EaseUS MobiMover on your computer and start to sync iPhone photos.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer (Mac or PC). Launch EaseUS MobiMover, then choose "Phone to PC" and click the "Next" button to continue. If you prefer to transfer photos from your iPhone to computer selectively, go to "Content Management" > "Pictures" > "Photos" instead.

Step 2. Choose "Pictures" from the displayed data categories. You can also transfer other files together to free up iPhone space or for backup. And, you are free to save the exported iPhone files on your local computer or USB flash drive. 

Step 3. Then click the "Transfer" button to start transferring photos from iPhone to computer. Wait patiently for the process to finish and then go to check the exported items.

The Bottom Line

After trying all these methods, you may have solved the "iCloud photos not syncing" Issue. As you see, many factors might lead to this Issue. Whatever the factors, these solutions get you covered. If you have any other problems related to this issue, don't hesitate to contact us to help you out!