iCloud Photos Not Syncing? What to Check on iPhone, iPad and Mac

This guide is for photos and videos that are not updating between Apple devices. It is not a backup guide, and iCloud Photos should not be treated as an independent copy of the library. Our guide to cloud storage and backup explains that difference.

When syncing pauses, the Photos app often tells you why. Read that message before switching iCloud Photos off or signing out.

Check the library status

On an iPhone or iPad, open Photos, go to Collections and tap the profile button in the top corner. The library status appears below your name and photo count.

On a Mac, open Photos, select Library, choose All Photos and scroll to the bottom. You can see when the library last updated, whether syncing is paused and whether any items could not upload.

Follow the message shown there. It is more useful than changing several settings at once.

Connect to power and reliable Wi-Fi

Connect the device to power and a reliable Wi-Fi network, then leave Photos time to work. A large library, a new device or many videos can take longer than expected.

Apple recommends allowing the device to sync uninterrupted overnight when the library is still catching up.

Check the Apple Account

Make sure each device is signed in to iCloud with the same personal Apple Account and that iCloud Photos is on.

If one device uses a different account, its photo library will be different by design. Do not sign out until you know whether any originals exist only on that device.

Read common pause messages

Low Power Mode or Low Data Mode can pause syncing. A low battery, high temperature, poor network connection or system optimisation can also delay it.

Charge the device, let it cool if necessary and use a stable Wi-Fi connection. If Photos offers Sync Now, use it once and then let the device work.

If iCloud storage is full, new photos and videos cannot continue uploading until space is freed or the plan is increased.

Check Personal and Shared Library views

If you use iCloud Shared Photo Library, a photo moved to the Shared Library no longer appears in the Personal Library view.

Switch between Personal, Shared and Both Libraries before deciding that an item is missing. Also check Recently Deleted if an item has disappeared everywhere.

Do not turn iCloud Photos off as the first fix

Switching iCloud Photos off can restart work, create confusing prompts about originals and make it harder to tell which device has the complete library.

First check the status, account, power, network and storage. If the library is still stuck, make a backup and confirm where the full-resolution originals are before resetting anything.

Look for items that cannot upload

On a Mac, the bottom of All Photos can show items that could not sync and items stored on that Mac only. Photos may also create an Unable to Upload album.

Do not delete those items simply to clear the warning. Export or copy them first, then follow the app’s guidance to reimport or repair the affected files.

If only one device is behind

Compare the photo count and latest items on another device. If the other devices agree, restart the device that is behind, install current software and check its library status again.

If every device has stopped at the same point, focus on iCloud storage, the Apple Account or a service outage rather than the individual device.

Need a hand?

If the library is large, split across accounts or contains items that exist on one device only, see Mac and Apple device setup and troubleshooting or contact Your Mac Tech before changing the account or library.