Apple's 'My Photo Stream' Service Shuts Down on Wednesday, Here's What You Need to Do

[MacRumors]

Apple last month announced that its "My Photo Stream" service is set to shut down on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, which means customers who are still using that feature need to transition to using iCloud Photos before that date. Keep reading to learn what it means for you and whether you need to take action.

What is My Photo Stream?

Originally launched in 2011, My Photo Stream is a free service that when enabled temporarily uploads images (up to 1,000 at any given time) to iCloud, making them accessible across your Apple devices and available for importing to your library on any device. Photos remain in My Photo Stream for 30 days and are then automatically deleted from iCloud.

My Photo Stream was later replaced by iCloud Photo Library (now iCloud Photos) and Apple is now shutting down the My Photo Stream service on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

To prepare for the shutdown, Apple stopped photo uploads to My Photo Stream on June 26, 2023, so any images uploaded to the service before that date will remain in iCloud for the usual 30 days until the shutdown point.

What Do I Need to Do?

If you already use iCloud Photos, you don't need to do anything – your photos are already uploaded and stored in iCloud. However, if you're not sure, you can check that iCloud Photos is enabled on all of your devices.
On iPhone and iPad

1. Open the Settings app and tap your Apple ID at the top of the menu.
2. Tap iCloud.
3. Make sure that it says "On" next to Photos.

On Mac

1. Click the Apple symbol () in your Mac's menu bar and choose System Settings.
2. Click your Apple ID name at the top of the sidebar.
3. Click iCloud.
4. Make sure that it says "On" next to Photos.

What to Do If You Don't Use iCloud Photos

Photos in My Photo Stream are already stored on at least one of your devices in their original format, so as long as you have the device, you won't actually lose any photos when the service shuts down.

However, what you will lose is the ability to access these images on any device. If any photos you want aren't already in your library on a particular iPhone or iPad, one option is to turn on iCloud Photos using the steps above.

Note that iCloud Photos requires a paid iCloud subscription to go beyond the free 5GB iCloud storage limit, and it‌ is only available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.3 or later and Macs running OS X Yosemite or later.

Alternatively, you can save photos in My Photo Stream to your library on a particular device, as long as you do it before July 26. The following steps show you how.
Saving 'My Photo Stream' Photos to Your Photo Library

1. Open the Photos app and tap Albums.
2. Tap My Photo Stream, then tap Select.
3. Tap the photos that you want to save, then tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing out).
4. Choose Save Image.

If you own a Mac, you don't have to do anything – My Photo Stream photos automatically import to your library.

Article Link: Apple's 'My Photo Stream' Service Shuts Down on Wednesday, Here's What You Need to Do

 

[TarkinDale]

This does seem to be aimed at forcing subscription take up by killing the basic feature of syncing between devices.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

This is one of my pet hates with all of these Tech Companies. They start up these services, want buy in, and then half of them end up closing down within 5 or less years.

 

[nissan.gtp]

I really like the current/old system. Synching photos from my phone to my Mac automatically was great (when it worked, which it didn't always do). I don't want my photos in the cloud, so the new solution is useless to me. Back to physical synching for me I guess.
Negative progress.

 

[jayducharme]

I wasn't at all happy about this. I sent feedback to Apple and I wrote to Craig Federighi. Photo Stream was one of those seamless and useful Apple creations that just worked. It was a perfect backup for my photos when I was on the road. I already have the premium iCloud storage option, but if I activated iCloud Photos, that entire storage would be instantly gobbled up because I shoot a lot of 4k video. And right now, iCloud Photos has no options except on or off. I'd use it if I could specify that only photos are synced, not videos. Then it would be useable for me.

 

[orbital~debris]

I think this post would have less potential for spreading incorrect information if the main Photos app icon wasn't emblazoned across the top.

I can see this post possibly leading to some people thinking Apple are shutting down Photos the app, or iCloud Photo Library.

 

[ersan191]

This is one of my pet hates with all of these Tech Companies. They start up these services, want buy in, and then half of them end up closing down within 5 or less years.

I mean, this post explains that it was around for 12 years.

--

It's not exactly the same as My Photo Stream but you can just turn on automatic wifi syncing with your iPhone on your Mac/PC and enable photo syncing. Your phone has to be on the same network and the auto sync isn't instant (manual is) but otherwise it's pretty similar.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This does seem to be aimed at forcing subscription take up by killing the basic feature of syncing between devices.

Exactly and it’s infecting everything Apple does. They used to be about providing the best user experience, or at least trying to. Now they are intentionally degrading it to sell subscriptions.

I deeply regret buying TV shows and movies on iTunes. It used to actually be a decent alternative to piracy. Buy the file, watch it in iTunes beginning to end, no fuss no muss.

Now I have to launch an ad platform to try to hunt down my content in a sea of stuff they are trying to sell me.

Ironically they have made iTunes on Windows the best experience. iTunes needed an update but this is not what we had in mind.

 

[il_teo77]

I am still looking for a reasonable way to back my iCloud Photos on an external disk. I cannot download the entire library in my Mac first (not enough space) and I cannot download the pictures 999 at a time (not enough time, too many pictures: 71'900 pics and 3'100 videos).

It would be great to be able to have a backup on an HDD.

 

[il_teo77]

Exactly and it’s infecting everything Apple does. They used to be about providing the best user experience, or at least trying to. Now they are intentionally degrading it to sell subscriptions.

I deeply regret buying TV shows and movies on iTunes. It used to actually be a decent alternative to piracy. Buy the file, watch it in iTunes beginning to end, no fuss no muss.

Now I have to launch an ad platform to try to hunt down my content in a sea of stuff they are trying to sell me.

Ironically they have made iTunes on Windows the best experience. iTunes needed an update but this is not what we had in mind.

Also, there are movies that are simply not available on AppleTV+ subscription (theatrical releases). And I love to rend or buy them, without hunting for a needle in a haystack.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Also, there are movies that are simply not available on AppleTV+ subscription (theatrical releases). And I love to rend or buy them, without hunting for a needle in a haystack.

At first they only advertised tv+ on the watch now tab. Now I notice they advertise anything. Doesn’t matter what service it’s on. It’s 100% a paid ad slot now.

 

[zach-coleman]

I recently watched the keynote where this was announced and was shocked when I looked it up and found this didn't get killed off around the time they started offering 2TB plans. I’m not saying 2TB is enough for everyone, just that it seemed like the corporate move to do. Sucks for those who use it that it’s dying for no real reason.

 

[boswald]

I’ll be honest: I didn’t even know this existed. I have used iCloud since my first iPhone and never had a problem. Hope those who do use it find something better, though.

 

[fatTribble]

I wasn't at all happy about this. I sent feedback to Apple and I wrote to Craig Federighi. Photo Stream was one of those seamless and useful Apple creations that just worked. It was a perfect backup for my photos when I was on the road. I already have the premium iCloud storage option, but if I activated iCloud Photos, that entire storage would be instantly gobbled up because I shoot a lot of 4k video. And right now, iCloud Photos has no options except on or off. I'd use it if I could specify that only photos are synced, not videos. Then it would be useable for me.

I’m in a similar situation although my 4K videos are probably far fewer than yours. I can still get everything into iCloud but my stuff exceeds the 1TB iPhone to keep everything local.

I really wish we had controls over what goes into iCloud and what is always on the device. Like you said if you could limit iCloud to photos, that would help many.

For Optimize Photos, I’d love to have all photos on device but keep videos only in iCloud. Or let me choose albums to keep on device.

There are so many opportunities for powerful new functionality with just a few settings.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

It’s a shame they’re getting rid of iPhoto!

 

[kaycrystal626]

Apple is getting so stingy on free stuff. That free 5GB cloud space is a joke compared to Google's 20GB for years!

 

[canadianreader]

I am still looking for a reasonable way to back my iCloud Photos on an external disk. I cannot download the entire library in my Mac first (not enough space) and I cannot download the pictures 999 at a time (not enough time, too many pictures: 71'900 pics and 3'100 videos).

It would be great to be able to have a backup on an HDD.

You could self host a copy of your iCloud media on Nextcloud it's local, safe and open source they also have an app on the app store to browse your photos and videos https://github.com/nextcloud/photos

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I am still looking for a reasonable way to back my iCloud Photos on an external disk. I cannot download the entire library in my Mac first (not enough space) and I cannot download the pictures 999 at a time (not enough time, too many pictures: 71'900 pics and 3'100 videos).

It would be great to be able to have a backup on an HDD.

Connect a big disc to your iDevice and dump them to it? I'm confident this will work.

Connect a big disc and your iDevice to your Mac and then dump the photos to the big disc? I can't recall for sure if you can direct dump in this way but I think it can work.

Else, download chunks at a time to your Mac and then offload them from Mac to external drive until you get them all offloaded.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

This is a stupid move. Just keep it for those who are grandfathered in.

 

[MarkP58]

I don’t particularly remember photostream although probably used and so frankly (unless I’m missing something) I am not sure what everyone is winging about? Photos have got much larger, storage is relatively cheap, it only lasted 30 days, etc. average photo today is c. 4Mb so 1000 of these is 4GB. Now Apple provide 5GB of iCloud for free and it’s not limited to just photos. If you want more you pay for it and it lasts for ever simple.

 

[JosephAW]

Interesting that the photo stream button is still available on iOS 16.6

 

[charlesdayton]

This does seem to be aimed at forcing subscription take up by killing the basic feature of syncing between devices.

iCloud Photos with 5GB is free. It syncs across all devices. And it holds way more pics than the limited amount in my photo stream. There’s no conspiracy

 

[Sorinut]

iCloud Photos with 5GB is free. It syncs across all devices. And it holds way more pics than the limited amount in my photo stream. There’s no conspiracy

The difference is that is syncs without taking up storage space in the cloud. You take them, they sync to your mac or whatever, you copy them locally, then they disappear from the cloud. I used to use it and liked it.

I wish that I could prevent video from auto-syncing with iCloud photos. I like keep them separate.

 

[obezcinnet]

I wasn't at all happy about this. I sent feedback to Apple and I wrote to Craig Federighi.

I get that it's upsetting for people who relied on this feature and not wanting to enable cloud photos for all library. however, I am 150% sure apple had some data around how many people used photo stream without icloud photos enabled. my guess is that number was insignificant.

 

[ikramerica]

I tried to turn on iCloud Photos on my phone and it said it would remove 17500 photos synced by Finder without really explaining why. So I am reluctant.

I tried turning on iCloud backups as well and it says it’s turning on then it switches back off. Repeatedly.

Apple is easy to use and just works…