May 30, 2023, 11:41 am | Read time: 3 minutes
In 2021, Google discontinued unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos. Two years later, Apple is also saying goodbye to a completely free cloud photo service.
In 2011, Apple introduced the convenient Photo Stream with iOS 5 for automatically syncing iPhone photos with a Mac or PC. The service allows users to upload images from their mobile device to the cloud and then save them on their computer. Now, the company is discontinuing the feature in favor of iCloud Photos.
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No more uploads possible after the end of June
The Photo Stream service uploads the 1,000 most recent photos from all devices where users are signed in with their Apple ID. The images are stored in iCloud for 30 days and can be downloaded to any device during this time. This allows, for example, vacation photos to be transferred from the iPhone to a Mac or PC without cables.
However, on June 26, 2023, Apple will end support for Photo Stream. After that, it will no longer be possible to upload images to iCloud via the service, as the company announced on its support page. The function has largely been replaced by iCloud Photos. Those who continue to use it need not fear data loss, as the files in Photo Stream remain in their original form on the device they were taken with. If users want the images on a specific device, Apple advises saving them in the respective library by the final shutdown date of July 26.
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What Photo Stream alternatives do Apple users have?
Those already using iCloud Photos are not affected by the change. Photo Stream users, however, must switch to iCloud Photos if they want to continue storing images in the cloud. The service is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.3 or later. There are two ways to activate it:
- iPhone Settings > Photos > set up iCloud Photos
- iPhone Settings > Username (Apple ID) > iCloud > Photos > set up Sync this iPhone
The downside of switching from Photo Stream to iCloud Photos is the limitation to 5 gigabytes of free iCloud storage. Those who need more space must subscribe to an iCloud plan, starting at 2.99 euros per month for 200 gigabytes (GB). However, those who regularly back up photos and videos from the cloud to a Mac or PC should be able to manage with this limitation.
Source
- Apple Support: “Information on the discontinuation of “My Photo Stream”” (accessed May 30, 2023)