Your iPhone can use Google Photos as its default photo app. Photos take up a lot of space on your device. If you used the Move to iOS app and didn’t un-check Apple Photos, Google Photos backup can quickly fill your iCloud storage. Before you use Google Photos, manage your storage settings on your iPhone.
Step 1: Turn off iCloud photo syncing
Stop your iPhone from uploading more photos to Apple's cloud.
- Open your iPhone Settings
At the top, Select [Your Name]
- Select iCloud
- Turn off Sync this iPhone.
- Select either:
- Download Photos & Videos: Choose this option to download copies of your iCloud photos to your iPhone if your photos are not also stored in Google Photos.
- Remove from iPhone if photos are also in Google Photos.
At the top, Select [Your Name]Step 2: Clean up your iCloud storage
If your iCloud storage is full, remove backed-up photos. This does not delete photos from your phone.
- Open your iPhone Settings
- Select iCloud
- Select Turn Off & Delete Photos.
Important: Apple gives you 30 days to download your photos. After this period, they are permanently deleted from iCloud. Copies saved on your device stay safe.
Step 3: Set up Google Photos correctly
Get the Google Photos app and set it up.
- Download and open the Google Photos app.
- Sign in with your Google Account.
- When prompted to turn on backup, choose Storage Saver quality.
- Keep the app open until your library fully backs up.
Step 4: Free up more space on your iPhone
Safely clear your iPhone's local storage after Google Photos confirms backup. The app removes local copies from your iPhone. Your photos remain safe in your Google Photos cloud library.
- Open Google Photos
.
- At the top right, select your profile icon.
- Select Free up space.
.