iCloud keeps your photos everywhere — until you want to leave. Apple does let you export, and it’s less painful than you’d think. Here’s how to move photos from iCloud to another cloud, keeping the full-resolution originals.
First, turn OFF “Optimize iPhone Storage”
If your phone is saving optimised versions, you want the originals first. In Settings, make sure you’re keeping actual photos locally, so nothing you download is a lower-quality copy.
Two ways to get your photos out
Option A — Download from iCloud Photos (easiest). On icloud.com → Photos, select your photos and tap the download icon. For a big library, download in batches.
Option B — Request a full export (best for a whole library). Go to privacy.apple.com, sign in, and request a copy of your data — then select Photos. Apple prepares it and emails you a link.
Then — verify quality. Check a few files are the full resolution you expect before uploading anywhere.
Where to move iCloud photos
| Destination | Full-res originals | Walk away from Apple | Deliver to people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another Apple-adjacent cloud | Yes | No | No |
| Immich / Ente | Yes | Yes | No |
| Snaptide | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The honest tip: don’t just swap one cloud for another and call it done. Pick a place your photos remain useful — full-res, private, and ready to share. Snaptide gives you the storage and a real delivery flow, on any device, with no Apple lock-in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export all my iCloud photos at once?
Yes — request a copy of your data via privacy.apple.com and select Photos. Apple prepares it and emails a download link.
Will I lose quality moving from iCloud?
Not if you download originals (not optimised versions). Verify a few files are full resolution before uploading elsewhere.
Do iCloud albums transfer?
Albums largely don’t carry over as structure; you’ll re-organise on the new service.
What’s the best place to move iCloud photos?
If you want full-res storage plus delivery on any device, Snaptide is a strong fit without Apple lock-in.