How do I download all my photos from iCloud at once?

iCloud.com lets you download up to 1,000 at a time. For all of them, open Photos on a Mac and turn on Download Originals to this Mac in Photos → Settings → iCloud. No Mac? Request a copy of your iCloud Photos at privacy.apple.com.

How do I download photos from iCloud to my PC?

Go to icloud.com/photos, select up to 1,000 items, and click Download. Or install iCloud for Windows, turn on iCloud Photos, open iCloud Photos in File Explorer, and choose Always keep on this device.

Does downloading photos from iCloud delete them from iCloud?

No. A download makes a copy. The photos stay in iCloud until you delete them.

Why can't I select more than 1,000 photos on iCloud.com?

Apple caps each iCloud.com download at 1,000 items. Download in batches, use Download Originals to this Mac, or request a copy at privacy.apple.com.

Can Pikondo download my iCloud photos?

No. Pikondo does not touch iCloud.com or download from iCloud. It helps you review and clear clutter in your iPhone library before you back up or download.

Photo cleanup guide

How to download photos from iCloud (iPhone, Mac, PC, or all at once)

Download photos from iCloud to your iPhone, Mac, or PC. Get full-size originals, grab 1,000 at a time on iCloud.com, or ask Apple for your whole library.

By Pikondo team · Updated October 29, 2026

Pikondo review screen where marked photos can be checked before deletion

Short answer: go to icloud.com/photos and sign in. Select up to 1,000 photos, then click Download. For your whole library, use a Mac with Download Originals to this Mac, or ask Apple for a copy at privacy.apple.com. On iPhone, select photos in Photos, tap Share, and tap Export Unmodified Originals. A download is a copy. It does not remove anything from iCloud.

Which way fits you

A few photos, any device: iCloud.com. Up to 1,000 at a time.
Your whole library on a Mac: Photos settings → iCloud → Download Originals to this Mac.
Your whole library on a PC: iCloud for Windows, then Always keep on this device.
Your whole library, no Apple device: request a copy at privacy.apple.com.
Full-size copies on your iPhone: Download and Keep Originals, or Export Unmodified Originals to Files or a drive.

Download photos from iCloud.com (Mac or PC)

Go to icloud.com/photos and sign in with your Apple Account.
Select the photos and videos. Hold Command on a Mac or Control on a PC to pick more than one. You can select up to 1,000 at a time.
Click the Download button in the top right.
Want a set format? Click More, then More Download Options. Pick Unmodified Originals, Highest Resolution, or Most Compatible (JPEG or MP4).
Click Download. Many items come as a .zip file in your Downloads folder.

Download all photos from iCloud

iCloud.com caps you at 1,000 items per download. For a big library, that means many rounds. Two other ways get everything.

On a Mac: open Photos, choose Photos → Settings, click iCloud, and pick Download Originals to this Mac. Your full library downloads in full size. It can take hours. Keep the Mac on power and online, and make sure it has room.

Without a Mac: sign in at privacy.apple.com and choose Request a copy of your data. Pick iCloud Photos. Apple splits your library into .zip files and tells you when they are ready. It can take a few days.

Download photos from iCloud to a PC

Install iCloud for Windows, sign in, and turn on iCloud Photos.
Open File Explorer and click iCloud Photos in the left pane.
Select the photos you want. Right-click and choose Always keep on this device.
After they download, copy them to another folder you back up.

Download photos from iCloud to your iPhone

With iCloud Photos on, your photos already show in the Photos app. But if Optimize iPhone Storage is on, the phone may only hold small copies. To keep full-size copies on the phone, go to Settings → your name → iCloud → Photos. Tap iPhone Storage if you see it, then choose Download and Keep Originals. You need enough free space for the whole library.

To save copies as files: in Photos, go to your Library and tap Select. Pick the photos, tap Share, and tap Export Unmodified Originals. Choose a folder in Files, or a drive under Locations, and tap Save.

No iCloud Photos on this phone? Open icloud.com/photos in Safari, tap Select, pick up to 1,000 items, tap More, and tap Download.

Unmodified Originals, Highest Resolution, or Most Compatible?

Unmodified Originals: the file as you took or imported it. Best for backups.
Highest Resolution: best quality for your device. Usually HEIC photos and HEVC (H.265) video.
Most Compatible: JPEG photos and MP4 (H.264) video. Best if a Windows app can't open HEIC. See /blog/convert-heic-to-jpg-iphone.

Before you delete anything

Open a few downloaded files to check they work. Compare the count with your library. Only then delete photos from iCloud or turn iCloud Photos off.

Remember: with iCloud Photos on, a delete on one device removes the photo from iCloud and every synced device. See /blog/delete-photos-from-icloud and /blog/turn-off-icloud-photos.

How Pikondo fits (and where it stops)

Pikondo does not download from iCloud, sign in to iCloud.com, or change iCloud settings. It helps you review clutter in your iPhone library: duplicates and similar shots, screenshots, and blurry photos. Swipe to keep or mark, check the marked list, then confirm. Clear clutter first and you have less to download and store.

Related guides

For more on iCloud and backups, see backing up iPhone photos at /blog/back-up-iphone-photos, transferring photos to a PC at /blog/transfer-photos-iphone-to-pc, transferring photos to a Mac at /blog/transfer-photos-iphone-to-mac, copying photos to an external drive at /blog/transfer-photos-iphone-to-external-hard-drive, turning off iCloud Photos at /blog/turn-off-icloud-photos, deleting photos from iCloud at /blog/delete-photos-from-icloud, freeing iCloud storage at /blog/free-up-icloud-storage, and optimizing iPhone Storage at /blog/optimize-iphone-storage.

The key point

For a few photos, use icloud.com/photos and download up to 1,000 at a time. For everything, use Download Originals to this Mac or request a copy at privacy.apple.com. Check the copy before you delete.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download all my photos from iCloud at once?: iCloud.com lets you download up to 1,000 at a time. For all of them, open Photos on a Mac and turn on Download Originals to this Mac in Photos → Settings → iCloud. No Mac? Request a copy of your iCloud Photos at privacy.apple.com.
How do I download photos from iCloud to my PC?: Go to icloud.com/photos, select up to 1,000 items, and click Download. Or install iCloud for Windows, turn on iCloud Photos, open iCloud Photos in File Explorer, and choose Always keep on this device.
How do I download photos from iCloud to my iPhone?: Go to Settings → your name → iCloud → Photos. Tap iPhone Storage if you see it, then choose Download and Keep Originals. The phone then keeps full-size copies. You need enough free space.
Does downloading photos from iCloud delete them from iCloud?: No. A download makes a copy. The photos stay in iCloud until you delete them.
Why can't I select more than 1,000 photos on iCloud.com?: Apple caps each iCloud.com download at 1,000 items. Download in batches, use Download Originals to this Mac, or request a copy at privacy.apple.com.
Can Pikondo download my iCloud photos?: No. Pikondo does not touch iCloud.com or download from iCloud. It helps you review and clear clutter in your iPhone library before you back up or download.