Launched in 2011 with iCloud, “My Photo Stream” was Apple’s original vision for image synchronization. Over time, Apple has started to synchronize the entire photo library, but you have to check that it is activated.
In 2011, Apple replaced the MobileMe paid service with iCloud, which has since become essential in its ecosystem. If iCloud allows you to do many things today (integrated VPN, protection for emails, storage service, synchronization of messages, etc.), Apple’s service was much more limited when it was launched. Besides syncing emails, calendars, and contacts, one of its only cool features was “My Photo Stream,” a free service for syncing its latest 1,000 images between its devices. This service had a major advantage: the synchronized photos were not deducted from the 5 GB included by default, which made it essential for owners of an iPhone, an iPad or a Mac.
12 years later, when it is now possible to synchronize your entire photo library in the cloud with “iCloud Photos” (but by buying storage), Apple announces the end of “My photo stream”, which was anyway no longer available for new users. The last regulars of the service will no longer be able to synchronize new images from June 26 and will have until July 26 to download their photos locally, before removal from Apple’s servers.
How do I check if I’m using iCloud Photos or My Photo Stream?
Regularly backing up your smartphone is imperative in 2023, at the risk of losing a lot of precise data in the event of a problem.
To make sure you don’t take any risks after July 26, 2023, go to the Settings from your iPhone. Touch your name at the top, go to iCloud and select Pictures. If the option Sync this iPhone is enabled in the “iCloud Photos” header section, then everything is fine. On the other hand, if you still see a mention of “My Photo Stream”, then you will have to prepare to make a transition.
What can I replace My Photo Stream with?
If, unfortunately, you are still using “My Photo Stream”, several options are available to you:
- Locally download all photos from the feed. In the app Picturesgo to Albums and select My photo stream. Select the images you want to save and make Register. You can then transfer them elsewhere.
- Subscribe to iCloud Photos. The easiest way is to opt for the entire synchronization of your iCloud photo library, but this may be paying. Since the 5 GB offered by Apple is ridiculous in 2023, it will probably cost 99 cents per month to increase to 50 GB. ).
- Switch to another service, like Google Photos. If paying for iCloud isn’t right for you, other services like those from Google or Amazon might work for you. More generous in free storage, they are able to absorb your entire photo library. Keep in mind, though, that Apple has a better reputation when it comes to privacy.
In any case, we cannot repeat it enough, save your photos. Anyone who refuses to enable cloud syncing is all at risk of immense frustration the day something happens to them, so we strongly urge you not to be fooled.
My Photo Stream has arguably helped out millions of Apple users for a long time, but the service is infinitely inferior to iCloud Photos.
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