How to Export Original Photos from iCloud

Saving photos to iCloud can help reduce device storage space. But sometimes you need to get your photos and videos back to your mobile device or computer.

Downloading photos from iCloud can be perplexing, especially when you find that the photos lose the original quality and become thumbnails. Don’t worry, there’s a way around it. This guide will show you how to export original and high-resolution photos from iCloud to iPhone and computer.

Does iCloud Keep Original Photos?

Typically, when you open iCloud Photos on your iPhone, it automatically uploads images from your iPhone to iCloud and all devices connected to iCloud.

If you’re opening iCloud Photos for the first time, the “Optimize iPhone Storage” option will be turned on by default (see picture below), and iCloud Photos automatically manages the size of your photos on your device in order to save Storage space.

If you turn on “Download and Keep Originals”, iCloud Photos keeps your original, full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and on your device.

That’s the reason why you cannot export original photos from iCloud.

How to Export Original Photos from iCloud to PC/Mac

Now, you can export original and full-resolution photos from iCloud to your Windows or Mac computer by following the steps below.

What you need to do on your iPhone:

Step 1. Open your iPhone’s Settings > Tap on your name > Go to iCloud > Photos > iCloud Photo Library.

Step 2. Turn on the Download and Keep Originals option and keep the Optimize iPhone Storage disabled.

What you need to do on your Computer:

Once you’re done with the Settings on your iPhone, you can connect your iPhone to your computer again and start downloading photos with AnyTrans:

Step 3. Free download AnyTrans and launch it on your PC/Mac computer > Choose iCloud Manager in the left control panel > Sign in to your iCloud account.

Step 4. Select photos you want to export and then click the Download button to export the photos from iCloud to your computer and keep the original resolution.

How to Export Original Photos from iCloud to iPhone

If you want to export original photos from iCloud to your iPhone, you need to complete the following steps:

Step 1. First, you need to turn on Download and Keep originals on your iPhone, as described above.

Step 2. Choose iCloud Manager in the left control panel of AnyTrans > Sign in to your iCloud account >Select photos you want to export and then click the Download button to export them on your computer.

Step 3. Then, go to the homepage of AnyTrans again > Connect your device to the computer > Click Device Manager.

Step 4. Click Add Content mode > Select the photos you have exported from iCloud > Click the Open button to download iCloud photos to iPhone.

Conclusion

We got you covered with the gist of how to export original photos from iCloud. Without further ado, just download AnyTrans to export iCloud photos to your iPhone or computer in original quality. If you have any questions, leave them in the comment section below.