Home › iCloud

iCloud Photos Not Syncing: How to Fix

Short answer: If iCloud Photos isn't syncing or says paused, check power, Wi-Fi and your Apple Account.

TL;DR: quick fix

Connect your device to power and Wi-Fi and let it sync overnight.
Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple Account on every device.
Check the library status in Photos (iPhone: Collections > profile button; Mac: Library > All Photos, scroll down).

Is iCloud down?

Before you change settings, check Apple System Status. If there's an outage, wait it out.

How to fix it: step by step

Connect your device to power and Wi-Fi and let it sync overnight.
Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple Account on every device.
Check the library status in Photos (iPhone: Collections > profile button; Mac: Library > All Photos, scroll down).
Follow the status message, such as freeing iCloud storage or leaving Low Power Mode.
If you use Shared Library, check your Library view.

FAQ

Why is iCloud sync paused?

Common reasons include low battery, Low Power Mode, a cellular connection, or full storage.

More iCloud fixes

"Unable to Upload" in Photos: Fix

Last checked Oct 2026 against the official help page: Apple Support. Menus can differ by app version; follow the official page if a step doesn't match.