'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Keep Photos in OneDrive After Deleting from iPhone
Question details
The user wants to transfer photos to OneDrive and safely delete them from their iPhone and iCloud to free up space, ensuring the OneDrive copies are permanently retained.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- iOS
- Scenario
- Freeing up iPhone and iCloud storage space by permanently migrating photo backups to Microsoft OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- Photos must remain fully accessible and safely stored in OneDrive after being permanently removed from the Apple ecosystem (iPhone Photos app and iCloud).
Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection and sufficient storage space available in your Microsoft OneDrive account before beginning the photo upload process.
Manually Upload and Verify Photos in OneDrive
This method ensures your photos are completely separated from Apple's iCloud sync, meaning they will not be deleted from OneDrive when you remove them from your iPhone.
OneDrive acts as an independent cloud storage service. As long as the photos are uploaded completely rather than just linked, removing the original files from your iPhone will not affect the copies stored in your Microsoft account.
Open the App Store on your iPhone, search for Microsoft OneDrive, and install the application.
Launch the OneDrive app and sign in using your Microsoft account credentials.
Tap the '+' icon at the top of the screen, select 'Upload', choose 'Photos and Videos', and select the images you want to transfer. Alternatively, you can enable 'Camera Upload' in the app settings for automatic backups.
Leave the app open and wait until the upload progress bar completes. Verify that every photo is clearly visible in the OneDrive files tab.
Once verified, open the default Apple Photos app on your iPhone, select the transferred photos, and tap the trash can icon to delete them. They will remain safely in OneDrive.
Manage Your Documents and Cloud Files Seamlessly with WPS Office
While OneDrive is an excellent solution for securing your photos, handling your daily documents requires a powerful and versatile office suite. WPS Office is a lightweight, completely free alternative to Microsoft Office that easily connects to your cloud storage and offers perfect compatibility with your files.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free suite and install it on your device.
- 2. Connect Your Cloud: Open WPS Office, navigate to the cloud storage settings, and link your preferred cloud drive to access your documents anywhere.
- 3. Start Creating: Open, edit, and save your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without any formatting issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a photo from my iPhone automatically delete it from OneDrive?
No. Once a photo is successfully uploaded to OneDrive, it exists as a separate file. Deleting the original from your iPhone's camera roll or iCloud will not affect the securely backed-up copy in OneDrive.
How do I ensure my photos upload automatically in the future?
You can turn on the 'Camera Upload' feature within the OneDrive app settings on your iPhone. This will automatically back up any new photos taken on your device to your cloud storage.
Can I view my OneDrive photos on my iPhone without saving them back to the device?
Yes. You can view all your backed-up photos directly within the OneDrive app as long as you have an active internet connection, without taking up local storage space on your iPhone.
