Is there any way to turn off optimizing system performance

[Rogifan]

I’m constantly having to manually sync my photos between my iPhone and iPad. The message on my iPhone says syncing was paused for optimizing system performance. Then it gives me an option to resume syncing for one hour. Is there a way to turn this off so photos automatically show up on both devices immediately? What is this optimizing system performance anyway?

 

[ManuCH]

No, you cannot turn that off. And it's made so that you don't use up battery for syncing, which leads to people complaining that they have battery drain.

 

[miq]

No, you cannot turn that off. And it's made so that you don't use up battery for syncing, which leads to people complaining that they have battery drain.

Incorrect, it still happens when the phone is plugged in and/or charging.

 

[ManuCH]

Incorrect, it still happens when the phone is plugged in and/or charging.

Not incorrect. What I was saying is that when you're on battery mode and under a certain threshold, it will stop synchronizing to prevent drain. I never said it *only* does that under this circumstance.

It can also happen when plugged in, depending on what else the system is doing, at what state of charge the battery is, the temperature, and how you're using the phone. It's supposed to be "smart". You cannot fully disable it.

 

[VforVelveta]

Not incorrect. What I was saying is that when you're on battery mode and under a certain threshold, it will stop synchronizing to prevent drain. I never said it *only* does that under this circumstance.

It can also happen when plugged in, depending on what else the system is doing, at what state of charge the battery is, the temperature, and how you're using the phone. It's supposed to be "smart". You cannot fully disable it.

Unfortunately in my experience it isn’t “smart” at all. I’m sitting here on an iPad with 85% battery, with the photos app open and nothing going on in the background besides the usual stuff. Just took some photos on my phone and they won’t sync to the iPad unless I tell it to resume. I get wanting to save battery, but if I’m literally looking at the photos app, seems to me that app should have priority in terms of system performance and at least do a sync when the app is opened. Good feature, really poor execution in my experience.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Unfortunately in my experience it isn’t “smart” at all. I’m sitting here on an iPad with 85% battery, with the photos app open and nothing going on in the background besides the usual stuff. Just took some photos on my phone and they won’t sync to the iPad unless I tell it to resume. I get wanting to save battery, but if I’m literally looking at the photos app, seems to me that app should have priority in terms of system performance and at least do a sync when the app is opened. Good feature, really poor execution in my experience.

Since we don't really know for sure what triggers it on and off its hard to say if its smart or not. But I guess the "resume sync" is there for the reason so that people can trigger it.
I can imagine it could be related to what type of connection you are on as well and what settings you have set in photos.

 

[VforVelveta]

Since we don't really know for sure what triggers it on and off its hard to say if its smart or not. But I guess the "resume sync" is there for the reason so that people can trigger it.
I can imagine it could be related to what type of connection you are on as well and what settings you have set in photos.

I think we can know for sure if its smart or not. If something is effectively “smart” then it should provide value without input and without getting in your way. They may be trying to make it be “smart” but that doesn’t mean the end result will match the intent. And in this case, with the app open, looking right at it, I can’t think of anything more smart than to do a sync right when the app is opened. Just looked again, iPad at 100% battery, 15ft from a router connected to a 500Mbps fiber connection, and its optimizing system performance. They might be trying to be smart, but they’re failing at it from my perspective.

 

[ipaqrat]

Yeah! And what about updating gall dern AirPod firmware? Looking right at 'em, charging right there, together, overnights, for a week. C'mon, now.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Is there a way to turn this off so photos automatically show up on both devices immediately? What is this optimizing system performance anyway?

As far as I am aware, you’re referring to this, no?

Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support

Learn about photo storage and saving space with iCloud.

support.apple.com

The message on my iPhone says syncing was paused for optimizing system performance. Then it gives me an option to resume syncing for one hour.

My off-the-cuff speculation as to why synchronization and optimizing do not occur simultaneously:

• To know how much or what it can sync, the system needs to optimize what’s already in local storage. If, after optimizing, there’s significant free space, sync (i.e., add) more, and continue that cycle until insufficient space remains — to put it simply

 

[NumetalKid]

Unfortunately in my experience it isn’t “smart” at all. I’m sitting here on an iPad with 85% battery, with the photos app open and nothing going on in the background besides the usual stuff. Just took some photos on my phone and they won’t sync to the iPad unless I tell it to resume. I get wanting to save battery, but if I’m literally looking at the photos app, seems to me that app should have priority in terms of system performance and at least do a sync when the app is opened.

Literally only just signed up to tell you: PREACH 🤘🏻

 

[venpopov]

Is there really no way to turn this off? I'm sitting at home with my iPad plugged in, I took a screenshot and went over to my computer to use it for something and and it will just not appear unless I manually sync it. It's annoying. Sure, when I am out and about it's useful to save battery, but the device is plugged in ffs...

 

[toasted ICT]

Not incorrect. What I was saying is that when you're on battery mode and under a certain threshold, it will stop synchronizing to prevent drain. I never said it *only* does that under this circumstance.

It can also happen when plugged in, depending on what else the system is doing, at what state of charge the battery is, the temperature, and how you're using the phone. It's supposed to be "smart". You cannot fully disable it.

Yes incorrect. Your comment while plausible is not true.

The same message comes up on a Mac Mini (no battery) plugged into power, using a ethernet port to the router for internet access. In fact it comes up on more than one mac mini that I have on separate apple accounts.

 

[ManuCH]

Yes incorrect. Your comment while plausible is not true.

The same message comes up on a Mac Mini (no battery) plugged into power, using a ethernet port to the router for internet access. In fact it comes up on more than one mac mini that I have on separate apple accounts

Except that my post was referring to iPhones and iPads. If it's doing that on a Mac it's of course not the same root cause.

 

[AngrofMayfair]

Unfortunately in my experience it isn’t “smart” at all. I’m sitting here on an iPad with 85% battery, with the photos app open and nothing going on in the background besides the usual stuff. Just took some photos on my phone and they won’t sync to the iPad unless I tell it to resume. I get wanting to save battery, but if I’m literally looking at the photos app, seems to me that app should have priority in terms of system performance and at least do a sync when the app is opened. Good feature, really poor execution in my experience.

Agreed. This need to manually sync happens far too often, its really annoying… sometimes its better just to use airdrop to do an instant transfer…