Using iCloud Photo Library and also backing up files?

[MathersMahmood]

With all the ios 18 features coming to the photos app i am considering moving my photo library to icloud photos.

My only gripe is that icloud is not a backup tool but a syncing tool.

Is there a way to both use icloud photo library and also backing up those files to separate drives?

I would like a fool proof way without having to jump through various hoops.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Sure - with “Keep Originals” on one device, you can back up that device. All others can be left on “optimize” for storage savings.

I have one Mac mini set up like that, and all my photos (taken with iPhone or iPad, or imported to my MacBook from my Nikon) sync to iCloud, then download to that one Mac at home, then are backed up both locally and to a 3rd party cloud service.

 

[MathersMahmood]

Sure - with “Keep Originals” on one device, you can back up that device. All others can be left on “optimize” for storage savings.

I have one Mac mini set up like that, and all my photos (taken with iPhone or iPad, or imported to my MacBook from my Nikon) sync to iCloud, then download to that one Mac at home, then are backed up both locally and to a 3rd party cloud service.

Ok so i keep one with everything downloaded on and then save them directly to storage?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ok so i keep one with everything downloaded on and then save them directly to storage?

Pretty much, yeah. All the photos are stored on that device, so from there you can do with them as you please.

Just keep in mind that if you delete a photo from any device, it WILL also delete from that device. So having one device “download originals” is NOT a backup solution on its own. It simply enables you to implement a backup.