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How to Save Your My Photo Stream Photos Before the Shutdown

Introduction



Hey there, photography enthusiasts! If you're an Apple user, you might have heard the news that Apple's My Photo Stream is shutting down in just a few days. Don't panic just yet, though. In this article, we'll walk you through how to save your precious snaps before the service goes offline. So grab your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac, and let's get started!

What is My Photo Stream?



Before we dive into the details, let's quickly recap what My Photo Stream is all about. Back in 2011, Apple introduced My Photo Stream as a temporary place where you could store up to 1,000 of your most recent photos. It served as a convenient way to view your pictures on other Apple devices and decide which ones you wanted to download. Moreover, you could easily transfer these photos between your Apple gadgets.

Why is My Photo Stream Shutting Down?



With the advent of iCloud Photos, My Photo Stream has become somewhat redundant. iCloud Photos, which comes with a free trial, has become the primary method for transferring photos across your devices using the cloud. As a result, Apple has decided to shut down My Photo Stream on July 26, 2023. While this may not affect most people, it's still important to check if you have any photos stored exclusively in My Photo Stream that aren't backed up on any physical devices.

Will I Lose My Photos?



The good news is that if you have the device that originally captured the photos, you won't lose any pictures during this transition. Additionally, if you have iCloud Photos enabled on all your devices, you can rest easy knowing that your photos are safely stored in the cloud. However, if you don't have your photos saved locally or want to ensure they're stored on a specific device, we've got you covered. Let's take a look at how you can save your My Photo Stream pictures on various Apple devices.

How to Save My Photo Stream Photos on iPhone and iPod Touch



Step 1: Open your Photos App


To begin, open your Photos app on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You'll find the app icon on your home screen. Give it a tap to launch the app.

Step 2: Access the My Photo Stream Album


Once you're in the Photos app, look for the "Albums" tab at the bottom of your screen. Tap on it to view your albums. Scroll through the list until you find the "My Photo Stream" album. It should be one of the default iOS albums, but if you have numerous albums, you might need to scroll a bit to locate it.

Step 3: Select the Photos You Want to Keep


Now that you're in the My Photo Stream album, tap on the "Select" button in the top-right corner of your screen. This will allow you to choose the photos you wish to save. Scroll through the album and tap on every image you want to keep. You'll notice that each selected photo will be highlighted.

Step 4: Save the Selected Photos


With all the images you want to save selected, tap on the "Share" button, which looks like a square with an arrow pointing upward. A menu will appear with various options. Scroll through the options and tap on "Save Image." This will save the selected photos to your device's local storage.

How to Save My Photo Stream Photos on iPad



Step 1: Open the Photos App and Access the Sidebar


If you're using an iPad, start by opening the Photos app. Once inside the app, tap on the icon in the top left corner of your screen to access the sidebar. This will display a list of options.

Step 2: Find the My Photo Stream Album


In the sidebar, look for the "My Albums" option and tap on it. This will show you a list of all your albums. Scroll through the albums and search for the "My Photo Stream" album. As with the iPhone and iPod Touch, this album is a default iOS album, so it should appear near the beginning of the list. However, if you don't see it, it means you might not have any My Photo Stream pictures to worry about.

Step 3: Select the Photos You Want to Save


Once you've located the My Photo Stream album, tap on it to open it. You'll see the photos stored in this album. To save the photos you want, tap on the "Select" button in the top-right corner of your screen. This will allow you to choose the individual images you wish to save.

Step 4: Save the Selected Photos


Now that you have all the photos you want to save selected, tap on the "Share" button, represented by a square with an upward-pointing arrow. A menu will appear with various sharing options. Scroll through the menu and tap on "Save Image." This action will save the selected photos to your iPad's local storage.

How to Save My Photo Stream Photos on Mac



Step 1: Open the Photos App on Your Mac


To get started, boot up your Mac and locate the Photos app. You'll typically find it in your Applications folder or on your Dock. Open the app to launch it.

Step 2: Access the My Photo Stream Album


Once you're inside the Photos app, navigate to the "Albums" tab located in the sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen. Click on it to expand the list of albums. Look for the "My Photo Stream" album and click on it to open it.

Step 3: Select the Photos You Want to Save


Now that you're in the My Photo Stream album, go through the photos and select the ones you want to save. To select a photo, simply click on it. If you want to select multiple photos, hold down the Command key while clicking on each photo.

Step 4: Save the Selected Photos


Once you've selected all the photos you want to save, use your mouse to drag the selected images from the My Photo Stream album to your Library. By doing this, you'll save the photos locally on your Mac.

Final Thoughts



With the impending shutdown of Apple's My Photo Stream, it's crucial to ensure that your cherished memories are safely stored. By following the steps outlined above, you can save your My Photo Stream photos on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac. Remember, it's always a good idea to have multiple backups of your photos to avoid any potential loss. So, take a few minutes today and safeguard your precious memories before it's too late!

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