Did you ever find yourself unable to view certain iCloud photos on your iPhone? Usually, iCloud is a great solution for iPhone users to upload pictures that serve as backups. However, sometimes, people experience that not all iCloud photos show on the iPhone. In this article, we will introduce different ways to fix iCloud photos not showing on iPhones. Some ways are super simple, while some are a little more technical. Choose the one that fits you the most.

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Note: You might also want to know how to deal with the issue of iCloud photos not downloading to your iPhone or computer.
In this article
    1. Wrong Apple ID
    2. iCloud Photos Turned Off
    3. Internet Connection
    4. Low Data Mode
    5. Apple Server Issues
    6. It Takes Time for iCloud Photos to Sync
    1. Use the Right Apple Account
    2. Check the iCloud Photos and Shared Albums Option
    3. Make Sure the Wi-Fi is Working Fine
    4. Turn off Low Data Mode
    5. Wait for a While
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Why iCloud Photos Not Showing on iPhone?

Before seeing all the ways to fix the problem, we must find out exactly why you can’t see iCloud photos on your iPhone. There are several factors behind the issue:

Wrong Apple ID

You need to use the same Apple account to sync pictures of your iPhone onto iCloud. If the accounts differ, you will probably not find the specific photos that you uploaded to iCloud on your iPhone.

iCloud Photos Turned Off

If you turn off the iCloud Photos syncing on your device, the photos will not be uploaded to iCloud, and thus they will not show on your iPhone

sync this iphone

Internet Connection

For iCloud to sync photos, there should be a stable Internet connection. If the Wi-Fi or cellular data is slow, it is possible for iCloud to stop uploading pictures, so you can’t find them.

Low Data Mode

It might also be because you turned on low data mode. This mode ensures that you use less cellular data, but can also limit your photos syncing between iCloud and your device.

low data mode

Apple Server Issues

Sometimes, the Apple server has problems, so the iCloud is not working. This is when the server is under maintenance, but the photos will be uploaded as usual as soon as the problem is solved.

It Takes Time for iCloud Photos to Sync

Sometimes, there is no issue with the iCloud or iPhone, but it takes some time for iCloud photos to sync, especially when you have taken plenty of photos or videos, or when the Internet connection is poor.

If the situations above occur to you, and you cannot find certain photos on your phone, don’t worry, because we have got you covered. Continue reading to fix the issue.

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Note: Another commone issue is that iCloud syncing got paused. Want to learn why and how to fix it? Click on the link to read more.

Part 2: 5 Ways to Fix iPhone Not Showing iCloud Photos

For all the abovementioned problems, we offer you corresponding solutions. After trying the right solution, you should be able to find wanted photos synced to your iPhone.

Use the Right Apple Account

First, make sure that the Apple account you are logged in with is the same one used on all your devices. The photos will only be uploaded to the iCloud account with which you logged into the device.

To be sure, you should log out of the Apple ID and then log in again. This will also help erase some bugs that may be inside the Apple ID.

Check the iCloud Photos and Shared Albums Option

It is essential to turn on the setting to upload the pictures to iCloud. To do so, here are the steps:

  • Go to “Settings” on the iPhone.
  • Tap on your Apple account/name.
  • Go to iCloud and choose “Photos.”
  • Turn ON the “Sync this iPhone” option.
  • If it is already on, turn it OFF and then ON.
check options

Make Sure the Wi-Fi is Working Fine

If the internet connection is slow, iCloud will not show the pictures. So, make sure that the iPhone is connected to stable Wi-Fi and that the router is turned on and working correctly. If the internet connection usually is slow, you should connect to another one that is strong enough or use cellular data if Wi-Fi is still not strong enough.

Turn off Low Data Mode

To turn the low data mode off, here are the steps.

  • Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
  • After that, click “Cellular.”
  • Then go to “Cellular Data Options.”
  • After that, you should click on the “Data Mode” option.
  • Tap on “Standard” or “Allow Mode Data on 5G.”
turn off low data

Wait for a While

If the problem is due to the Apple server going down, you just need to wait for a day or two.

Also, when you take too many photos, the pictures might not upload to iCloud immediately; you need to be patient and wait for a minute or two before checking the account.

Part 3: [Bonus] A Better Backup Tool – MobileTrans

MobileTrans is an app that helps you transfer photos, messages, and other media from one phone to another phone or iPad. You can also back up your data from your phone to a Windows PC and Mac. Another great feature of this app is that you can restore your backed-up photos to the original or any other mobile phone later.

mobiletrans backup
  • Suppose you are worried about the iCloud malfunctioning and someday losing your photos. In that case, this is a great solution to the problem. Best privacy protection: Only the user can access the data.
  • Super compatible: You can use the app for over 6000 devices, whether iPhones, Android phones, Windows, Mac, or any other device.
  • High-speed backup and transfer: You do not need to wait and reload repeatedly to see if the data was transferred.
  • No Apple ID restriction: You do not need to be logged in to only one Apple ID to transfer pictures and other media; the app also supports different mobile phones and Apple IDs.
  • Cost-efficient: One subscription supports five mobile devices and one PC.

Part 4: Conclusion

There are many reasons for your iPhone not showing iCloud photos. Find out the factors behind it and try our solutions above accordingly. And you will see iCloud photos on your iPhone again. If you don’t want to go through all the hassles, you can always switch to a simpler way: using MobileTrans for a safer, quicker, and smoother photo backup experience.

Rafael Kaminski
Rafael Kaminski Nov 13, 24
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