Export iCloud
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Move iCloud photos straight to an external hard drive

Point Export iCloud at an external drive and your iCloud library goes directly there — no need for enough space on your laptop to hold it first.

Download for WindowsWindows 10 / 11 · 64-bit Download for MacFor macOS · ZIP
200 free files every month No credit card required v0.1.0 · What's new
Choosing an external drive folder as the export path
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Why an external drive?

A local archive on a drive you own is the cheapest long-term home for a large photo library: a 2 TB external drive costs about what a year of 2 TB iCloud+ does, and it’s yours to keep. With a copy on an external drive you can also free up iCloud storage and downgrade your plan.

The catch with Apple’s own tools is that they want the library on your internal disk first — the Mac Photos app needs “Download Originals to this Mac”, and iCloud for Windows syncs to your user folder. Export iCloud writes straight to whatever folder you choose.

Step by step

  1. Plug in your drive. Use a drive formatted exFAT if you need it to work on both Windows and Mac, or APFS / NTFS for a single platform.
  2. Download Export iCloud and sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click Choose Folder and select a folder on the external drive, e.g. E:\iCloud Photos on Windows or /Volumes/Backup/iCloud Photos on Mac.
  4. Start with Export Only. When you’ve checked the files, you can run again with Export and Delete if you want to clear iCloud.
  5. Keep the drive connected until the export finishes. If it’s interrupted, set Start Position to continue where you left off.

Tips for a reliable archive

  • Keep two copies — for example the external drive plus a second drive or a NAS. One drive is a backup; two is a safety net.
  • Don’t edit files inside the archive folder; copy them elsewhere first.
  • Date-stamped file names make it easy to split the archive into yearly folders later.

More detail: export iCloud photos to an external hard drive · how to back up your iPhone without iCloud

Frequently asked questions

What is Export iCloud?
Export iCloud is a desktop app for Windows and macOS that downloads your iCloud Photos library — photos and videos in original quality — to a folder on your computer or an external drive. It can optionally delete each item from iCloud after it is saved, so you can free up iCloud storage without paying for a bigger plan.
How does it work?
  1. Download and install the app for Windows or Mac.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID and enter the two-factor code if asked.
  3. Check the photo and video count, choose an export folder, start position and number of items.
  4. Pick Export Only or Export and Delete, then start. Progress and quota update live.

Want screenshots? See the step-by-step usage guide.

Are photos and videos exported in full resolution?
Yes. The app requests the original file from iCloud for every photo and video — HEIC, JPEG, PNG, RAW, MOV or MP4 — so nothing is recompressed. Each file is saved with its capture date in the name, e.g. 2024-07-14_18-32-05_IMG_4821.HEIC.
Is it safe? Do you see my photos or password?
Your photos are downloaded directly from Apple to your own computer and are never uploaded to our servers. Your Apple ID session is cached locally on your device so you don’t have to sign in every time; you can remove it at any time from the app. Our server only handles your subscription and file quota.
How does "Export and Delete" work?
In this mode each item is removed from iCloud only after it has been downloaded successfully. If a download fails, the item stays in iCloud. Deleted items go to iCloud’s Recently Deleted album, where Apple keeps them for up to 30 days. We still recommend checking your local copy before emptying Recently Deleted.
Does it export Shared Albums, iCloud Drive or iPhone backups?
The app exports your iCloud Photos library (photos and videos). Shared Albums, iCloud Drive documents and device backups are not included.
How do I get help?
Email support@export-icloud.com. Including the app version from Help → About helps us respond faster.

Take your photos back from iCloud

Download your whole iCloud Photos library to your computer in original quality — then free up the space you're paying for.

Download for WindowsWindows 10 / 11 · 64-bit Download for MacFor macOS · ZIP
200 free files every month No credit card required v0.1.0 · What's new