AUGUST 2019 MACWORLD 119
device with iTunes.
Because iTunes won’t recognize your
device, you need to make a backup with
iCloud. If you have iCloud backup
already enabled:
- Launch Settings.
- Tap your name and then iCloud →
iCloud Backup. - Tap Back Up Now.
However, if you haven’t turned on
iCloud backup, check that you have
enough iCloud storage before enabling
backup. - Launch Settings.
- Tap your name and then iCloud. See
how much storage remains in the iCloud
storage visualizer at top. - If you need more storage to back up
your device, tap Manage Storage and then
tap Change Storage Plan. Follow prompts
to upgrade. - Now back in the iCloud settings, tap
iCloud Backup and tap On. This will
proceed to make a backup if you’re
connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Now proceed to follow Apple’s
instructions (go.macworld.com/rsto) for
restoring an iOS device from backup.
CAN YOU OPT OUT A MAC
FOR iCLOUD PHOTOS?
YES, BUT CLICK CAREFULLY
When you own multiple Macs that are
linked to the same iCloud credentials and
you also have iCloud Photos turned on,
you may want to not sync the iCloud
Photos library to every one of your Macs.
Is that possible? Yes, but you need to read
the fine print before checking or
unchecking boxes.
Apple uses iCloud Photos (the newish
name for iCloud Photos Library) as its
keystone for letting you have your photos
and videos on all your iCloud-linked
devices. Through a combination of sync of
thumbnails and full-resolution media, you
can access all your assets wherever you
are, even when you’re off the internet.
However, iCloud Photos requires a
certain level of commitment. Any device
linked to iCloud Photos has to retain the
full library—even if each item of media is
just a thumbnail—and you can’t pick and
choose what’s synced.
I’ve heard from people with multiple
Macs, who want to keep at least one Mac
out of that sync set while continuing to use
iCloud. That’s perfectly reasonable, as
Apple doesn’t require every iCloud-linked
Mac has iCloud Photos enabled just
because one or more does.
The key is in Photos for macOS, in the
Photos → Preferences settings for iCloud.
There’s a simple checkbox there for iCloud
Photos. If it’s unchecked, there’s nothing
more to do. Even with an iCloud account
used on other Macs and with iOS devices
for iCloud Photos, this particular account