iOS 11/12 | Fixes to Cannot Download Photo from iCloud Photo Library

iCloud is frequently used for you to sync photos between your devices or back up iPhone photos. However, it's not without any problem to use iCloud service. The notification shown above always pops up on iPhone when a problem occurs in downloading photos from iCloud to your iPhone. The error downloading photos from iCloud Library is one of the commonest issues while using iCloud, which can be quite annoying and frustrating. Given that, this article is written to provide you the workable solutions to the problem.

Note: A similar iCloud issue existing on the computer is that "iCloud photos not syncing to PC". If you are also troubled by this problem, don't hesitate to read the related article for reference.

Part 1: Fixes to error downloading photos from iCloud Photo Library in iOS 11

Method 1: Turn off Low Power Mode

Don't feel confused and don't think this method is absurd. Actually, the effectiveness of disabling Low Power Mode to fix the error downloading photos from iCloud Photo Library has been proven by many users. Just go to Settings > Battery, then move the button to turn off Low Power Mode. It doesn't hurt to give it a try!

Tip: Sometimes, the answer to the question, "Why cannot I download photos from iCloud?", could be that you have switched on Low Power Mode on your iPhone. Why? By enabling the option, some automatic downloads are turned off on your device. This gives an explanation for the effectiveness of this method.

Method 2: Check your iCloud storage

The second solution you are advised to try when there is an error downloading photos from iCloud Photo Library is to check your iCloud storage. On iPhone running iOS 11, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, and you will see the usage of your iCloud space. If not much storage is left in your iCloud, you can buy more iCloud storage or free up space in iCloud.

Method 3: Check your network connection

Downloading photos from iCloud requires a stable WiFi network connection. Thus, when you cannot download photos from iCloud, do have a check at the network connection on your device.

Other Tips you can try:

• Sign out and sign back into iCloud
• Restart your iPhone
• Reset your iPhone

If none of the tips works for you, you can use the FREE alternative way detailed below to get photos to your iPhone.

Part 2: A free alternative way to download photos to your iPhone

When there is an error downloading photos from iCloud Photo Library to your iPhone, other than trying the fixes in Part 1, you can also choose to get the photos to your iPhone using another way. For example, you can download photos from iCloud to your PC or Mac, then transfer photos from computer to your iPhone. Or, if the photos you want to download from iCloud Photo Library are from your PC, Mac, or another iOS device, you can transfer photos from the device to your iPhone directly without using iCloud.

Whether you want to download photos to your iPhone from the computer or from another iOS device (iPhone/iPad in iOS 8 or later), you can use EaseUS MobiMover Free to do it. As you will know, MobiMover is a free tool for iOS data transfer, file management, and video download, with which you can share files between two iOS devices or between an iOS device and the computer, manage iPhone/iPad content from computer, and download videos from websites using the URL.

Now, follow the steps below to learn how to download photos from computer to iPhone. (If you want to transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone, read the related article for reference.)

You can use MobiMover to transfer photos, videos, music, ringtones, voice memos, contacts, messages, and more from or to your iPhone/iPad.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your PC running Windows 7 or later. Launch EaseUS MobiMover and select "PC to Phone" on the main interface. Then, choose "Select Files" to continue. 

Step 2. With MobiMover, you can choose to transfer photos from PC to your iPhone as well as many other data types. Then, click the "Open" button to load the files. 

Step 3. MobiMover will show the files you've selected on the screen. If you've missed an item, you can click "Add Contents" to import more files. Next, click the "Transfer" button to start the transfer process.