My Photo Stream is missing on iOS devices

[Macav8r]

My Photo Stream shows on Mac (in iCloud prefs & in Photos) but does not on iPhone or iPad (in Settings or Photos app).

Here’s what I see:

iPhone 6s Plus (iOS 13.6.1)
Settings>Name>iCloud>Photos has ONLY TWO options - iCloud Photos & Shared Albums (neither selected).
Photos app (current version for this iOS) available albums are Recents, Import, and Favorites


iPad mini (2) Retina (iOS 12.4.6)
Settings>Name>iCloud>Photos has ONLY TWO options - iCloud Photos & Shared Albums (neither selected).
Photos app (current version for this iOS) available albums are Camera Roll and Favorites


Mac 21.5 inch 2017 (Mojave 10.14.6)
System Preferences>iCloud>Photos shows THREE options - iCloud Photos, My Photo Stream & Shared Albums (ONLY My Photo Stream selected).



Photos app (Ver 4) shows the following under Library: Photos, Memories, Favorites, People, Imports, My Photo Stream and Recently Deleted. Under Albums: Media Types (Videos, Live Photos and Screenshots) and My Albums (blank). Under Projects (blank).

 

[IWT]

A warm welcome to Mac-Forums.

I think you might be looking in the wrong place? Maybe not, we'll see.

As you correctly document, "My Photo Stream" is active on your Mac in the Photos app.

On your iPhone, for the moment ignore Apple ID- iCloud and its settings. That's not the way to do it.

Instead, on iPhone, Open Settings > Photos and there you will see "iCloud Photos" which I guess you would want to be OFF.

Beneath that is "My Photo Stream" which you should turn ON.

On your iPad Mini, do exactly the same as on your iPhone.

Do not try to do this via iCloud.

Ian

 

[Macav8r]

Hi, Ian,

There's nothing there about My Photo Stream.

It goes from iCloud Photos (yes, it's Off) to Allow Photos to Access. After that is Shared Albums, Cellular Data, Photos Tab, Memories, and Transfer to Mac or PC. (Same on both the iPhone and iPad).

 

[IWT]

I believe you; but I don't understand because you are on iOS 13.6.1 and for several iOSs before this, what I've described has been the norm. Even on your iPad with iOS 12.x, this is what you should see:



Ian

 

[Macav8r]

It's not the first time I haven't understood what's going on with the 1s and 0s.

 

[ferrarr]

Maybe it has to do with your iPhone version?

 

[Macav8r]

Thanks, Bob, but I previously had an iPhone 6 and MPS worked fine. Apple refers to an iOS version, but no restrictions on particular device models.

My Photo Stream

With My Photo Stream, you can access recent photos that you took with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or that you uploaded from your Mac or PC.

support.apple.com

 

[IWT]

Maybe it has to do with your iPhone version?

I agree, Bob.

Thing is, the iPhone is running iOS 13.6.1, the very latest as of yesterday, and I would have assumed that the iOS would trump the iPhone model (6S Plus in this case).

The iPad Mini is running iOS 12.4.6 - which settings might be different, I suppose.

So what are we missing here, Bob? Or what am I missing?

Ian

PS From what our friend just posted re Apple Support:

"You can use My Photo Stream with these devices after you set up iCloud on them:

• iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.1 or later"

May we assume Macav8vr, that you have activated/set up iCloud on these devices?

Ian

 

[Rod]

In iOS 13.6 on my iPhone SE 20 the path to that control is; On the first page of Settings click on Your ID (Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes and App Store.......) from there click iCloud > Photos > and you should see the below page;



The thing that throws a lot of people, because its a bit unintuitive is clicking on your Apple ID but there are a number of options under this heading including iCloud drive and Apps using storage on iCloud.

 

[IWT]

Rod; a great post and a vital one - because on my iPhone 11 pro and my wife's iPhone X, both running iOS 13.6.1, the settings are quite different.

They are as I posted above: Settings > Photos as you can see in post #4. I get exactly the same options but directly from Settings and not via my Apple ID.

Now, the question is why the difference? The OP has an iPhone 6+. You have a 2020 SE and mine are as stated above. The OP's relatively "old", mine pretty new and yours very new. There is no logic to that.

What do others iPhone users see in Settings?

Ian

 

[Rod]

Ian, that is just the path I use because it enables me to see my iCloud storage levels but the path you illustrated works too. You may find my path works on your iPhone 11 Pro as well.
When you asked, "May we assume Macav8vr, that you have activated/set up iCloud on these devices?" maybe the user hasn't.

 

[IWT]

the path you illustrated works too.

Oh, I am relieved to hear that. And, yes, your method also works. That's a relief. Two ways to get the same result. I just chose the, arguably, more direct way.

May we assume Macav8vr, that you have activated/set up iCloud on these devices?" maybe the user hasn't.

That's what I was thinking. We must await a reply from the OP.

BTW, still think your post was very useful.

Ian

 

[ferrarr]

@Macav8r, can you post your iOS screen grabs for Settings > Photos, and Settings > Apple ID > iCloud?

 

[Macav8r]

Sorry for going silent - my last email notification of thread activity was after post # 6 on August 13.

I do very much appreciate your assistance!

PS From what our friend just posted re Apple Support:

"You can use My Photo Stream with these devices after you set up iCloud on them:

• iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.1 or later"

May we assume Macav8vr, that you have activated/set up iCloud on these devices?

Yes, you may - iCloud is set up, with the same Apple ID, for all three devices.

I think my screen shots would not show the same items, were it not set up.

In iOS 13.6 on my iPhone SE 20 the path to that control is; On the first page of Settings click on Your ID (Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes and App Store.......) from there click iCloud > Photos > and you should see the below page;

<screenshot>

The thing that throws a lot of people, because its a bit unintuitive is clicking on your Apple ID but there are a number of options under this heading including iCloud drive and Apps using storage on iCloud.

Here’s the equivalent screenshot from the iPhone (iOS 13.7)

@Macav8r, can you post your iOS screen grabs for Settings > Photos, and Settings > Apple ID > iCloud?

The Settings > Photos screen shot was attached in post #4 above. Here’s an updated set, showing the full screen.







Here's Settings > Apple ID > iCloud

 

[Rod]

In Settings > Apple ID > iCloud settings turn on iCloud Photos. Then you should see this;



Note that iCloud Photo Library remains off but the My Photo Stream setting becomes available.

 

[Rod]

As you can see on my Apple ID > iCloud my Photos setting is on.

 

[Rod]

It has been in this state for so long I'm not sure at what point or how I turned it on. I do notice however that your setting for shared albums is also off whereas mine is turned on. I would try turning Shared Albums on and see if the menu changes to include My Photo Stream. (See the note under Shared Albums in my first screen shot). Post #15

 

[Rod]

Let us know if that works because I'm sure that the wording there has changed. As you can see in your screen shot of the same window it mentions nothing about My Photo Stream, just sharing albums with other people, the vital info that you needed seems not to appear until after you turn it on.
Obviously it would have been handy to know that before turning it on. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Macav8r]

Nope... As I read the info from Apple on My Photo Stream, it is completely distinct from iCloud Photos. BTAIM, I tried what you suggested to no avail.

Here's a series of screenshots as I went thru the steps.

<bangingheadonthewallemoji>

 

[Rod]

Hmm, well it clearly says, that although "iCloud Library remains off but the My Photo Streaming setting becomes available". Of corse it needs to be turned on on all devices or there's nowhere to share to. I do believe thats the key to the problem, just make sure its turned on elsewhere and all devices are logged into the same Apple ID.