Safe to remove Photos app

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I have never liked Photos where I can't change the names of my photos or have much freedom to use them as I like without first copying them out of the app. Would it be safe to remove Photos altogether or is there a way to stop it from gathering my photos at all? Is Photos the only way to download photos from iCloud?

Thanks for any help.
PegM_4
 
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I have never liked Photos where I can't change the names of my photos or have much freedom to use them as I like without first copying them out of the app. Would it be safe to remove Photos altogether or is there a way to stop it from gathering my photos at all? Is Photos the only way to download photos from iCloud?

Hello PegM.. - welcome to the forum! :) Photos is an integral part of macOS and normally cannot be uninstalled - just links and impacts to other features in the operating system - see more discussion HERE; however, its effects can be minimize if you do not want to use the app, suggestions are given in the link. For me, Photos and iCloud have little effect on my pics because I do not share the images in the cloud - easy to do in System Preferences via your Apple ID (see screen capture below) - I basically use Finder to organize my imported pics and have little need to share w/ my other devices or with others - your needs may be different.

Also take a look at Photos Apple Support to help if you do not want to use the app; in addition, visit the Apple Store to see if other 'photo organizing/editing' apps may be a good substitute for you - might want to tell us if your main needs are organization, sharing, editing or multiple? Others will likely 'chime in' to add their comments. Dave
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PegM_4, I am puzzled by your post. If you click on an image and then on the (I) in the toolbar, the information window opens, where you can add a title to any image to suit whatever you want. So while you may not change the name of the FILE, you change the title of the IMAGE, which is probably more useful to you anyway.

And as for "much freedom to use them as I like without first copying them out of the app," what is it you want to do with the images? Photos is pretty powerful as a tool. Maybe we can show you how to do what you want with Photos.
 

IWT


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A warm welcome to Mac-Forums, PegM_4. Thanks for your post.

As my two senior colleagues have indicated, you have two main choices. Forget Photos app and do your own thing - easy to arrange, name, organise and generally manage your pictures outside Photos, including Folders and Albums - OR -

Use Photos app to do all that, and more, for you without the hassle. And its editing suite is pretty powerful. And if you choose this way, we can take you through the app functions. Off hand, I cannot think of anything that Photos cannot do; unless your are talking the Photoshop full suite at $$$$$.

So give us a chance to help you.

Ian
 

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