Are you trying to figure out how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac? If yes, you should check out our guide by clicking here.
Everyone loves taking photos on their phone to store memories.
But without proper organization, your photos can accumulate and take up space without you realizing it.
Phone storage of up to 32GB won’t last long depending on the quality and file size of each photo stored.
For Apple devices, especially the iPhone, you’ll need to get rid of photos to ensure you have available space for various apps and updates.
You’ll need to learn how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.
One approach is to delete apps you no longer need.
However, if you want to be able to keep your apps around and make sure your photos are still accessible, consider storing them on your Mac.
If that sounds good, then read on to learn how to import photos from iPhone to Mac.
1. Using the Photos App
The most common options to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac involve the use of the sync cable.
Once plugged in, you have a variety of options to choose from.
By default, the Photos app opens when syncing your iPhone with your Mac. To do this, connect your iPhone using the sync cable to the Mac’s USB Port.
Once connected, the Photos app should start up right away (you can open the app manually if it doesn’t).
Once connected, look for your iPhone under Devices on the left-hand side panel of the app. If required, make sure to unlock your iPhone first.
The app may take time to display thumbnails of the photos stored in the device.
You will also notice a line that helps you see which photos are in the Mac and which ones are not.
Once you find the photos you want to transfer, go to the “Import to” dropdown to choose where the photos will go to.
You may also select New Album and create a folder where you wish to store your photos.
After deciding on the destination of the imported photos, you may choose to click on “Import All New Items”, This option transfers every photo that not stored in the Mac.
You can also select the photos that you need then click “Import Selected”.
This method works on various iPhone models as it allows you to transfer photos directly.
2. Using the Image Capture App
In case you prefer to not use Photos, you have an alternative in the form of Image Capture.
This is for copying photos from your iPhone or iPad without using Photos.
With Image Capture, it treats your device as if it was a digital camera or a scanner.
This works well if you prefer to not have the Photos app hold your image files hostage.
Using this requires you to have your iPhone plugged to the Mac using the sync cable. Instead of opening the Photos app, open Image Capture.
Once you do that, wait a while for the photos in your camera roll to appear in a list on the app.
You will also notice some technical information on the image files.
These include the file size and other details.
While other bits like aperture settings and shutter speed serve knowledgeable photographers well, we’re mostly concerned about file size.
After the photos load on the app, you can choose which ones to import by selecting the ones you want.
Or, you can use the Import All command to take everything.
Keep note that the app imports these to the Pictures folder by default.
You also have the option to choose which folders the photos go to during importing.
Once you import photos from iPhone, you will notice the green tick on the bottom right corner.
This will tell you that you managed to transfer them to the Mac.
3. Using iCloud Photo Stream
You can also copy photos from iPhone to Mac remotely without using a sync cable by using iCloud.
The iPhone makes a backup and saves it in the Cloud. The devices synced to the Cloud can access and download the files without issue.
As long as you have internet access, you can save your photos in this manner, making it easier to transfer them to the Mac.
While you can avail of the iCloud services for free, you only start with the minimum amount of 5GB worth of storage space.
You will need an iCloud Subscription to increase the storage capacity.
If you have a subscription, you can configure this on your iPhone by going to Settings. From there, check the box beside iCloud Photos to let your phone automatically upload and store them into the Cloud.
You will also need to configure your Mac as well to be able to use this option. For this, open the Photos app. Click on the Photos menu and click on Preferences.
From there, check the box beside iCloud Photos and choose “Optimize Mac Storage” (in case you don’t want the full-res version of the photos).
If you want the full-res versions, choose “Download Originals to this Mac”.
4. Using AirDrop
Another remote option for transferring photos is through the use of AirDrop.
Available on later models of the iPhone and updated versions of the iOS, AirDrop makes the transfer process easier and faster.
All it needs is either a secure Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to transfer photos.
This option is extremely useful as it doesn’t require a cord to sync, or even Wi-Fi. Through Bluetooth, you can transfer your files without too much preparation on both devices.
You can check out this step-by-step guide on how to turn on AirDrop on Mac.
Once you have your AirDrop preferences set, you can simply send your photos without a hassle.
Now You Know How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac
Once you know how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac, you can preserve wonderful images and the memories associated with them.
You can also free up space on your iPhone for better performance and for more photos you wish to take.
Did you find this useful? We also have other guides to help you get the most out of your iPhone or MacBook.
Read them here to learn more great tips and tricks!