Importing photos from your iPhone to Mac is a good way to save space on your device. If you want to edit your photos, it is easier when done on a bigger screen along with the useful tools that allow you to utilize a wide array of editing options. If you want to learn how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac, there are several options to choose from.
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What You Need To Know Before Moving iPhone Photos to MacQuick Tip When Using FoneDog iOS Data Backup & RestoreIdeal Methods on How to Import All Photos from iPhone to Mac
What You Need To Know Before Moving iPhone Photos to Mac
Although your Mac has more storage space than your iPhone, it is not limitless. It is recommended to avoid transferring many unnecessary photos to your Mac.
If you have multiple, blurred or duplicate photos or long-forgotten shots, they can eat up a few GB of space. Prior to transferring your photos, make sure that these are not included.
Quick Tip When Using FoneDog iOS Data Backup & Restore
Once you decide to import your photos to Mac using one of the methods on how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac but accidentally deleted them or was lost due to some unexpected error or mishap, you need a tool to recover your files.
A recommended solution to restore your photos is to use FoneDog iOS Data Backup & Restore. With this tool, it can efficiently recover deleted data including photos from your iPhone. The tool presents you with 3 methods to recover your data – directly from your iOS device, iTunes backup, and iCloud backup.
When using FoneDog iOS Data Backup & Restore, simply follow these steps.
How to back up data on your iPhone or iPad
- Connect your iPhone and wait for the software to recognize the device. Choose the iOS Data Backup & Restore tool. Click on the iOS Data Backup option.
- You can choose from 2 backup modes – Standard and Encrypted. If you want additional protection with a password, you can opt for the Encrypted mode. Once you have selected the mode that you want, click on “Start” to move on to the next step.
- The software will present you with the file type that can be backed up such as Call History, Messages, Photos, Contact and more. Simply choose the file types you want to back up.
- At this point, the software will start the backup process of the data you have selected. Once the process is finished, you will be provided with the name and size of the backup file.
You can click on the “Backup Mode” option if you still have other files to backup. If you want to transfer data to your Mac or other iOS devices, tap on “Restore iOS Data”.
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How to restore data from backups
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac. Click on the iOS Data Restore.
- The software will provide you with the available backups including the data and file size. You can choose the one that you want to backup and click on “View Now”.
- The scanning of the backup files will start. You are presented with the progress of the scan on the top part of the interface.
- Once it is completed, you can check the backup data. You can pick out the data that you want to restore.
Before you decide to import photos from your iPhone to Mac, you need this tool to efficiently back up your data just to stay on the safe side. In case an unforeseeable error or mishap occurs, you are at ease knowing that you can easily restore your data in a fast and hassle-free process.
Ideal Methods on How to Import All Photos from iPhone to Mac
Since iPhone and Mac are part of the Apple system, there are several ways to connect them and move content. These methods have been proven to be simple and relatively straightforward.
- Importing images to the Photos app using a Lightning-to-USB cable
- Transfer images using iCloud
- Using the AirDrop feature from iPhone to Mac
How to Import All Photos From iPhone to Mac Using Photos App
One way on how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac in a quick manner is using the Lightning-to-USB cable. This is the cable that you use to charge your iPhone via one of the USB ports of your Mac.
When you connect your iPhone, the Photos app in your Mac will open automatically and will suggest importing your photos. You can start the import process by following these steps:
- Link your iPhone to your Mac by utilizing the Lightning-to-USB cable
- When necessary, you must make sure to unlock your iPhone and authorize that the device can be trusted.
- At this point, the Photos must load and provide you with the available images from your iPhone in the main window. If this does not occur, you must select your iPhone from the left-side menu in the interface of the Photos app. You will see all the photos and videos that are stored in the Camera Roll of your iPhone.
- Tap on “Import All New Items” in the right upper corner of the interface or go through the photos and choose those that you want to import and then click on “Import Selected”.
When the import process is completed, you can ask the Photos apps to delete automatically the photos on your iPhone. This provides you with free space to take more photos.
Remember that some of the iPhone photos might already be present in the Photos app on Mac since they were imported earlier. In case two images are identical, the app will ask whether you want to import the duplicate. If the copy on your Mac was renamed or edited, it will not be detected.
Transfer iPhone Photos with iCloud
Another approach on how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac is to use iCloud. The iCloud Photo Library or iCloud Photos can deal with this task. Nevertheless, in case you have around 5GB or more of photos and videos combined, it is best to upgrade your storage plan that can range from $0.99 monthly for 50GB or even up to $9.99 for 2TB of cloud storage space.
A close look on iCloud Photos
iCloud Photos is the online photo storage service of Apple. If you activate iCloud Photos, all the photos on your iPhone are stored in iCloud.
All images that are stored in iCloud are downloaded automatically to other iCloud devices that you are using, including iPad and Mac. This process is generally labeled as syncing. When you synchronize iCloud Photos on your iPhone and Mac, the same images are present on both devices.
Today, iCloud Photos is a highly convenient and long-term solution if you want to transfer photos on your iPhone to Mac. Remember that iCloud Photos is different than the iCloud Photo Sharing feature. For those who want to share photos with others, the iCloud Photo Sharing feature is the best option.
Setting up your iCloud Photo Library
If you want a simple and hassle-free approach on how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac using iCloud, simply follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Click on your name at the top part
- Go to iCloud
- Below the iCloud storage indicator, you will see the list of Apps Using iCloud
- Click on Photos
- Turn on the iCloud Photos
The next move is to configure it on your Mac:
- Open the Photos app on your Mac
- Go to the Photos menu
- Tap on “Preferences” and tap on iCloud
- Check the box next to the iCloud Photo Library
Once you have followed both steps and both devices you are using have the identical Apple ID, all your images and videos will sync automatically between iPhone and Mac.
If the iCloud Photo Library is turned on, any changes that you make on the photos on one device will sync automatically to the other. Essentially, if you want to remove them on your iPhone and retain them on your Mac, simply turn off the sync once you have moved everything.
Transfer iPhone Photos with AirDrop
The AirDrop feature of Apple allows you to transfer photos wirelessly between nearby Apple devices.
Generally, AirDrop does not instantly transfer images in the same manner as iCloud photos. The difference is that you will choose the photos you want to copy. Furthermore, the photos are moved directly to the hard drive of your Mac, not in the Photos app on your computer.
AirDrop is an easy and quick way to move photos from your iPhone to a folder on your Mac. Overall, it is the ideal option if you only have a few photos to copy.
If you want to use AirDrop to transfer images on your iPhone to your Mac, there are steps that you should follow:
Start the process by turning on the AirDrop feature on your iPhone.
- Move to Settings and click on General
- Look for the AirDrop feature
- Configure the feature to “Everyone” so that you can transmit data via AirDrop to any service
The next move is to turn on the AirDrop feature on your Mac.
- Open the Finder
- Tap on Go that you will find in the menu bar and choose the AirDrop feature
- Once the Finder window opens, there is an AirDrop icon at the lower part of the interface. It appears as a set of blue radio waves.
- Just beneath this icon is a drop-down menu. Simply tap on it and chose “Everyone”
- Wait for a while until both devices find each other.
At this point, you can transfer photos from your iPhone to your Mac using AirDrop with the following steps:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone
- Choose the photos that you want to transfer
- Click on the sharing button in the left bottom corner of the interface
- You must wait until AirDrop locates your Mac and click on it
- If you will check your Mac, you will see a pop-up window that will request you to accept photos. Tap on Accept.
In some cases which are based on the settings on Mac, you might be asked where you want to save the photos. Once the transfer is done, you can turn off AirDrop on both iPhone and Mac.
Regardless of the approach that you will utilize, Apple makes it a simple and hassle-free process to transfer photos and videos from iPhone to Mac. Just make sure that you will choose the photos or videos you will transfer to minimize any unnecessary clutter.
Transfer Photos Using a Cable
Another way on how to import all photos from iPhone to Mac is to use the charger cable.
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the charger cable. The next step is to open the Photos app on your Mac. In the left sidebar of the interface, tap on iPhone. If needed, you must unlock your iPhone.
All the photos from your iPhone will be presented in the main part of the window. If you want to import all the photos or videos on your iPhone, tap on “Import All New Photos” at the right upper part. This will import all the photos or videos taken since your last import.
In case you only want to copy specific images, choose the “Import Selected” option at the upper part of the screen.
Once the photos are imported, you will find the images in the “Last Import” album on the sidebar on the left. If you want to view all the photos that you have transferred, access the “Imports” album.
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