Whether you use your Mac to edit photos and videos or as a backup storage device, or you just want to free up precious space on your iPhone, here are six easy ways to transfer photos and videos from iPhone to Mac.
Before transferring photos from iPhone to Mac
Before transfer photos from iPhone to Mac, give Camera Roll once and delete blurry photos, useless videos and duplicates. Why? Because unless you’re paying for unlimited cloud storage, cleaning iPhone photos before transferring them to your Mac will simplify the whole process. Doing so will save digital storage space, time, and frustration.
It will take hours to go through all your photos manually, but our Gemini Photos app will make the process much faster.
- Time required: 15 minutes.
- Here’s how to quickly and easily clean up your photo library with Gemini Pictures.
- Download Gemini pictures
- Scan your photo library
When you open the Gemini Photos app, your home screen will sort your photos into categories: similar, duplicate, videos, screenshots, notes, blurred, and more. When you click on a category, you can see all the photos that may take up unnecessary space in your photo library.
- Approve photos and videos for deletion
Click on “Similar” to get started. Gemini photos will group all similar shots together, with the best option at the top. If you agree with the selection, keep the first result and move the rest to the trash. You can also choose Keep All if you don’t want to get rid of any of the photos in the series.
For screenshots, notes, and blur, just tap Delete all to erase all selected photos. In videos etc, swipe up on the photos/videos you want to keep, and swipe down on the photos/videos you want to delete.
- Empty the trash
After browsing your photos in each section and selecting the photos you want to delete, tap Empty Trash.
- Erase Recently Deleted Photos
Once you’re done, head over to the Photos app and open the Recently Deleted album. Click Select > Delete All to permanently delete your photos and free up storage space.
6 Ways to Transfer Photos and Videos from iPhone to Mac
When it comes to transferring photos between devices, we recommend that you choose the method that works best for you and make it a regular part of your photo and video management system. Here are some options to consider.
1. How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac Using Finder
If you’re using macOS Catalina (10.15) or later, you can easily sync your iPhone to your Mac using Finder. Here’s how to do it:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a Lightning to USB cable.
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- On the left sidebar, click on your iPhone’s name under Devices.
- Click pictures.
- Check the Sync Photos box.
- Choose the folder or app on your iPhone that you want to sync photos and videos from.
- Choose whether you want to sync all photos and albums or only selected albums.
- Click Apply.
2. How to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using Photos
Your photos and videos can be synced easily using the Photos app on both iOS and macOS. All you have to do is connect your iPhone to your Mac using a Lightning-to-USB cable. When the iPhone is connected, macOS will open the photos automatically. Here is how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using the Photos app:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a Lightning-to-USB cable.
- If you haven’t synced your photos using this method before, make sure you’re using a trusted device.
- If the Photos app doesn’t load automatically on your Mac, open it with Launchpad on the dock (the icon that looks like a rocket).
- Choose iPhone from the list on the left sidebar.
- Your photos and videos will appear on the screen. Click Import all new items in the upper-right corner. Or if you don’t want to import all of your photos, you can click the photos you want to import and click Import Selected.
3. How to sync photos and videos from iPhone to Mac using iCloud
Want to access your photos and videos from any Apple device? Automatically syncing your photos to iCloud makes it easy. When you sign up for iCloud, 5 GB of free storage is automatically allocated. Additional iCloud storage options start at $.99 a month for 50 GB. Here’s how to set up iCloud Photos so that your photos and videos sync automatically with your other Apple devices.
On an iPhone:
- Go to Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Tap iCloud to see all the apps that use iCloud.
- Click on the pictures.
- Toggle iCloud Photos on.
On your Mac:
- Open the Photos app.
- Click Pictures in the top menu bar.
- Toggle iCloud Photos on. Provided you have enough storage space, your photos will now sync automatically across devices.
4. How to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using photo capture software
Image Capture is a native app on Mac. With a Lightning-to-USB cable, you can quickly and easily download your photos to a folder of your choice using Image Capture:
- On your Mac, open Launchpad and search for Image Capture to open it.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Under Devices on the sidebar, click your iPhone.
- Your photos will appear on the screen.
- At the bottom of the screen, choose the folders you want to import your photos into.
- Click Import all (or select the individual photos you want to import) and click Import.
5. How to copy photos and videos from iPhone to Mac using AnyTrans
If you are looking for an app that allows you to transfer and backup all your files, check out AnyTrans , which is a set of media download and backup tool that transfers photos, music, and videos from iPhone or iPad directly to your Mac:
- Install AnyTrans on your Mac and open it.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Give AnyTrans permission to access your photo library.
- Click Photos to open the iPhone Photo Library on your Mac.
- At the top of the screen, choose Select all or tap one by one on the photos and videos you want to transfer.
- Click on Mac at the top of the screen.
- A popup will appear asking if you want to change the image export setting. Click OK.
- Under General, click the destination folder for your photos.
- Under Export photos, choose the settings for exporting your photos.
- When finished, click Save. Your photos will be automatically moved to the folder you chose.
6. How to Transfer Photos and Videos from iPhone to Mac Using AirDrop
AirDrop is a great tool to wirelessly transfer photos and videos between Mac and iPhone. With AirDrop, you can transfer in any direction without a cable. While it is convenient to use AirDrop for some photos from iPhone to Mac , if you are transferring a large number of photos, it is better to use one of the above methods.
First, you will need to turn on AirDrop on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
- Tap General, then scroll down and tap AirDrop.
- Choose Everyone or Contacts Only, which will determine who you can receive files from.
To make sure AirDrop is enabled on your Mac:
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- Select AirDrop from the sidebar.
- A window will open showing your AirDrop contacts.
- Below the AirDrop icon, click the drop-down menu and select Everyone or Contacts Only. You will now be able to transfer photos and videos wirelessly between iPhone and Mac.
Frequently asked questions about transferring photos and videos to iPhone
Still have questions about transferring photos and videos from your iPhone to your Mac? Here are some of the frequently asked questions we encounter.
Can I transfer photo albums from iPhone to Mac?
yes. If you want to transfer your albums from iPhone to Mac, you have to use Method 2 (Sync photos using Photos app) or Method 3 (Sync photos using iCloud.
Can I delete photos from iPhone after importing to Mac?
If you’re syncing photos and videos with your Mac using iCloud or the Photos app, don’t delete the photos from your iPhone. This will also delete the photos from your photo library on your computer.
If you want to save your photos on your Mac but delete them from your phone, use Method 4 (Transfer Photos Using Photo Capture) or Method 5 (Transfer Photos Using AnyTrans). Both methods will save your photos and videos to the folder of your choice, but won’t sync with your photo library, allowing you to delete photos on your iPhone without losing them on your Mac.
How long does it take to import photos from iPhone to Mac?
The answer to this question depends on how many photos and videos you are transferring. AirDrop will take longer to transfer large files just because the data is being transferred wirelessly. We have found that AnyTrans works very fast, transferring thousands of photos in just a few minutes. Plus, if you clean up with Gemini photos first, you won’t waste time on photos you don’t need.
Can I drag and drop photos from iPhone to Mac?
No. Instead of drag and drop, use one of the above methods to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.
Keeping your photos on your Mac instead of — or in addition to — gives you an extra level of security if it’s lost, damaged, or stolen.
No matter how many photos and videos you want to transfer from iPhone to Mac, you can do it quickly using the above methods. Try them all to find a system that works for you.
