[New] 5 Easy Ways to Import Photos from iPhone to Mac

The best way to save storage space on your iPhone is to import photos from your iPhone to your Mac. That’s because photos and videos always take up more space than other files. So, it is best to transfer some media files to your Mac rather than save them on your iPhone. Moreover, you can also do other editing activities such as media converting, compressing, and managing files. With the post, you will learn how to import photos from iPhone to Mac in four ways.

Part 1: The Best Way to Import All Photos from iPhone to Mac Quickly

The quickest way to import all photos from your iPhone to your Mac is to use AnyRec PhoneMover. This software has an intuitive interface where you can select multiple files to transfer on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and more. It supports moving important data, including calendars, text messages, pictures, etc. You can back up an entire contact list on your smartphone without storing it on iCloud or iTunes. Try AnyRec PhoneMover for fast-speed data transferring on Windows if you bought a new iPhone 17 and want to save space.

Step 1.After installing PhoneMover, open your iPhone and download the MobieSync app from the App Store or Google Play. Ensure they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 2.On your iPhone, tap "Connect to Computer", then scan the QR code displayed in the software. You can also connect the two devices using a USB cable.

Step 3.Once connected, your iPhone's information will appear on the interface. Select any tab from the left panel, then choose the files you wish to transfer.

Step 4.Then click "Connect New Device" and scan the QR code to connect to your Mac. After that, click "Export to Device" to transfer the photos.

Part 2: 3 Ways to Import Photos from iPhone to Mac without USB

Thankfully, there are different ways to sync photos from iPhone to Mac, and they all work well. The methods mentioned below can be your alternative, or you can try the easiest way to transfer data. Without further ado, here are the three effective ways to import photos from iPhone to Mac.

1. AirDrop and Photos app

AirDrop is one of the most trusted ways of moving photos between iPhone to Mac. It can be easily set up via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and is an excellent tool for all Apple devices. Since AirDrop is wireless, it is also a perfect tool for sharing files and documents with others. Unfortunately, it cannot share larger files such as videos and music and is only more effective with the latest iOS versions. You can easily use this feature on iPhone 17 and iOS 26. And the steps are following:

Step 1.Connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, place the two devices close together and enable Bluetooth.

Step 2.Ensure "Personal Hotspot" is turned off. Check that AirDrop on the receiving device is set to "Everyone".

Step 3.Next, tap "Share", then select photos from the Photos app. Tap "AirDrop" and choose the Mac's username.

2. iTunes

iTunes is well-known for organizing various media content on Apple devices. It brings entertainment with popular songs, podcasts, TV shows, and more. Aside from these, you can also import photos from your iPhone to Mac with a simple setup on iTunes. Unfortunately, importing from Mac to your iPhone will only remove files by iTunes. So, if you want to transfer data from your iPhone 17 or your iOS 26 device, you may need an alternative to do it. The following steps only support file transferring:

Step 1.Connect your iPhone to your Mac, then launch the Photos app on your computer. The app will display an "Import" window containing the media content from your iPhone.

Step 2.If the window doesn't appear automatically, click the device name in the Photos sidebar. A prompt will appear on your iPhone screen. Tap "Trust" to continue.

Step 3.Next, choose an existing album or create a new folder to save the transferred photos. Select the photos, then click "Import Selected".

3. iCloud Photos

The last recommended way to import photos from iPhone to Mac is iCloud Photos. The default app is designed to keep pictures, videos, and other files safe. It receives updates regularly to catch up with high-quality content. You may need to purchase a plan to upgrade your storage space. And iPhone 17 and iOS 26 have updated the iCloud Photos features, there are many sharing and syncing features in the latest version. And the basic steps for iCloud Photos are following:

Step 1.First, go to Settings and tap your name. Under the "iCloud" tab, tap "Photos", then turn on iCloud Photos.

Step 2.All your videos and photos will automatically upload to iCloud Photos. Then, visit the official iCloud website on your computer and click "Photos".

Step 3.Select the photos you want to import. Click and hold "Download" in the top-right corner.

Step 4.You can choose your preferred format; click "Download" again to confirm your selection.

Part 3: Import Photos From iPhone to Mac with Image Capture

Mac typically comes pre-installed with Image Capture software. This allows you to directly transfer photos from your iPhone to your Mac, offering a convenient and secure method. It does not rely on the Photos app and will not automatically organize photos into the system gallery. Moreover, it can directly export raw formats such as HEIC, JPEG, PNG, and RAW.

Step 1.Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable, then open "Image Capture" on your Mac.

Step 2.Under the "Devices" category in the sidebar, select your iPhone. Click the "Import to" menu at the bottom of the window and choose where to save the photos.

Step 3.Select the photos you want to import, then click "Download" or "Download All" to import iPhone photos to your Mac.

Part 4: FAQs about How to Import Photos from iPhone to Mac

• Will the quality drop when I import photos from iPhone to Mac?

  The quality may decrease if your Mac is not up to date. But you can avoid the problem by updating your device or turning off the HDR settings.

• Does importing photos from iPhone to Mac take some time?

  Unless you transfer a high-quality batch of pictures, it may take some time for the transfer process to finish, but it won’t take hours. You can avoid this issue by not importing images and videos altogether and keeping the resolution to the average quality.

• Why do I receive an error when transferring pictures?

  One of the possible causes is the old software from your Mac, or the operating system is not updated to support transferring images. You also must ensure to unlock your phone when connecting it to your Mac right after clicking the Trust button.

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