Move iPhone images from iCloud to external device - don't want to store in Photos for Mac app

I want to remove all the photos from my iCloud storage (stored there from my iPhone).

I want to move the images to a USB flash drive (via my MacBook) and then gradually sort them out.

I do not use the Photos app on my MacBook - it has no images in it at all.  (My app of choice is Corel AfterShot Pro).  I don’t really want to start using the Photos app.  If I understand this right, it means my pics will be referenced images.

I have read that, before I download the images from my iCloud account, I need to adjust the Photos app preferences on my MacBook so that these images will not be loaded there:

The instruction is to go to Photos > Preferences > General and then deselect the “Copy items to the Photo library” tick box

BUT!  Under the Photos drop-down menu, the “Preferences” link is faded out (i.e. inactive) - and I can’t find out how to change that.

Is this because I’ve never used the Photos app before (I’ve had the MacBook for a few years)?  How do I get into Photos > Preferences? Or, is there another (easy!) solution?

As mentioned in previous posts, I’m old and a bit slow, computer-wise - any simple guidance will be really apppreciated.  Thanks!