Photos downloading forever

I take a photo on my iPhone. It shows up on my Mac but Photo's indicates photo is still downloading. It takes forever. Like 30 minutes.


Even though the photo is showing in Photo's on my Mac, I can't for example attach the photo to an email. It does not show up as a photo that I can attach.


It never used to do this. If I saw a photo in Photo's on mac, I could always immediately attach.


Both Mac and iphone are on the same wireless network.


MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 20, 2019 12:43 PM

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2 replies

Oct 26, 2019 1:17 PM in response to garywi

Hi garywi,


Thanks for using Apple Support Communities! I see you're having an issue with one photo downloading from iCloud Photos, and I'd like to help.


Have you restarted your Mac since noticing this? It's a simple step, however it can resolve unusual issues.


If that photo still shows downloading when Photos is reopened, verify that you have enough available space on your Mac.

See used and available storage space on your Mac


If you click on Pause, then start the download again, does it complete?


Take another photo with your iPhone, does that photo download successfully to your Mac?


Let me know, and we can continue troubleshooting this issue.


Thanks!

Oct 26, 2019 6:30 PM in response to Leanne_68

Something has changed on both my Macs. For 4 years, I could take a photo on my iPhone. Sit down at my Mac, write an email and attach the photo minutes after taking the photo.


Now, I take a photo, I sit down at my Mac, write an email and go to attach the photo I just took, and it's not in Finder - Photos. When I go look in the Photo's app, I see the picture.

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Photos downloading forever

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