You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Peter Mars
Peter Mars Author
User level: Level 2
189 points

Photos App says "No Photos" when I try to import photos from iPhone

I constantly get messages that My iCloud storage is almost full so I plug my iPhone into my iMac and open the Photos App to import the photos from my iPhone, but the Photos App says "No Photos". I want to import my photos into my Photos App so I Can delete them from the iPhone and free up some storage. What is going on? I cannot figure this out. I can see the photos on my iPhone... there are lots of them! I do not understand why either of these things is happening. I do not need more iCloud storage, I just need to get my photos into my Photos App on my iMac where they belong and then clear space in iCloud somehow... I assume they are being duplicated in iCloud for some reason. I do not need this. I have Time Machine and a spare drive handling backups every night. This should not be so complicated. Used to work just fine. Some how I got off the track with this.


Running out of time and iCloud storage. Need an answer soon.

Thanks

iPhone 7, iOS 14

Posted on Oct 10, 2020 4:37 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: TonyCollinet
TonyCollinet
User level: Level 7
23,954 points

Posted on Oct 11, 2020 1:11 AM

Hi. Peter.


First - bear in mind that when using Icloud sync if you delete photos on your phone, it will delete them from all devices. You will lose them.


Second - if you are using Icloud for syncing, you cannot sync via USB


So you have two choices. Stop using Icloud and manage transfer to your mac only using USB.

Or pay for more Icloud storage.


It sounds like you want to stop using Icloud for photos - so in your mac goto preferences in photos and turn off Icloud.

In your phone, go to settings, tap your name at the top, tap Icloud, Tap Photos, and turn off icloud photos.


You should then be able to transfer your phone images to your mac via USB, after which (if you want to and after making sure you have ALL your photos on your Mac), you can delete the icloud photos from www.icloud.com

View in context

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: TonyCollinet
TonyCollinet
User level: Level 7
23,954 points

Oct 11, 2020 1:11 AM in response to Peter Mars

Hi. Peter.


First - bear in mind that when using Icloud sync if you delete photos on your phone, it will delete them from all devices. You will lose them.


Second - if you are using Icloud for syncing, you cannot sync via USB


So you have two choices. Stop using Icloud and manage transfer to your mac only using USB.

Or pay for more Icloud storage.


It sounds like you want to stop using Icloud for photos - so in your mac goto preferences in photos and turn off Icloud.

In your phone, go to settings, tap your name at the top, tap Icloud, Tap Photos, and turn off icloud photos.


You should then be able to transfer your phone images to your mac via USB, after which (if you want to and after making sure you have ALL your photos on your Mac), you can delete the icloud photos from www.icloud.com

Reply

Photos App says "No Photos" when I try to import photos from iPhone

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up