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Deleting pictures on iPhone automatically after import to iPhoto

Hi, folks!

How can I automatically delete pictures after importing them? I remember, it was possible in earlier versions of iPhoto. After every import, I could choose to delete or to keep the pictures on my iPhone...


MBP 2018, macOS 10.14.6

iPhoto 9.6.1

iPhone 6, iOS 12.5.1


Thanks for your help!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Mar 17, 2021 3:52 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 17, 2021 11:48 AM

If iCloud Photos has been off on the iPhone, you should still be able to use "Delete after Import". It is available in Photos for Mac and in Image Capture. In that case I would make a new backup of the iPhone, before you import the photos with "Delete after Import".

4 replies

Mar 17, 2021 6:35 AM in response to superrupi

It should still work, but only, if you did not enable iCloud Photos on the iPhone.

If the iPhone is syncing the photos with iCloud, the primary storage of the photos is in iCloud the iPhone is just mirroring them. In that case it is not possible to delete the photos automatically after importing them.

It is very risky anyway, to delete the photos right after import, before you can check, if the photos have been correctly without any transmission errors. Occasionally it can happen, that the Mac will crash during the import, before the photos have been properly saved in the iPhoto Library, but will already have been deleted from the iPhone or card. Or, if the cable or the plug are not working properly, some photos may have transmission errors and will need to be downloaded again.


It is much safer to check the photos after the download by viewing them all enlarged, and make the first backup, before you delete them from the camera or iPhone. Keep them on the iPhone, until you have the first good backup.


Deleting pictures on iPhone automatically after import to iPhoto

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