Can not import Photos from iPhone into Photos app!

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Level 2

150 points

Can not import Photos from iPhone into Photos app!

I have seen this question many times here and Apple keeps closing the thread so no one else can comment even though the issue is still not solved!

Looks to me like a bug created by Apple to force users to purchase more storage on iCloud to get around this! Apple do the right thing and fix this issue, you make enough money!

Issue,

iPhone is connected and unlocked, Photos says it is not unlocked. If it loads images it then unmounts and starts all over again. Have tried everything mentioned in other threads, new test user, booting in safe mode with the shift key, still the exact same issue!

Posted on Apr 4, 2021 2:54 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,651 points

Apr 4, 2021 11:40 PM in response to Mark J1

Can you give us some background information on your devices and system versions, Mark? There are many factors that could make importing difficult.

Which system version is running on your iPhone and on your Mac? Are you using the most recent system versions - iOS14.4.2 on the iPhone and macOS 11.2 on the Mac? If possible, update or upgrade the system on your devices.
What is the file format of the photos on the iPhone? Is the camera set to High Efficiency format or are you taking JPEGs?
If you are shooting HEIC, is the iPhone set to convert the HEIC files to JPEGs? This will create duplicates, unless you hand-pick the photos for importing.
Is iCloud Photos enabled in the iPhone or My Photo Stream? In that case do not even try to import manually, because it will give random results, and you can only hand-pick the photos to import. Stick with one method of import and do not mix methods, as mixing will disable the duplicate detection.
Do your iPhone and your Mac have enough free, storage? If you are having thousands of photos on the iPhone, your Mac and your iPhone should have plenty of free storage to be able to create thumbnails and converted versions to show the import. How much unused, free storage is on your iPhone and your Mac?

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Answer 2

Mark J1 Author

Level 2

150 points

Apr 5, 2021 10:08 AM in response to léonie

I think I solved this,

The issue is having my photos library on an external drive. I made a new user and created a new library and importing worked fine. My photos library on my external drive is about 600gb so no way to keep that on my internal drive. Apple seems to be preventing people from using an external drive for photos, wonder why? greed$?

This has been a problem for years for many users, Apple should do the right thing and fix it!

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Answer 3

Apr 4, 2021 4:08 PM in response to Mark J1

Just a thing to try (solved similar problem for another poster) a different cable (apple original if possible). Try different usb ports on your mac.

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Answer 4

Mark J1 Author

Level 2

150 points

Apr 4, 2021 6:17 PM in response to TonyCollinet

image capture works thanks!

But I have to manually select images that I have not imported yet. This is very time-consuming. There are thousands of images and now I will have duplicates of most.

Stil wondering why Photos the default app for this process does not work.

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Answer 5

Apr 4, 2021 4:16 PM in response to Mark J1

Have you tried the image capture app, rather than importing directly from Photos?

Is iCloud turned on on your phone?

Do you have any images on the camera roll not taken with the phone?

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Answer 6

Mark J1 Author

Level 2

150 points

Apr 5, 2021 10:04 AM in response to léonie

Thanks for this, answers below.

Which system version is running on your iPhone and on your Mac? Are you using the most recent system versions - iOS14.4.2 on the iPhone and macOS 11.2 on the Mac? If possible, update or upgrade the system on your devices.

It has been an issue for years, I had this issue with the lasted iOS and the Latest OS over the years. currently running OS 10.15.7 On a Mac Pro and iOS 14.4.2. iPhone X.

What is the file format of the photos on the iPhone? Is the camera set to High Efficiency format or are you taking JPEGs?

High Efficiency format

If you are shooting HEIC, is the iPhone set to convert the HEIC files to JPEGs? This will create duplicates, unless you hand-pick the photos for importing.

Is iCloud Photos enabled in the iPhone or My Photo Stream? In that case do not even try to import manually, because it will give random results, and you can only hand-pick the photos to import. Stick with one method of import and do not mix methods, as mixing will disable the duplicate detection.

NO

Do your iPhone and your Mac have enough free, storage?

Yes, I have 350Gb on my mac and 148Gb available on my Phone.

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Answer 7

léonie

Level 10

200,651 points

Apr 5, 2021 10:18 AM in response to Mark J1

You can certainly keep a large Photos Library on an external drive. The external drive needs to have a compatible file system format (APFS or MacOS X extended (Journaled)) and must not have been used for Time Machine backups. It needs to have a wired connection and not a network share. If you want o keep the library on an external volume, prepare the volume as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

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