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I have an iPhone 12 mini and MacBook Air M1 both with fully updated iOS software. But photos will not download from my iPhone to the Mac

I have an iPhone 12 mini and MacBook Air M1 both with fully updated iOS software. But photos will not download from my iPhone to the Mac. A local tech has no idea what is wrong. What next?


iPhone 12 mini, iOS 14

Posted on Jul 22, 2021 9:59 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 23, 2021 4:22 AM

Without knowing which method you tried to import them, and what part failed, it is difficult to help.

This is what should happen and includes alternative methods.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201302



9 replies

Jul 23, 2021 3:08 PM in response to LD150

I follow the simple instructions - connect the iPhone 12 to my MacBook Air M1 with its USB cable (this is working because the phone charges through the computer when it's connected). I open Photos. It brings up the pane 'Preparing to Import from Philip Temple's iPhone'. Boxes 'Open Photos' and Import to library are ticked. But ......... nothing happens. It DID happen until about a month ago but following your updates, it stopped. Nothing I try works. I have lots of storage available on both phone and computer.

Jul 25, 2021 4:45 PM in response to LD150

Sorry to be so tardy and thanks for your interest. I don't have security apps on either. I'm beginning to suspect that the transfer has stopped operating because, on my iPhone, I have not turned on 'iCloud Photos'. When I go to do this, it advises that 'Photos Synced from Finder will be removed.'' '5922 photos will be removed'. Where will they be removed from? Does this mean I lose them altogether? If they are still in the Cloud, does this mean Apple can maybe charge me more for storage? Is that the idea?

Jul 25, 2021 10:47 PM in response to strongbeak

Turning on iCloud photos is not a good option if you prefer to use the Mac.

It may remove photos from the phone that have already been sync’d from Mac to iPhone .

You might also finish up sending all your masters from phone and Mac to the iCloud too.

Lets just say it is a potential source of income for them.



Jul 27, 2021 1:08 AM in response to strongbeak

It certainly points to the cable. Apple make the strongest cables in the world - they don't even want to coil up without a fight, and I regularly pull them out by the wire without consequences. But I guess there can be bad ones. Check the lightening gold contacts for contamination but there's not much to do with the USB end except plug it in and out a dozen times, preferably into something less expensive than the MBA.

I have an iPhone 12 mini and MacBook Air M1 both with fully updated iOS software. But photos will not download from my iPhone to the Mac

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