stuck on preparing to import photos from iPhone

This is still a recurring problem for me too.  But I’ve also been able to recover normal photo transfer every time after plugging the phone into the Mac with Photos open on the Mac, then Airplane mode on and off. 

It sometimes takes 2-3 cycles to work, but it has every time until I plug it in again and have to repeat the process. 

No idea why it works.

This has been bugging me. I saw a suggestion on another website to toggle airplane mode. After resetting privacy settings didn't do it, I gave it a try. Voila. Toggling airplane mode on then off fixed it. Don't ask me why...

Greetings, Drtonyh.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. We can understand why you’d want to successfully Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or PC.

We do see that you reached out to us, using the above resource. Since your Photos are not importing as expected, please restart your Mac: Shut down or restart your Mac

Then, try to import your Photos in safe mode: How to use safe mode on your Mac

We hope this helps! Thanks for being a part of the community.

Sincerely.

I just got this to work again, by toggling Airplane mode while the iPhone was connected to my Mac with the "preparing to import" message showing. Worked instantly.

I think I figured it out. This worked for me. I don't want to pay for more iCloud storage so am trying to download ... it won't let me download to library - won't show any of my pics just says "preparing for download" if you click on "import to new album" the minute I selected the new album ... wah lah!!!!!!

My brand new MBP 14" is running MacOS 12.3.1 and my iPhone 12 Pro Max is current on 15.4.1.

NONE of the suggestions below have worked.

I am completely unable to import photos from my iPhone to my Mac.

This is very frustrating!

Me too, it turns out. I'm back to endless "preparing to import...", and the airplane mode trick doesn't resolve it.

Same. I'm super p i s s e d

This only worked once. Every time I want to sync, I have to go back into safe mode. Been a problem since I got my new phone, and very, very annoying.