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User profile for user: Sheri444
Sheri444 Author
User level: Level 1
15 points

iPhone photos won't import to my iMac because they are suddenly the wrong format?

I have an older iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) running OS Sierra (10.12.6). That's as far as I can update the software on this old girl, which still runs great. My iPhone 12 running iOS 16.0.2


I have been importing my photos from my iPhone to my computer (via cable) forever into the Photos app on my iMac. Since the iOS update to 16, the iMac says it can't import any photos because they are the wrong format. Is this a setting I can change somewhere? Or is my my Photos program too old (it's version 2.0)?


I am not using iCloud for photos so have been importing to my computer the old school way via cable. Any advice appreciated! I can't afford a new iMac!

iMac 27″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Oct 22, 2022 7:39 AM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,321 points

Posted on Oct 22, 2022 9:02 AM

You may want to check the Settings for the Camera on the iPhone. Newer iPhone models can take photos and videos in the space saving High Efficiency format HEIF, which is not supported on Macs with OS Sierra (10.12.6). You would need at least macOS 19.13 High Sierra to be able to use this format on your Mac.

If the Camera is now set to use the High Efficiency format, the Photos.app cannot work with these photos.

In that case change the Settings on the iPhone, so the Camera will take new photos and videos in a more compatible format.

  • Settings > Camera > Formats , set this to "More Compatible"

To transfer the existing HEIF files, change the Settings > Photos > Transfer to Macro PC to "Automatic",

so the HEIF items will be automatically converted to a more compatible format, when you import them from the iPhone.


See: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices - Apple Support


You could also download the incompatible items to a folder Ron your Mac with Image Capture, then use a third-party app to convert the HEIC files to JPEGs. Or the online Converter at ‎heictojpg.com




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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,321 points

Oct 22, 2022 9:02 AM in response to Sheri444

You may want to check the Settings for the Camera on the iPhone. Newer iPhone models can take photos and videos in the space saving High Efficiency format HEIF, which is not supported on Macs with OS Sierra (10.12.6). You would need at least macOS 19.13 High Sierra to be able to use this format on your Mac.

If the Camera is now set to use the High Efficiency format, the Photos.app cannot work with these photos.

In that case change the Settings on the iPhone, so the Camera will take new photos and videos in a more compatible format.

  • Settings > Camera > Formats , set this to "More Compatible"

To transfer the existing HEIF files, change the Settings > Photos > Transfer to Macro PC to "Automatic",

so the HEIF items will be automatically converted to a more compatible format, when you import them from the iPhone.


See: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices - Apple Support


You could also download the incompatible items to a folder Ron your Mac with Image Capture, then use a third-party app to convert the HEIC files to JPEGs. Or the online Converter at ‎heictojpg.com




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iPhone photos won't import to my iMac because they are suddenly the wrong format?

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