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Used to be no problem uploading photos from iPhone to Mac. Now it works only occasionally. Mostly it just says "Preparing to import..." but never does even when I click on the iPhone to the left. Both phone and computer are up to date.
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.6
Yes, connecting the phone with a cable but as mentioned, I hesitate to update to the latest Mac OS because it may disable something else. Really disgusted that such a basic function as transferring photos has become so difficult--or impossible right now.
Yes, connecting the phone with a cable but as mentioned, I hesitate to update to the latest Mac OS because it may disable something else. Really disgusted that such a basic function as transferring photos has become so difficult--or impossible right now.
iOS is 16.2. Here's what happens: Plug the phone connector into the Mac (running Monterey 12.6.2). Phone turns on. After entering passcode (Touch ID worked initially on the Mac 2-1/2 years ago when new, but not for the last two years; not sure it ever worked on the phone), Photos app opens automatically on the Mac and just sits there "Preparing to import...." Turning on flight mode didn't change anything. I've never used a hotspot and use Wi-Fi at home, but turned off cellular data. No change. Have to say this experience discourages downloading system updates, after which things I use stop working in favor of "improvements" to features I never use. Thanks for suggesting some things to try, even though they didn't fix the problem. The other post mentioned iMazing, which is running on my computer. I'll try their support next.
So, I closed Photos on the Mac, ate lunch, woke up the phone, and reopened Photos on the Mac. It then asked me to unlock my phone, after which it showed the photos to be imported and imported them. This has been the pattern, completely hit or miss (mostly the latter), but at least I know it is possible but difficult to import with the current OS on each device. Thanks for all of your suggestions--appreciate your trying to help and alerting me to possible issues to check.
If you are using iOS 16 on the iPhone, try to update to the most recent version.
If you are already running iOS 16.1 and the import is still not working and stuck on "Preparing", try to turn on "flight mode" on the iPhone while importing or disable "Cellular Hotspot" iPhone. This helped others with a similar problem. Stuck On "Preparing to Import Photos" Whe… - Apple Community
Where is your Library stored? Is it on an external? If so, that needs to be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or apfs.
Didn't move anything. Also, this issue with the Photos app was intermittent even before the latest updates, I think. It might take several tries over time for the photos to import. This time I've been trying for days.
I don't think so, but after getting the phone I had to disable many things that Apple enabled automatically. Photos app Library is where the photos I can't import are stored. I haven't changed anything related to Photos on either the phone or the Mac since it used to work with no problem. Would iCloud Photo on the phone show up with the other apps that I've downloaded? If so, it isn't enabled. I don't use iCloud, preferring file storage on my laptop and backup drive. Just found iCloud Photos under Photos settings, and it is disabled.
It's the Library within the Photos app on the Mac, along with Imports, etc.
The Photos Library is still in the Pictures folder.
The Photos Library is not stored "within the Photos.app",it is stored by the Photos.app. By default, Photos will create the library in your Pictures folder. Is it still there, or did you move it somewhere else?
léonie wrote:
If your photos are in iCloud and not on the iPhone, the "Preparing" may take a very long time.
This is because, if you have "Optimize Storage" set on your phone, then phone doesn't keep the full-sized images and it has to download them from iCloud before it can send them to the Mac.
On the other hand, if Photos on both the phone and on the Mac are connected to iCloud, then the Mac can get the pictures directly from iCloud.
Another thought: Are you using a cable? With the most recent iOS, you may need to upgrade to Ventura on you Mac to be compatible with the newest iOS.
Is iCloud Photo enabled on the iPhone? If your photos are in iCloud and not on the iPhone, the "Preparing" may take a very long time.
On the iPhone you could check Settings > AppleID > iCloud > Photos. It should not be enabled, when you do not want to use it.
Photos app doesn't import from iPhone
