Photo importing from iPhone to Photo app on Macbook stuck due to possible corrupted photo

Question

Level 1

37 points

Photo importing from iPhone to Photo app on Macbook stuck due to possible corrupted photo

Hi there,

Issue

I cannot import photos from my iPhone 14 into the Photos app on my Macbook Pro 2019. It sits and hangs as I'm assuming it's because it does not recognize the first photo it's trying to import through possible corruption. See the attached screenshot below. The thumbnail is not an actual photo but a generic Apple icon which means I cannot identify the offending culprit. I also had two other photos that would do the same but showed the thumbnail of the actual photo so I was able to find and delete from my iPhone.

Context

Before updating to Sonoma, I was able to import photos from my iphone to my Macbook Pro even with the corrupted photos. Once importing was completed, the generic thumbnail remained on the Photo app but everything was imported.

After updating to Sonoma, it will no longer import photos from my iPhone with the corrupted photo and the progress bar is stuck at the beginning. I have to manually select photos to import now.

All software on iPhone 14 and Macbook Pro 2019 are all up to date. Computer, apps, etc...shut down and restarted...

What I need help with

I basically need help finding the corrupted photo which is like searching for a needle in the haystack so I can delete it and my photos import when plugged in.

Appreciate your time and expertise!

Thanks

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Dec 15, 2023 1:26 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,753 points

Dec 16, 2023 1:55 AM in response to dubya75

To find the photo, try to import the photos using Image Capture. Import them to a folder on an external drive, where you have enough storage to import all photos.

If Image Capture also gets stuck, you can tell by the successful partial import, which photo would have to be imported next. Then delete this photo from your iPhone.

if Image Capture can import them successfully, all the better. Then try to import them from the folder to Photos, in small groups, not all at once. This way you will be able to narrow down the suspects, until you can find the culprit.

And you may want to send feedback to Apple with a feature request, that the Imports window should be showing the filenames, so we can see the filenames of the items that fail to import and are able to find them on the devices. Feedback - Photos - Apple

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