Where's the Photos 'Import' button?

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Level 2

178 points

Where's the Photos 'Import' button?

I have just bought a new iPad Air (6th generation) and am trying to set it up to import photos from my digital camera (Canon SX150 IS), and am having problems.

I have connected the camera to the iPad as follows:

This iPad has a USB3 connector instead of the Lightning connecter used previously. Since I want to be able to charge the iPad when travelling, I have obtained a USB3-to-USBA cable, so as to be able to use the USBA charging source commonly found in hotels, cars and aircraft. This cable charges the iPad fine (from a previously bought charger equipped with a USBA port), and also successfully connects the iPad to a USBA port on my iMac to transfer photos to the iMac. In order to connect to the camera, I have also bought a USBA (female) to mini USB adapter cable, which plugs in to the new USB3-to-USBA cable to complete the iPad-to-camera connection.

Once all this is in place, the Apple instructions for uploading photos from the camera to the iPad say to just press the 'Import' button on the iPad Photos app, but unfortunately I don't see this button. So where is it and how do I get to it?

I have had no trouble in the past uploading photos from this camera, both to previous iPads or the iMac. I have also tried replacing both the USB3-to-USBA cable and the USBA-to-miniUSB adapter with different ones, to no avail.

So either the 'Import' button is well hidden, or I am doing something else wrong, and I would appreciate suggestion as to what I can try.

iPad Air (M2, 2024)

Posted on Jun 2, 2024 8:01 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

178 points

Jun 5, 2024 10:34 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I just noticed that my camera has an indicator LED which comes on when connected to a computer, etc. This indicator used to illuminate when connecting to an older iPad or to my iMac, but didn't in this particular case with the new iPad and different cables. So in spite of my having an apparently complete cable connection between iPad and camera, it looks like they aren't seeing each other.

So I have bought a dedicated USB3-to-miniUSB cable to use for this connection, and now the iPad and the camera are able to talk and transfer photos - the camera's indicator LED comes on. Things proceed generally in line with Richard's description, with the camera showing up in Devices.

I still don't know why the original arrangement didn't work, but I won't pursue it.

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

91,352 points

Jun 2, 2024 8:46 AM in response to Paul Fryer

Import and export photos and videos on iPad - Apple Support

import appears when the camera is connected and in the proper import mode (if necessary). I simply open Photos, connect and turn on my camera. After a little bit, import displays

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Answer 3

Jun 3, 2024 8:52 AM in response to Paul Fryer

I wonder if it's just not recognizing the connection as a camera. When I plug an SSD into my iPad, I can see it and explore the catalog in Files, but it doesn't show in Photos. When I, instead, open Photos and plug in an SD card reader with a card from my camera, it shows up in "Devices" where I can view the contents. "Import All" appears on the upper right, and when I select a picture, "Import" replaces that.

When I put a DCIM folder, with a couple of picture files in it, on my SSD, iPad Photos showed the SSD in the Devices list-- but said, "No Photos to import."

I don't really get it...

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Answer 4

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

178 points

Jun 2, 2024 10:48 AM in response to muguy

That's what I expected. Since it's not happening, there's something else going on.

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Answer 5

Jun 3, 2024 12:14 PM in response to Paul Fryer

You might try running ImageCapture directly. It is the behind-the-scenes program that handles a lot of this. You can then set it to open Photos when the iPad is plugged in.

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Where's the Photos 'Import' button?

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