Airdropping photos to Mac creates individual folders?

RosieDoozy wrote:

Is it because I’m selecting “all photos data” when I airdrop?

Yes.

> And is there any way to make all the photos just appear in a normal list in the downloads main folder instead?

Don't use All photos data if you import to Finder. Or import to Photos -- I guess that option is more geared to it because Photos can then better see and optionally revert edits done in the mobile device.

That said, I occasionally use that AirDrop option when importing to Finder (from family member's iPhones) if I want to be sure all metadata is included, although usually that is not needed, though. I then use GraphicConverter to "Browse Flat" such folder and then move all included files temporarily to the trash and immediately rescue them elsewhere. That takes care of the extra folders.

Another option to download original images (with no pixel or metadata edits done in the mobile device) is to download files via Image Capture via USB. But usually my family members are too impatient to connect the phone via USB so they use AirDrop instead, occasionally including edits they have done in their phones although I always want the originals...

RosieDoozy wrote: Is it because I’m selecting “all photos data” when I airdrop?

Matti Haveri wrote: Yes.

Well, that's succinct! I've never used "All Data" in AirDrop, probably because I have the pictures already on my Mac from iCloud.

That's why I asked about what was inside the folders, though. I suspected that both the original and the edited pictures were being exported, along with the metadata (the AAE file,) and that's it. Thanks Matti!

If you don't use "All Photos Data," then you get only the edited version, not the original. This would be a problem for me, in part because I crop pictures to fit the screen. I may later want to crop differently for an electronic picture frame, for instance, and I would need the original to re-crop. Having only the edited version is probably fine for most uses.

RosieDoozy wrote: .... You'd think that with all the advancements Apple has made, they would have made that whole process a bit more transparent.

Well, they have, and it's called iCloud Photos. You turn on iCloud in Photos on your phone and on your Mac, and all the pictures are kept exactly the same on both devices. The pictures are actually on your Mac and phone, fully in your control; iCloud is the moderator and conveyor. It costs $3/month for 200 GB, and you don't need to think about it any more. No cables, no worry. I was dubious, and delayed for a long time, but it's just too simple to pass up. (Well, there's always more stuff you can do, if you want more complexity.)

If you want to try it out, we can help.

Do you use iCloud to synchronize the Photos Libraries on your Mac and iPhone? Do you have "Optimize Storage" checked on either one?

Are you using OS Monterey on your Mac, as your signature says? What iOS does your iPhone use?

Is this screenshot from inside your Downloads folder, or somewhere else on you Mac? What is in each folder-- is it one file? Is it a single normal image file, jpeg or HEIC, or is there an extra file? You seem surprised-- has this been different in the past?

Select, Share, Airdrop doesn't do that for me. I just tried transferring 10 pictures, and I just got 10 files in my Downloads folder. What, exactly, are the steps you using?

I use iCloud so that my pictures on my Mac are the same as on the iPhone-- so I normally do all my backing up from my Mac, which seems way easier.