Level 1

121 points

Importing photos to iPhoto, message "iPhone is locked with a passcode"

Hi,

I recently upgraded from an iPhone 4 to an iPhone 4s. SInce upgrading, whenever I connect my iPhone 4s to my Mac to import photos from its camera roll, I get the message below ("Photos in the camera roll on "User's iPhone" cannot be viewed or imported because the iPhone is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the iPhone to view or import them.)

Problem is - my phone isn't locked (it has a passcode, but I've entered it and my iPhone is unlocked, showing its home screen). The Mac I'm connecting to is the one I sync my photos with, and sync my iTunes content with. Restarting the Mac and iPhone seems to fix the problem, but it comes back the next time.

Any tips?

Many thanks,

Greg

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 1:08 AM

47 replies

Iramaria

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2012 7:42 AM in response to Greg Andresen

Im having the same problem. Did you guys find any solution yet?

Jan 15, 2012 1:14 PM in response to Greg Andresen

Same problem here. Turning off the passlock doesn't help. Message appears again and again.

Greg Andresen Author

Level 1

121 points

Jan 17, 2012 2:56 AM in response to Matthew McAlister

With passcode turned off I'm able to import my photos, but when I re-enable my passcode I get the same problem again. I never had this problem with my iPhone 4 running iOS 5.

Greg Andresen Author

Level 1

121 points

Jan 20, 2012 6:57 PM in response to Greg Andresen

Try using a different USB sync/charge cable. I've swapped mine out and so-far it's working fine (though it's early days yet!).

Greg Andresen Author

Level 1

121 points

Jan 26, 2012 1:36 AM in response to Greg Andresen

Nope, I was premature as I thought. Tonight I got the message again, even with the new USB cable 😟

Sunima

Level 1

9 points

Nov 8, 2014 10:26 AM in response to Greg Andresen

same her.. iPhone 6 is not passcode locked, but iphoto9.2.3 says it is. There should be a link to iPhone to unlock the phone in this instance. At least iPhoto recognizes my phone. Anybody figure this out yet? I've rebooted both..doesn't change anything. Please help!! Apple???

Apr 1, 2015 2:57 PM in response to Sunima

I'm having this same problem. I tried to set up a password and then turn it off. Disconnected cable and turned password on and off no luck. I'm stuck. I'm using my iPhone 5 with version 8.2. I have no way of getting my photos to iPhoto but they all sync between iPhone, iPad mini2, and iPad air 2. I just want to use my photos on the macbook. Did we get anywhere with this issue?

jdarl1

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2015 3:20 PM in response to reneefromeast hartford

I also am having this problem. How can we get Apple's attention on this? 😕

Apr 14, 2015 4:21 PM in response to jdarl1

This is how I resolved it. Apparently when I changed my backing up to the cloud iTunes got kind of funny and must've unauthorized the iPhone device. If you recall when you changed to backing up to the cloud, there was a window that popped up and said if you back up to the cloud, you're phone will no longer back up to iTunes? So iTunes didn't recognize my phone anymore hence the reason why when I plugged my iPhone into the Macbook it didn't automatically launch iPhoto like before. iPhoto must need iTunes authorization to work with. So I ended up opening up iTunes and going in and "re authorizing" my iPhone by probably plugging my iPhone in the mac, opening iTunes, and choosing authorize from the store menu. I wish I would've wrote down step by step how I did that but once I authorized the iPhone that fixed my problem entirely. Now the only thing is I'm not sure if that turned off iCloud backing up but I can use iPhoto just fine now. Hope that works for you too.

beckym99

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2015 4:11 AM in response to jdarl1

I had the same problem. All sorted now though! Just had to download the latest updates for my iTunes and iPhone and it went back to working straight away!

May 25, 2015 6:17 PM in response to Greg Andresen

Im still having trouble with this. I authorized itunes and its still saying it needs a passcode :S Anybody figure this out yet? Why is this such a problem?

Oct 12, 2015 6:53 AM in response to reneefromeast hartford

Finally, a solution! The iTunes pairing was counterintuitive for me, but this worked. Thanks.

Xbgreene

Level 1

4 points

May 31, 2016 5:08 AM in response to reneefromeast hartford

This helped. just opening itunes and authorizing the iphone on the computer worked perfectly.

Jun 10, 2016 5:51 AM in response to chelseydawn

I'm having the same problem. Itunes/Icloud/Sync is the most confusing bug riddled monster ever!

cincinw1

Level 1

4 points

Sep 17, 2016 7:20 PM in response to chelseydawn

Same problem here. Just started tonight. iOS 10.0.1 on 5s using Mountain Lion OS.

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Importing photos to iPhoto, message "iPhone is locked with a passcode"