HT201302: Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn about Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
goodrf3
Level 1 (5 points)
Photos for Mac

Q: How do I transfer photos from my MacBook Pro to my iPhone WITHOUT deleting them from my computer?

I have ~5000 photos on my MacBook Pro, only a few if which were taken with my iPhone. If I use Sync in iTunes any photos on my computer that were not taken with my iPhone are deleted from my computer. There is no obvious way to prevent this happening. Could I create a duplicate iPhoto library and "sacrifice" it while syncing my iPhone without losing other libraries? Any other ideas?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Apr 21, 2015 8:46 AM

by Phil0124,Solvedanswer
Phil0124 Phil0124
Level 7 (27,899 points)
iPhone
A:

No, that doesn't work that way.

 

Photos on your computer ae not deleted by iTunes.  When you sync photos to an iPhone using iTunes, photos on the iPhone that are not in the folders or albums being synced by itunes will be deleted from the iPhone. Photos on your computer should not be touched at all.

 

Also transferring pictures from the iPhone to a computer has nothing to do with iTunes.

 

It is done through Photos, iPhoto, Aperture, or even Image Capture.

Posted on Apr 21, 2015 8:57 AM

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goodrf3

Q: How do I transfer photos from my MacBook Pro to my iPhone WITHOUT deleting them from my computer?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Phil0124,Solvedanswer

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 21, 2015 8:57 AM in response to goodrf3
    Level 7 (27,899 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 21, 2015 8:57 AM in response to goodrf3

    No, that doesn't work that way.

     

    Photos on your computer ae not deleted by iTunes.  When you sync photos to an iPhone using iTunes, photos on the iPhone that are not in the folders or albums being synced by itunes will be deleted from the iPhone. Photos on your computer should not be touched at all.

     

    Also transferring pictures from the iPhone to a computer has nothing to do with iTunes.

     

    It is done through Photos, iPhoto, Aperture, or even Image Capture.

  • by goodrf3,

    goodrf3 goodrf3 Apr 21, 2015 9:32 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 21, 2015 9:32 AM in response to Phil0124

    I'm not trying to import photos from my iPhone. I'm trying to sync my iPhone with my computer. I use iTunes to sync. But, I get a warning that photos that are not on my iPhone will be deleted from my computer. I'm trying to avoid that happening.

  • by goodrf3,

    goodrf3 goodrf3 Apr 21, 2015 11:05 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 21, 2015 11:05 AM in response to Phil0124

    Here's the issue:

    Sync Loss.jpg

  • by goodrf3,

    goodrf3 goodrf3 Apr 22, 2015 6:19 AM in response to goodrf3
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 22, 2015 6:19 AM in response to goodrf3

    Ahhhh....  I see that I misinterpreted the warning to mean that the photos would be deleted from my Mac, not the iPhone. Thank you Phil0124. Sorry for not thinking harder about your advice before replying.

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Apr 21, 2015 12:37 PM in response to goodrf3
    Level 7 (27,899 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 21, 2015 12:37 PM in response to goodrf3

    No problem.  Glad you figured it out.