Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Downloading videos from iCloud to iPhoto (or Mac)

Hello,


Apologies if this is a stupid question but I can't find details anywhere.


Recently I have changed my iPhone settings to optimise my photo library and as such my videos and photos rapidly change on my phone to low res versions with high res on iCloud. I used to transfer my iPhones movies via plugging in the cable and importing into iPhoto (photos transferred over wifi so I only connected with the cable every so often to get my videos). Now they are in iCloud, I seem to have to login to iCloud, download each individual video and transfer it into iPhoto. I know from reading other posts people say that iPhoto should't be for videos but historically all my iPhone photos and videos are stored here and I'm reluctant to have them in separate places.


Is there any easy way to transfer videos to my Mac without having to select each individual video and without having to plug in via a cable every day before it gets sent to iCloud?


Many thanks for any help,

Annette

MacBook Air, null

Posted on Jan 4, 2016 1:00 PM

Reply
6 replies
Sort By: 

Jun 7, 2017 8:29 PM in response to annettel14

Hi Annette- I came across your post because I am having the exact same issues. Although very inconvenient, I used to sync my videos by plugging my iPhone into my Mac, but now it doesn't work any longer. How did you get your's to start working? I have upgraded my iPhoto and am able to click on "Videos" but my 2000+ videos are not all saved.

Reply

Jan 4, 2016 2:07 PM in response to annettel14

The easy way would be to have your Mac sync with iCloud Photo Library as well. If your main Photos Library on your Macis too large to be syncing with iCloud, you could set up a second, smaller Photos Library as your iCloud Photo Library on your Mac. This would sync with iCloud and download all your videos auto automatically.

Reply

Jan 12, 2016 1:11 PM in response to léonie

Thank you for your advice. I think I am already doing that and that's how my photos come in - I can see iCloud on the left menu in shared. However, it doesn't import movies, just photos. Is there an option anyway that ensures videos are transferred as well?


Thanks

Reply

Jan 12, 2016 1:41 PM in response to annettel14

If the iCloud section in your photo library is not containing the videos, but only the photos, you are probably seeing my Photo Stream and not iCloud Photo Library.

My Photo Stream does only transfer the photos. In that case connect the iPhone to USB like before to download the videos as well.

Or upgrade to El Capitan and use the new Photos for Mac app, so you can enable iCloud Photo Library for your Photos Library. Then the videos should appear automatically.

You will then see them in the Videos album in the Photos Library on your Mac.

User uploaded file

Reply

Feb 19, 2016 10:06 AM in response to léonie

Hi leonie,


Thanks for your help. I upgraded my Mac OS and am now using Photos rather than iPhoto which is importing my videos. Thank you for that.


You mentioned that if my library was too large to sync with iCloud I could set up a smaller one to sync. Can you point me to info so that I can do that? I'm not sure how I can setup an additional library? I currently have 16k+ photos in my Mac photo library and by syncing it's trying to upload all of those to iCloud. I don't want that as I'm happy just having them on my mac.


Thanks,

Annette

Reply

Feb 19, 2016 10:46 AM in response to annettel14

Annette, this Help page explains, how to create Photos Libraries and switch between libraries, see this link: Use multiple libraries


Basically, you hold down the options key, while launching Photos. This will bring up the library chooser panel. Here you can select the library you want to open or create a new library.

Reply

Downloading videos from iCloud to iPhoto (or Mac)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.