HT204597: If you can't import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer

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Rboz

Q: iMac Photos cannot see iPhone Se

My iMac cannot see the photos on my new iPhone Se. iTunes synchs between the two devices when I plug the iPhone SE in, but the iPhone SE doesn't show up on Finder or automatically open Photos to display the photos on the iPhone. Image Capture doesn't see it either. I've swapped cables and ports on my iMac plus rebooted. The iPhone SE isn't displayed by Finder, Photos, or image capture.

Posted on Jul 2, 2016 11:18 PM

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Q: iMac Photos cannot see iPhone Se

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  • by Johann.B,

    Johann.B Johann.B Jul 3, 2016 11:53 AM in response to Rboz
    Community Specialists
    Jul 3, 2016 11:53 AM in response to Rboz

    Hi there, Rboz!

     

    It seems that you're having trouble getting the photos from your new iPhone SE onto your iMac using either the Photos app or Image Capture, but it syncs fine in iTunes.  Trying different USB ports and a different cable were definitely good troubleshooting steps!  I would be happy to help with some suggestions for further troubleshooting.

     

    FYI, your iPhone won't show up in Finder, even if everything else is working correctly, so that is expected behavior.  It should definitely show up when you open Photos or Image Capture, though, so that is something for us to look into, for sure.  You mentioned that Photos is not automatically opening up when you plug in the iPhone's USB cord.  There is a setting in Photos that says "Open Photos for this device" (it's a check box on the "Import" tab), so it's possible for Photos to not open even if it does "see" the iPhone if that box isn't checked.  When you open Photos manually, are you seeing your iPhone's photos on the Import tab?


    This document contains some steps that may help you resolve this issue:

     

    If you can‘t import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer

     

    Installing any available updates for both your iPhone and your iMac would be a good step, as well:

     

    Update the iOS software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

     

    Update the software on your Mac

     

    One of the suggestions in the first article talks about trying your iPhone on a different computer, if you can.  That would be an excellent way to help figure out if this is an issue with your iPhone SE, or the iMac.  Testing this in another user account on your iMac would also be a good way to isolate if it is a user-specific issue, or system-wide.  This document gives you the steps for doing that:

     

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

     

    Have a great rest of your weekend!

  • by Rboz,

    Rboz Rboz Jul 3, 2016 5:57 PM in response to Rboz
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 3, 2016 5:57 PM in response to Rboz

    Thank you. I had forgotten about Finder not showing an iPhone. I turned on "My photo Stream" on my iPhone under Settings>iCloud>Photos, and on my iMac, selected Preferences>iCloud>Photos>Options>My Photo Stream. I don't clearly understand the implications of it all, but both Photos and Image Capture displayed the photos on my iPhone. When Photos saw my iPhone for the first time, "Open Photos for this device" was checked. I don't want to put my photos in the cloud and that may account for some of my problems. Thank you for your help.

  • by Malignance,

    Malignance Malignance Jul 3, 2016 7:01 PM in response to Rboz
    Level 5 (4,462 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 3, 2016 7:01 PM in response to Rboz

    Did you try a simply restart on the device(s)?

    On the Mac go menu > restart

    On the iPhone Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears