"Delete after import" has gone missing from Photos...

Question

Level 1

11 points

"Delete after import" has gone missing from Photos...

Using an iMac running OS X 10.10.5, and iPhone 5S running iOS 10.0.2.

I take lots of pictures with my iPhone; most for work, but many not.

The work ones I download to my work computer at the end of the day. And when I do that, I erase after import, so as not to have them on my phone when I leave. It used to be as simple as checking the box marked "Delete after Import."

That box has now gone.... missing.

Apple support told me that this "feature update" (as they termed) it had been made in Photos, and therefore the "Delete after Import" option is no longer present. They very helpfully instructed me on how to delete photos from my iPhone, a task which I was quite capable of already, thank you very much.

I respectfully request that Apple restore this function. I was a big time saver (bigger than I ever realized) and I can't fathom why Apple disappeared it.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3), null

Posted on Jan 2, 2017 1:49 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 3, 2017 9:10 AM in response to White Rabbit

Methinks Apple is more preoccupied with customers not clearing photos from their phones - thus using more space, thus needing/buying more space - than your grandma unexpectedly barging into your computer while you're in the process of importing photos from your phone and randomly pushing buttons. This has of course now gone to a whole new level of implication since the "live" feature produces mini 5-6mb videos that - as far as I've been able to see so far, I could be wrong - can only be selected and erased individually from their photo version using image capture or Photo app.

Reply

Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

203,047 points

Jan 3, 2017 7:08 AM in response to léonie

In Photos with macOS 10.12.2 Sierra and iPhone 5S running iOS 10.0.2:

And in Image Capture:

Sometimes the Delete after Import does not appear immediately. It will appear after the iPhone has finished to prepare the Camera Roll.

Reply

Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,242 points

Jan 2, 2017 1:57 PM in response to White Rabbit

You check the delete after import box to the right of the phone in the source list before importing - if you have iCloud Photo Library enabled on your phone then this option is not available

And it is not a good idea to use in any case since in case of failure or problems you lose photos - it is much better to import the photos and be sure they are safe and wait until at least one backup cycle had successfully completed and then use image capture to delete the photos from your phone

and as to asking Apple for things - this is not the place as it is strictly a user to user support forum and Apple is not here - to reach them http://www.apple.com/feedback/

LN

Reply

Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

203,047 points

Jan 2, 2017 2:03 PM in response to White Rabbit

Delete after import is still available; you just have to enable it before you start importing. The option is only missing, if you are using iCloud Photo Library.

Check, if you have accidentally iCloud Photo Library enabled in the Settings > iCloud > Photos & Camera.

If iCloud Photo Library has been enabled, you cannot delete photos from the iPhone, because they are stored in iCloud and only mirrored on your iPhone. If you want to download photos manually, disable iCloud again.

But you should be aware, that "Delete after Import" is risky. Just look at the many discussions we have seen lately about photos lost by this option, for example: Re: iPhoto damaged my photos from phone

The problem is, that the photos will be wiped from your iPhone, before you can check, I the import has been successful. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the import, if there have been transmission errors and you find, that the downloaded photos are corrupted.

Reply

Answer 5

White Rabbit Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 3, 2017 6:33 AM in response to LarryHN

Thanks for the attempt to help. However, I had already checked to make sure I don't have iCloud Library on - I didn't - but I even turned in ON and OFF again just to be certain. Still no "delete after import" in Photos.

That was when I contacted Apple. The chat person verified for me that the "delete after import" option was gone on their Mac as well. They were not sure as to why this change had occurred. This person termed it a "feature upgrade," which sounds to me like a euphemistic way to say Apple just got rid of it.

I have also left feedback for Apple. In posting here, I was hoping that either 1) other folks here would agree, and also give feedback requesting the feature back, and/or 2) someone would post a work-around.

WRT the risks of deleting photos after import: thanks for the (slightly condescending) words of caution. As it happens, my biggest concern is taking the photos home with me, not that they be lost or corrupted. I am not allowed (by law!) to take the photos away from my workplace on my phone. I could (and in the past did) carry a separate camera with me, but that was cumbersome, in a way I hope you might appreciate. My system of dumping the photos from my iPhone at the end of the day on my Mac and deleting them (in one click!) worked great for me. I would just like to have that option back. I understand if Apple wants to back it harder to do it, to avoid snafus with damaged files, or prevent Grandma from accidentally erasing all the Xmas photos. But adding extra steps, requiring me to go back to my phone to delete the photos, is something I would like to avoid.

Reply

Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

203,047 points

Jan 3, 2017 10:40 AM in response to White Rabbit

I am also having an iPhone 5s. I am still seeing the "delete after Import", both in Photos and Image Capture.

The problem may be, that you are still running Yosemite. There has been a temporary problem with this option when Photos first came out.

But in the newer systems it is working well.

Reply

Answer 7

Jul 10, 2017 6:24 AM in response to White Rabbit

I was having a similar problem, except the 'Delete After Importing' box was there sometimes and gone other times. I've just discovered that if I unlock my iphone and restart Photos, the box is back.

Reply