Download Photos From Iphone To Mac Computer

Connect your iPhone to your MacBook Pro using a Lightning-to-USB cable. Unlock your phone and confirm it recognizes the Mac if prompted. The Photos app on your MacBook should open once the connection is made, open this app, if not, and select your iPhone from the window on the left. How to transfer non camera roll photos from iphone to pc and mac As a complimentary service, Wondershare is offering the TunesGo phone management software on a free-to-use trial. It consists of all the features activated like that of a full-fledged version. Download the program for your Mac or PC to transfer non camera roll photos from iPhone. Transfer photos from an iPhone to your PC. First, connect your iPhone to a PC with a USB cable that can transfer files. Turn your phone on and unlock it. Your PC can’t find the device if the device is locked. On your PC, select the Start button and then select Photos to open the Photos app. Select Import From a USB device, then follow the. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. On the Mac, open a new Finder window. In the sidebar, under your Devices, click on your iPhone. At the top of the window, click Photos. Check the “Sync Photos” box. Choose the app or folder that you want to sync from.

5 Tips for you to transfer photos, videos, contacts, messages, PDF files, documents, and more from iPhone to Mac.

If you are a keen fan of Apple, you probably have more than one Apple product, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, and more. To work or study more seamlessly, you will need to transfer files between iPhone and Mac. To help you work more smoothly between your iPhone and your computer, here we will delve into how to transfer files from iPhone to Mac, either with or without iTunes.

Part 1. How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac Without iTunes

There are four proven ways to transfer files from iPhone to Mac without iTunes, including using a reliable iPhone data transfer tool, AirDrop, iCloud Photos, and iCloud Drive. Depending on the type of content you want to copy, the most suitable way for you varies. Read on to check more details.

Method 1. Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with iPhone Transfer Software

Supports: Photos, Videos, Music, Audiobooks, PDFs, Contacts, Messages, and More

If you are wondering how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iTunes, the most popular choice for you is to use a reliable iPhone data transfer tool, like EaseUS MobiMover.

With such a tool installed on your Mac or PC, you can freely transfer files between an iPhone and a computer or between two iOS devices, without iTunes.

It's worth mentioning that EaseUS MobiMover is also a free and safe video downloader, with which you can download Twitch clips or videos from YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and many other sites to your Mac or iPhone/iPad.

Sounds great? Get it now and follow the steps below to transfer files, including photos, videos, music, contacts, messages, and more, from your iPhone to Mac within minutes.

To transfer files from iPhone to Mac:

Step 1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a USB cable and tap 'Trust This Computer' on your iPad if you are asked > Run EaseUS MobiMover for Mac and choose the 'Phone to Mac' on the main screen > Click the 'Next' to continue.

Step 2. Then, MobiMover automatically reads and loads all the supported data on your iPad as the screenshot shows below. You are free to send them all or selectively export one data type at a time. Besides, you can set the destination for saving exported iPad files on your Mac. If you don't customize it by yourself, MobiMover will send them to a desktop folder named by Exported by MobiMover.

Step 3. Click the 'Transfer' to import data from iPhone or iPad to Mac. When the process has completed, you can view, edit, or delete them as you want on your Mac.

EaseUS MobiMover will bring you much convenience in many iOS data transfer situations. Whether you want to transfer photos from iPhone to PC/Mac or copy photos from one iPhone to another, use it to get things done effortlessly.

Method 2. Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac Wirelessly via AirDrop

Supports: Photos, Videos, Contacts, Documents, and More

AirDrop is the solution provided by Apple for you to transfer files between your iPhone and Mac or between any other two AirDrop-supported devices. Although you can use AirDrop to share files across your devices wirelessly without a USB cable using AirDrop, you need to make sure your devices are connected via both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or you may encounter issues like AirDrop not working.

Since AirDrop supports multiple types of content, here I'd like to take transferring photos from iPhone to Mac as an example.

To transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iTunes:

Step 1. Turn on AirDrop on your Mac.

  • Go to 'Finder' > 'Go' > 'AirDrop' and switch on 'Bluetooth' and 'Wi-Fi' to turn on AirDrop on your Mac.
  • Set the option 'Allow to be discovered by' as 'Everyone' or 'Contacts Only'.

Step 2. Turn on AirDrop on iPhone.

  • Swipe up from the top/bottom of your iPhone screen to open 'Control Center'.
  • Tap on 'AirDrop' and set your iPhone to be discovered by 'Contacts Only' or 'Everyone'.

Step 3. Once your devices are connected, you can transfer files from iPhone to Mac without iTunes.

  • Go to the 'Photos' app on your iPhone.
  • Choose the photos you want to copy from your iPhone to Mac.
  • Click the 'Share' button and click the name of your Mac in the AirDrop section to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iTunes.

Method 3. Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

Supports: Photos and Contacts

If you turn to cloud storage services for help, iCloud and other similar services, like Dropbox and Google Drive, will fulfill your needs perfectly, even when you want to transfer iPhone photos to PC. No matter which service you choose, there are two universal requirements that you need to meet:

  • You use the same account on the source device and the target device.
  • There is enough space for you to store the files you want to transfer.

Since iCloud is the built-in feature on both iPhone and Mac, which frees you from downloading the app, we recommend you try it to transfer files from your iPhone to Mac.

Step 1. Turn on iCloud Photos on the iPhone: Go to 'Settings' > [your name] > 'iCloud' > 'Photos' and turn on 'iCloud Photos'.

Step 2. On the Mac, go to the Apple menu and click'System Preferences'.

Step 3. Choose 'iCloud' and sign in with your Apple ID and password. (If required, enter the information needed to finish the verifying process. )

Step 4. Click 'Options' next to 'Photos' and check 'iCloud Photos'. Then your iPhone photos will be synced to your Mac automatically over Wi-Fi and you can access these photos in the Photos app.

If the files you want to send from your iPhone to the computer are photos, you can also use the built-in app, Photos, on Mac to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iTunes.

Method 4. Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac Wirelessly Using iCloud Drive

Supports: Word, Excel, PPT, PDF Files..

Apart from media files, some of you may want to transfer files like Word documents and PDF files from your iPhone to Mac. That's when iCloud Drive works the best. Unlike iCloud Photos or iCloud Contacts, iCloud Drive is designed for the sharing of documents.

To transfer files from iPhone to Mac:

Step 1. Turn on iCloud Drive on the phone: Go to 'Settings' > [your name] > 'iCloud' and scroll down to switch on 'iCloud Drive'.

Step 2. Go to the 'Files' app on the mobile device, choose 'Browse' > 'iCloud Drive', and then add the files you intend to copy to iCloud.

Step 3. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu, choose 'System Preferences' > 'iCloud', and then enable 'iCloud Drive'. (Make sure you are using the same Apple ID on your Mac and iOS device.)

Step 5. After the syncing process, you can access your files in iCloud Drive by going to 'Finder' > 'iCloud Drive' on your computer.

By doing so, you can transfer iPhone files to the computer over Wi-Fi.

Using iCloud Drive is also advisable when you want to transfer files from Mac to iPhone wirelessly or share files between an iDevice and a Windows PC.

Part 2. How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with iTunes File Sharing

Supports: Files created by apps that support file sharing

iTunes File Sharing allows you to transfer files between your computer and your iOS device via apps that are compatible with file sharing. Documents used in apps like Keynote, Numbers, and Pages, can all be transferred via iTunes.

To transfer files between iPhone and Mac via iTunes:

Step 1. Connect your device to the computer and launch iTunes.

Step 2. Click the device icon in the iTunes window and choose 'File Sharing'.

Step 3. Select the app that you want to transfer a file to or from.

Step 4. Transfer files between the iPhone and the Mac.

  • To sync iPhone files to Mac: Choose the specific file you want to transfer and click 'Save to,' choose the storage location, then click 'Save To' to continue.
  • To transfer files from Mac to iPhone: Click 'Add', choose the files you want to transfer, then click 'Add' again.

The Bottom Line

Download

Whether you want to transfer a photo or a file, from iPhone to Mac or from Mac to iPhone, you now know how to do it.

The methods above are applicable to most of the iPhones and Mac computers including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro.

I hope one of the solutions will help you transfer files successfully.

'I would like to transfer my pictures from my iPhone camera roll to my MacBook pro. However, when I plug my iPhone in my Mac, it only shows my recent photos from the past few weeks that I can download to my Mac. I don't know how to make all my photos show up. Is there any other alternative ways to transfer them. Please help!'

-- A Question from Apple Community

Have you ever stuck in the same loop as the above-stated case? Whether you are facing the same situation or other situations where you need to download pictures from iPhone to Mac, this guide will give you seven options to do it. Each method has pros and cons, and you can read this post to decide which is the most suitable for you to import photos from iPhone to your computer.

Option 1. 1-Click to Download Pictures from iPhone to Mac - Easiest Way

EaseUS MobiMover is an excellent iPhone data transfer tool that is dedicated to transferring photos and videos from your iPhone to Mac or PC effortlessly. It is renowned for its impressive capabilities of iOS data transfer, iOS data management, iOS devices screen unlock, and video download. Everything you need for data management can be found in EaseUS MobiMover. Despite the convenience EaseUS MobiMover brings to its users, it also has a drawback. To help you know this tool better, we list some of its pros and cons as below.

Pros:

  • It has the ability to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac or vice versa.
  • It supports most of photo formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, etc.
  • It has a high transfer speed.
  • It won't cause data loss while transferring.
  • It supports all Mac models.
  • It is compatible with all iPhone models like iPhone11, XR, XS Max, XS, X, 8, etc.
  • It has additional features like iOS data management and video download.

Cons: Cracking the culture harappan society.

  • It requires you to install EaseUS MobiMover on your Mac, which might occupy some storage space of your Mac.

After learning about EaseUS MobiMover, now you can download it to import photos from iPhone to Mac by following the step-by-step instructions.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 7 to your Mac. Run EaseUS MobiMover, choose 'Phone to Mac', then click the 'Next' button to go on.

Step 2. To transfer photos from your iPhone X/8/7 to Mac, make sure the 'Pictures' option is checked. You can save the exported files anywhere you like on your computer or external hard drive. Other than photos, you can also transfer videos, audio, contacts, messages, and more other files.

Step 3. Now, click the 'Transfer' button to start transferring photos from your iPhone X/8/7 to Mac. Transferring files from iPhone to Mac not only can free up your device's space but also keep your data safe.

Option 2. How to Download Photos from iPhone to Mac via Image Capture

Image Capture is a default program of Mac that allows you to import photos from your iPhone to your Mac. By using this tool, you can easily move mass iPhone photos to Mac without installing any additional applications on your Mac. More than that, you can also use Image Capture to selectively delete photos and videos (sort by size or time) from your iPhone.

Pros:

  • It is simple to use.
  • Supports original photos.
  • Works with all iOS & Android devices, digital cameras, scanners, etc.
  • High transfer speed.
  • Has the ability to mass delete photos on your iPhone.

Cons:

  • It discards all edits or filters you did to your photos.
  • It opens whenever you connect your device to your Mac, which might be annoying.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to Mac with its original USB cable > Launch Image Capture on your Mac.

Step 2. Wait for your iPhone to be detected > Select the location you want to house these photos on your Mac.

Step 3. Select the photos you desire to transfer by tapping the 'Import to' option at the right corner. Then you will see two options: ' Import' and 'Import All' > Select 'Import' to move selected photos to your Mac or 'Import All' to transfer all images.

Option 3. Transfer iPhone Photos to Mac via the Photos App

The third option to get photos from iPhone to Mac is using the Photos app - a pre-installed app designed to manage photos on Mac. With this app, you can easily import iPhone photos to your computer. After photos are imported, they can be titled, labeled, sorted, deleted, and organized into groups.

Pros:

  • Easy to Use.
  • Supports the most common image file formats.
  • Has the ability to sync your photos with iCloud.

Cons:

  • Requires you to install an iPhotos or Photos application on Mac
  • Take a lot of time when you transfer some high-resolution photos or long videos.

Now, let me show you how to download photos from iPhone to computer via iPhoto.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac via a USB cable.

Step 2. Run iPhoto on your Mac > Find your iPhone in the left panel.

Step 3. Select the photos you desire to import and click on the 'Import' button at the upper right corner.

Option 4. Copy Photos from iPhone to Mac by Using AirDrop

How to AirDrop photos from iPhone to Mac? It is easy to do it. Before you do it, make sure that both your iPhone and Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi, and both devices' Bluetooth are turned on. Note that this method only works on the Mac that is running OS X Yosemite or later, and the iPhone that is running iOS 8 or later. Now, you can put your two devices close to each other to start transferring.

Pros:

  • No USB cable is required.
  • High transfer speed.

Cons:

  • It only works on the Macs that are running OS X Yosemite or later.
  • It doesn't work without a Wi-Fi connection.

Now, you can follow the step-by-step instructions to download photos from iPhone to Mac via AirDrop:

Step 1. Turn on AirDrop on both your iPhone and Mac.

how to activate AirDrop on your iPhone: Heading to the Settings app > Tap 'General' > Tap 'AirDrop' > Select 'Contacts Only' or 'Everyone' based on your needs.

how to activate AirDrop on your Mac: Open Finder on your Mac > Click on the 'Go' > Choose the 'AirDrop' > Wait for it t open.

Step 2. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.

Step 3. Select the Photos you want to copy by tapping the 'Select' button in the top right corner > Tap the Share icon.

Step 4. In the AirDrop section, tap the name of your Mac.

Step 5. Accept the photos you transferred from iPhone on your Mac, and then all photos will be saved into the Downloads folder on your Mac.

Option 5. Move Photos from iPhone to Mac Using iCloud

Currently, Apple iCloud offers two photo-related services to its users: iCloud Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Library. The former has the ability to store all of your photos and videos in iCloud. Once uploaded, you can view them on all of your iDevices that are connected to the same iCloud account. The latter automatically uploads all photos to your iCloud-connected devices, but it only stores the latest photos (30 days). They have many differences and samenesses in terms of photos transfer. To know more details, you can keep reading our post.

iCloud Photo Stream

This way is for people who refuse to upgrade their iCloud from the free 5GB to a larger storage plan but have more than 5GB of photos to transfer. Before starting, make sure that both the devices are logged in with the same iCloud account.

Pros:

  • It doesn't count against your iCloud storage.
  • It allows you to view your pictures before transferring.
  • Supports JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and most RAW formats.

Cons:

  • Uploads your latest photos (30 days) and up to 1000 photos.
  • Videos are not supported for transfer.

Step 1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Tap 'Photo' > Active 'My Photo Stream' option.

Step 2. On your Mac, enable the 'My Photo Stream' option on it.

Step 3. Then, all photos will be automatically synced to your Mac. You can find them by going to 'Photos' > 'Albums' > 'My Photos Stream.'

iCloud Photo Library

This way is for people who are willing to spend a small fortune every month to have access to their photos and videos on all of their devices. Also, it's for people who want to view their photos and videos from any device with a web browser (icloud.com).

Transfer Photos From Iphone To Computer

Pros:

  • Photos and videos formally backed up in iCloud won't be synced again, which helps you save storage space on your iCloud.
  • The number of stored photos and videos depends on the level of storage you purchase.
  • It supports original formats like HEIF, JPEG, RAW, PNG, GIF, TIFF, HEVC, and MP4.
  • It supports the original format at full resolution.
  • It syncs photos with other Apple devices like iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch.

Cons:

  • The storage of iCloud Photos is limited and you need to pay for the extra iCloud storage space.
  • You can't exclude certain photos from syncing.

Step 1. On your iPhone, head to Settings > Tap [your name] > Tap 'Photos' > Enable 'iCloud Photo Library.' Wait for your photos to be uploaded to the iCloud.

Step 2. On your Mac, click on the 'Options' button > Enable the 'iCloud Photo Library.'

Step 3. Then, all of your pictures will be synced to your Photo Library on your computer.

Option 6. Get Photos from iPhone to Mac via Email

If none of the above-introduced methods works, you can use Email to download photos from iPhone to Mac. It is very simple to do it by using Email, but it might downgrade the image quality while transferring.

Pros:

  • Easy to operate.
  • It doesn't require any additional software.
Download Photos From Iphone To Mac Computer

Cons:

  • It is useful only for a small number of photos.
  • It takes a lot of time.

Step 1. Go to the Photos app on your iPhone > Choose the album that contains the photos you want to import to your computer.

Step 2. Tap the 'Edit' button > Choose the photos you want to transfer > Tap on the 'Share' button > Choose the 'Email.'

Step 3. Select the Mail from the provided options > Type your Email address and complete the Email > Tap on the 'Send.'

Step 4. Sign in your Email on Mac and download those pictures and store them on Mac.

Option 7. How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer via Cloud Storage

Apart from the ways we introduced, you can also use some cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, to get things done. If you are planning to use a cloud storage service, make sure to see if this service offers an iOS app. If it supports, you can make it with ease. Here we will take Dropbox for an example.

The Dropbox account gives you 2 GB of free storage space for your photos, videos, or other files. To use Dropbox to import photos from iPhone to Mac, you can follow the instructions below to do it.

Upload Photos to Dropbox on Your iPhone

Step 1. Install Dropbox from the App Store > Run it on your device.

Step 2. Tap the '+' button > Select 'Upload Photos' from the menu options.

Step 3. Select the photos you want to upload > 'Next' > Choose the folder that stores the photos, and hit 'Upload.'

Move Photos from iPhone to Mac

Step 1. Go to dropbox.com on a new web > Log in to your account.

Step 2. Select the photos you want to download > Click on 'Download' from the left panel of the screen.

Step 3. Then, all photos will be saved to the 'Downloads folder' on your Mac.

Bonus Tip. How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows

There are many ways out there to get photos from iPhone to Windows, among which the easiest way is using the Windows default Photos app. If you want to import photos from iPhone to Windows with its default Photos app, here are the steps to do it:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 2. Launch your Photos application.

Step 3. Click the 'Import' icon at the upper right hand > Choose the 'From a USB device' option.

Step 4. Then, you can choose the photos you want to transfer to your Windows.

Import Iphone Photos To Mac

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, this post will give you a better idea of the several options you have for downloading pictures from iPhone to PC. In sum, option 1 is the most flexible way to help you move photos from the device to your Mac. But with it, you have to install an additional application on your Mac. If you don't want to install it, you can explore the other six options to transfer iPhone photos to Mac.