Import your photos

Discover the best way to import images and clips

YOU CAN IMPORT images to your Mac in a variety of ways. If you shoot on a DSLR or compact camera, you can import your shots directly from your camera’s memory card into a folder on the Mac. You can also share shots from your iPhone to your Mac using AirDrop (if your Mac is on the same Wi-Fi connection); in the Photos app, tap on a shot then tap the Share icon, tap the AirDrop icon and the selected photo(s) will transfer to your Mac’s Downloads folder.

AirDrop is useful when transferring a few shots, but they don’t automatically appear in your Mac’s Photos Library. Use the Mac’s Photos app to import them from the Downloads folder. To share pics via AirDrop with other Wi–Fi enabled iPhone owners, go to General > AirDrop and tap an option to make your iPhone discoverable by Contacts Only or Everyone.

Sync via iCloud

The easiest way to transfer multiple pics from your iPhone to your Mac is via iCloud. When you come in range of a Wi–Fi connection at home (or in a coffee shop) then your latest iPhone–sourced images will automatically be uploaded to iCloud Photos. When you start up your Mac, the new photos will automatically download from the iCloud into your Mac’s Photos library. You can then edit and share them from your desktop Photos app. The newly synced shots will also automatically appear in the Photos app on your other Wi–Fi connected gadgets. Any edits that you’ve made to a snap on your iPhone or iPad will be applied when you open the synced shots on your Mac’s Photos app (and vice versa). Be aware that if you delete a shot on your iPhone or Mac, it will also vanish from your other iCloud synced devices.

To get your iPhone to automatically share to the iCloud, you’ll need an iCloud account. You get 2GB storage for free, but you can upgrade to 50GB, 200GB or 2TB, depending on your needs and budget. On your iPhone, tap on Settings, then scroll down and tap on Photos. Set iCloud Photos to On. Be aware that your clips and pics won’t automatically upload via Wi–Fi if your iPhone is set to Low Power mode.

To free up space on your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and tap Optimize iPhone Storage. A blue check mark will appear. Now your iPhone will store lightweight versions of each photo after uploading the full–res version to iCloud Photos. If you need to edit or share a particular shot then the full–res file will automatically be downloaded to your iPhone.