Learn how to import photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to a Mac. The guide covers the built-in Photos app Import tab, using Image Capture to save files to any folder, and wireless options with AirDrop and iCloud Photos. Duration: 5 min.
Video Transcript
In this tutorial we show you step by step how to import photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac. The easiest way is over a USB cable with the built-in Photos app.
Connect your device to the Mac with a USB or USB-C cable. If your iPhone asks, tap Trust This Computer and enter your passcode. Open the Photos app on your Mac. In the sidebar under Devices, click your iPhone or iPad.
The Photos app shows an Import tab with thumbnails of all the photos and videos on the device. At the top you can choose the album to import into, and there is an option to delete the items from your device after importing if you want. Select the photos you want and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Items to grab everything you have not imported before.
If you prefer more control, use Image Capture instead, which also comes with macOS. Connect the device, open Image Capture from the Applications folder or Spotlight, and select your iPhone in the Devices list. At the bottom, use the Import To menu to pick any folder on your Mac, not just the Photos library. Then click Import for selected photos or Import All.
Image Capture is handy when you want the raw files saved straight to a folder. If you do not have a cable, you can go wireless. AirDrop lets you send a few photos quickly, just select them on the iPhone, tap Share, tap AirDrop and choose your Mac.
For your whole library, turn on iCloud Photos on both devices and your photos sync automatically. That is how you import photos from an iPhone or iPad to a Mac.
Watch the full video above to see exactly where to click, then follow the written 8 steps underneath.
What you'll see in this video
- Connecting the device with a USB or USB-C cable
- Tapping Trust This Computer when prompted
- Opening the Photos app and selecting the device under Devices
- Using the Import tab with Import Selected and Import All New Items
- Switching to Image Capture for folder-level control
Photos App or Image Capture, Which Should You Use?
A Mac gives you two built-in tools to import photos from an iPhone or iPad over USB, and they suit different goals. The Photos app imports directly into your Mac photo library, which is ideal if you organise everything in Photos and want albums, faces and search to work. Image Capture saves the raw files to any folder you choose, which is better when you just want the files on disk, or want to delete them from the device after import. Both are free with macOS and both work the same way: connect, trust the computer, select and import. If you have no cable handy, AirDrop moves a few photos in seconds and iCloud Photos keeps your whole library in sync automatically. We cover all of these so you can pick whichever fits the moment.
8 Steps to Import Photos from Your iPhone or iPad to Your Mac
Follow along with the video above as you work through these steps. As shown in the clip, watch the difference between the Photos app Import tab and Image Capture, and where the Trust prompt appears.
- Connect your device to the Mac with a USB or USB-C cable. Use a data-capable, Apple-certified cable to avoid an Accessory Not Supported error.
- If your device shows a Trust This Computer prompt, tap Trust and enter your passcode. The Mac cannot see your photos until you do this.
- Open the Photos app on your Mac. In the sidebar under Devices, click your iPhone or iPad. The Import tab opens showing thumbnails of your photos and videos.
- At the top of the Import tab, pick the album to import into. Optionally tick Delete items after import. Then click Import Selected for chosen photos, or Import All New Items to grab everything not imported before.
- For more control, open Image Capture from the Applications folder or Spotlight, then select your iPhone in the Devices list. This lets you save raw files to any folder, not just the Photos library. As shown in the video, Image Capture is found in Applications or via Spotlight, and lets you pick any folder on disk.
- At the bottom of Image Capture, use the Import To menu to choose any folder on your Mac. Then click Import for selected photos or Import All. Use the Keep Originals option if shown.
- If you do not have a cable, select the photos on your iPhone, tap Share, tap AirDrop and choose your Mac. AirDrop is best for sending just a few photos quickly.
- To keep everything in sync, turn on iCloud Photos on the iPhone in Settings > Photos, and on the Mac in Photos > Settings > iCloud. Your full library then syncs automatically.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Unlock the device and tap Trust This Computer first. A locked iPhone or one that has not trusted the Mac will not appear in Photos or Image Capture, which is the most common reason imports seem to fail.
- Use a data-capable, Apple-certified cable. A charge-only or faulty cable can trigger an Accessory Not Supported message and the device will not show up for import.
- If photos use Optimise iPhone Storage, full resolution files may be in iCloud only. Choose Download and Keep Originals on the iPhone, or turn on iCloud Photos on the Mac, before importing.
- Image Capture is the better choice when you want files saved straight to a folder on disk, or you want to delete photos from the device as part of the import.
- Live Photos import as two files, a HEIC still and a short MOV video. Keep both together to preserve the Live Photo effect in apps that support it.
Tips for a Smooth Import
- Use Import All New Items in the Photos app to skip photos you have already imported, so you never copy the same picture twice.
- For very large transfers, a USB cable is faster and more reliable than AirDrop or iCloud, especially for high-resolution photos and videos.
- Create a dated folder in Image Capture (for example iPhone_May_2026) before importing, so each batch stays organised on your Mac.
- Confirm the photos open correctly on the Mac before you delete anything from the iPhone, even if you used the delete-after-import option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Photos app and Image Capture?
The Photos app imports your iPhone or iPad photos directly into your Mac photo library, which is best if you manage everything in Photos. Image Capture saves the raw files to any folder you choose, which is better if you just want the files on disk or want to delete them from the device after import. Both come free with macOS.
Why does my iPhone not show up in Photos or Image Capture?
The most common reasons are that the device is locked or you have not tapped Trust This Computer. Unlock the iPhone, reconnect, tap Trust and enter your passcode. Also use a data-capable, Apple-certified cable, since a charge-only or faulty cable can cause an Accessory Not Supported error and the device will not appear.
Can I import photos without a USB cable?
Yes. AirDrop is best for a few photos: select them on the iPhone, tap Share, tap AirDrop and choose your Mac. For your entire library, turn on iCloud Photos on both the iPhone and the Mac, and your photos sync automatically over Wi-Fi without any cable.
How do I delete photos from my iPhone after importing?
In the Photos app Import tab, tick Delete items after import before you import, and the photos are removed from the device once they copy successfully. In Image Capture there is a similar option. Always confirm the photos opened correctly on the Mac before deleting anything from the iPhone.
Why are some photos missing or low quality after import?
If your iPhone uses Optimise iPhone Storage, full resolution photos may live only in iCloud. On the iPhone open Settings, Photos and choose Download and Keep Originals, or turn on iCloud Photos on the Mac so the originals download before transfer. Live Photos import as a paired HEIC image and MOV video.