This information applies to the following iPhone models: iPhone XS/XS Max/XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, and iPhone 6/6s.
Many iPhone users have found that photos from their iPhone are not showing up on Mac in the iPhoto or Photos App when trying to import photos from iPhone to Mac. This issue can also occur when syncing photos from iPhone to iCloud and trying to access them on Mac. However, you can resolve this problem by using a free and effective method to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iCloud, or by trying some useful fixes to get iPhone photos to show up on Mac. (Similar solutions are also provided for iPhone photos not showing up on PC Windows 10.)
In most cases, photos from an iPhone are imported to a Mac using iPhoto or the Photos App. If the primary goal is to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac, Solution 1 can be used at no cost. Alternatively, if you still want to use iPhoto or Photos, fixes are available below.
You can import photos from your iPhone to Mac using alternative tools to iPhoto or Photos App, such as Qiling MobiMover Free, which is free and has no limitations. With MobiMover installed on your Mac (or PC), you can transfer files between an iOS device (iPhone/iPad in iOS 8 or later) and a computer, or between two iOS devices.
Photos: Camera Roll, Photo Library, Photo Stream, Photo Videos
Videos: Movies, TV shows, Music Videos
Audios: Music, Ringtones, Voice Memos, Audiobooks, Playlists
Others: Contacts, Notes, Messages, Voice Mails, Books, and Safari Bookmarks
You can transfer photos from your iPhone to Mac by accessing them in Camera Roll, Photo Stream, or Photo Library. However, if you're experiencing issues with iPhone photos not showing up on Mac in iPhoto/Photos, using MobiMover to copy photos from iPhone to Mac is a good alternative. To do this, follow the steps below to safely and quickly import iPhone photos to Mac.
Step 1Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. Run Qiling MobiMover, select "Phone to Mac" and click "Next" to proceed.
Step 2To copy photos from your iPhone to Mac, check the category/categories you want to copy from your iPhone to Mac, and then customize the storage path for the exported photos if desired, allowing you to save them on your desired location.
Step 3To transfer photos or other files from your iPhone to Mac, click the "Transfer" button on MobiMover to start the process without using iTunes. This is a reliable way to export files from iPhone to Mac, serving as a backup to prevent unexpected data loss.
MobiMover is a tool that allows you to transfer data between iOS devices, and also serves as a free iPhone content manager, enabling you to manage your iPhone content by deleting, editing, or adding items from a computer.
If your iPhone photos aren't showing up on your Mac, check if you've enabled iCloud Photo Library on both devices. If it's on, your photos are already synced to your Mac, so you don't need to import them via iPhoto/Photos. However, if you still want to transfer photos from your iPhone to your Mac, simply turn off iCloud Photo Library on both devices and you can import them easily.
If you're experiencing the issue of iPhone photos not showing up on your Mac in iPhoto, it's also worth checking if you're using any other photo storage services like Dropbox, as they might be conflicting with the iPhoto App on your Mac, causing the issue, and stopping or removing the service could resolve the problem.
When iPhone photos aren't showing up on Mac, try restarting both devices, then unlock your iPhone, reconnect it to your Mac, and select "Trust" when prompted. This often resolves the issue.
The four solutions show you what to do when iPhone photos are not showing up on Mac in iPhoto or Photos App, and if they're not showing up in iCloud, follow the tips in Part 2 to download them to Mac.
You can use iCloud Photos to sync photos from your iPhone to your Mac, but if they're not showing up, you can try using Solution 1 from Part 1 to fix the issue. If that's not what you're looking for, you can try using other potential tips to resolve the problem.
To sync photos to your iCloud devices, make sure you are signed into the same Apple ID on all your devices.
If you're experiencing issues with syncing your iPhone photos to Mac via iCloud, a poor network connection on either device could be the culprit. To successfully sync your photos, a stable Wi-Fi network is required. If your iPhone photos aren't showing up on Mac in iCloud or aren't syncing, check your network connection on both devices and fix any issues immediately.
To access photos from all your iCloud devices, turn on iCloud Photo Library/My Photo Stream on both your iPhone and Mac, and ensure the options are set up correctly.
iCloud storage is limited, and photos can quickly consume a significant portion of it. If you're experiencing issues with not all iPhone photos showing up on your Mac, insufficient iCloud storage might be the problem. To resolve this, you can transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using the method mentioned, free up your iCloud space, or consider purchasing more iCloud storage.