[Guide]How to Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac in 5 Ways

Updated on Jun 19, 2024 | by Woodward

Quick Navigation:

Tip 1. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iTunes Using Qiling MobiMover
Tip 2.Copy Photos from iPhone to Mac with Photos App
Tip 3. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Automatically with iCloud
Tip 4. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Wirelessly Using AirDrop
Tip 5. Import Photos from iPhone to Mac via Image Capture
Bonus Tip. Sync Photos from Your Mac to iPhonevia Finder
The Bottom Line

The following devices are affected: iPhone XS/XS Max/XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6s, MacBook, and iMac.

Syncing photos from iPhone to Mac can be easily done using built-in features or third-party programs like Qiling MobiMover. Five methods are detailed in this article, including using MobiMover, AirDrop, iCloud, Photos App, and Image Capture, to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.

You can copy photos from your iPhone to your Mac using either a wireless connection over Wi-Fi or a physical connection using a USB cable. Both methods are available for your convenience.

Tip 1. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iTunes Using Qiling MobiMover

If you want to sync photos from your iPhone to your Mac, you can use Qiling MobiMover, a tool for iOS data transfer, to get things done. This tool allows you to share data between two iOS devices or between an iOS device and a computer, making it easy to transfer photos and other data without using iTunes.

What can MobiMover transfer or manage for you:

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

MobiMover is a versatile tool that can sync photos from iPhone to Mac, as well as transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone, and back up all iPhone content to a computer, helping to avoid data loss when getting a new device. To try it out, follow the steps below.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable and run Qiling MobiMover. Select "Phone to Mac" and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Check the category/categories you want to copy from your iPhone to Mac, and customize the storage path for the exported photos if needed, before copying other supported files together with photos from your iPhone to Mac all at once.

Step 3. To transfer photos or other files from your iPhone to Mac without using iTunes, click the "Transfer" button on MobiMover. This method is a reliable way to backup your iPhone data and avoid unexpected loss.

Tip 2.Copy Photos from iPhone to Mac with Photos App

The Photos App on Mac allows for easy import of photos from iPhone without using iTunes. However, if you want to sync all photos from your iPhone's Camera Roll, Photo Library, and Photo Stream to your Mac at once, using Qiling MobiMover is the best option.

Step 1. Ensure you have the most recent version of iTunes installed on your Mac to prevent issues like iPhone photos not syncing or displaying on the Mac.

Step 2. To connect your iPhone to your Mac, plug a USB cable into your iPhone and the other end into your Mac. Next, unlock your iPhone and tap the "Trust" button on the screen that appears on your iPhone.

Step 3. Run Photos App if it doesn't open automatically.

Step 4. To sync photos from iPhone to Mac with Photos, go to the Import screen in Photos, select the photos you want to sync, and click Imported Selected or click Import All New Photos to sync all new photos. This will transfer the selected photos from your iPhone to your Mac.

Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac

Tip 3. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Automatically with iCloud

To automatically sync photos from iPhone to Mac, use Apple's iCloud Photo service, which allows you to wirelessly transfer photos from any device to any location.

Step 1. Make sure you have the latest version of iOS and macOS on your iPhone andMac.

Step 2. To sync your iPhone and Mac, sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on both devices. This will allow you to access your contacts, photos, and other data across both devices.

Step 3. Connect your iPhone and Mac to a stable Wi-Fi network.

Step 4. To turn on iCloud Photo Library on your Mac and iPhone, go to Settings on your iPhone and tap on your name at the top, then tap on "iCloud" and toggle the switch next to "Photos" to the green position. On your Mac, go to System Preferences, then click on "iCloud", and sign in with your Apple ID.

To enable iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone, go to Settings, select your name, then tap on iCloud, followed by Photos, and finally toggle the switch to turn on iCloud Photo Library.
On your Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Options next to Photos, then toggle on the iCloud Photo Library.

Enable iCloud Photo Library on Mac

Tip 4. Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac Wirelessly Using AirDrop

Here are the steps to use AirDrop to send photos from iPhone to Mac: you can use AirDrop to send photos from your iPhone to your Mac wirelessly, but if you're experiencing issues with AirDrop not working, you can try syncing photos from your iPhone to your Mac using other methods. However, if you're able to use AirDrop, you can follow these steps: first, make sure that both your iPhone and Mac are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap on "General", and select "AirDrop".

Step 1. Turn on AirDrop on your Mac.

To enable AirDrop on your Mac, go to Finder, click on "Go" in the top menu bar, select "AirDrop", and then turn on Bluetooth and WiFi to activate AirDrop.
To set the option "Allow to be discovered by" to be Everyone or Contacts Only, you can go to your settings and look for the privacy or security section. From there, you can adjust the settings to allow your profile to be visible to either everyone or only your contacts.

Step 2. Turn on AirDrop on your iPhone.

To open Control Center on your iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
To make your iPhone discoverable by others via AirDrop, tap on the AirDrop icon and select either "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" so that others can see your device and share files with you.

Turn on AirDrop on iPhone

Step 3. Transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.

Open Photos App on your iPhone.
Select the photos you want to sync from your iPhone to your Mac.
To sync photos from iPhone to Mac, click the Share button and select the name of your Mac in the AirDrop section. This allows for wireless syncing.

airdrop photos from iphone to mac

Tip 5. Import Photos from iPhone to Mac via Image Capture

Image Capture is Apple's built-To sync photos from your iPhone to your Mac, you can use Image Capture, an OS X application that allows iOS users to move and delete photos between devices. With Image Capture, you can easily transfer and manage your photos, making it a convenient tool for syncing your iPhone photos with your Mac.

Step 1. To transfer photos from your iPhone to your Mac, connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable and launch Image Capture on your Mac.

Step 2. To sync photos from iPhone to Mac, select the device you want to sync, set the output folder for the synced photos, and then click on "Import" or "Import All" to import the photos.

Sync photos using Image Capture

Bonus Tip. Sync Photos from Your Mac to iPhonevia Finder

To transfer photos from a Mac to your iPhone, you can use Finder to sync photos from the Photos app or a folder on your computer to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. This process involves selecting the photos you want to transfer, choosing the device you want to sync with, and following the prompts to complete the transfer.

Step 1. To connect your iPhone to your Mac, plug a USB cable into your iPhone and the other end into your Mac. Then, launch the Finder application on your Mac, which is the default file manager for macOS.

Step 2. To unlock your device, press and hold the side button until the "Slide to Power Off" or "Emergency SOS" options appear. If prompted, tap "Trust" on your iPhone to complete the pairing process.

Step 3. Select your device from the left sidebar and click the "Photos" tab below your device's information.

Step 4. To sync photos to your device from your Mac, check the box next to "Sync photos to your device from" and select either "Photos" or a specific folder on your Mac.

Step 5. To sync photos and albums, select the option to sync all photos and albums or sync selected albums, then click the "Apply" button in the lower-right corner of the window.

Sync Photos from Mac to iPhone

The Bottom Line

If you want to sync all your iPhone photos to your Mac, you may need to use Qiling MobiMover, as other methods often have limitations such as only supporting Camera Roll photos. Qiling MobiMover is a powerful tool that can transfer and manage almost all iPhone data, including videos, contacts, and more, making it a great option for syncing all your iPhone photos.