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How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to MacBook Air Fast and Wirelessly
What Is the Easiest Way to Transfer Photos From iPhone to MacBook Air?
The simplest way to transfer photos from your iPhone to your MackBook is to make it automatic.
You can do this by setting up synching with iCloud, which will allow you to access your phone’s entire photo library from your laptop.
And once it’s set up, the shared library will update itself with every new photo.
Expert Tip: Note
iCloud synching has its limitations. You have a maximum of 5GB of cloud storage to start, and will have to pay for a larger plan if you want to manage a larger amount of data. In order for syncing to work, you need to connect your iPhone to your MacBook.
Open your iPhone’s Settings and select your Apple Account/Apple ID.
Tap iCloud.
Select Photos and turn on the toggle beside Sync this iPhone.
Expert Tip: Tip
Another option is from Settings > Apps > Photos > toggle on iCloud Photos.
On your MackBook, open the Photos app.
Expert Tip: Note
If you haven’t used it before it will ask you if you want to enable iCloud, and all you have to do is allow it.
If your Photos app doesn’t give you the option on startup, or otherwise has it disabled, click Photos in the menu bar at the top of the screen and then click Settings or Preferences.
Click the iCloud tab, then select the check box next to iCloud Photos to enable synching.
Depending on the size of your photo library it may take some time for everything to fully sync up between your devices, but you’re done! Now any photos you take with your iPhone will appear in your Photos app library on your MacBook automatically.
How Do I Import Photos to My MacBook Air?
The second easiest way to transfer photos between your iPhone and MacBook is via AirDrop.
This method allows you to select specific pictures or videos and transfer them over individually or in batches, giving you more control over what goes where.
Expert Tip: Note
For AirDrop to work, you’ll need to make sure both your MacBook and iPhone have Wi-Fi enabled, otherwise they won’t be able to find each other.
Open your iPhone’s Photos app, then open the photo album you want to transfer photos over from.
You can tap a single photo and begin the transfer from there, or if you want to transfer multiple images tap Select at the top of the screen and then tap all the photos you want to copy.
Expert Tip: Tip
Alternatively, if you want to select several images adjacent to one another, you can also tap and drag your finger over them all.
Tap the Share icon in the lower-left corner of the screen (it looks like a box with an arrow pointing upward out of it).
From the Share menu tap AirDrop, then select the device you want to transfer the photos to.
Expert Tip: Note
Depending on your AirDrop settings you might have to click Accept on your MacBook in order for the transfer to go through.
Once the process is finished, the transferred photos should appear in your MacBook’s Downloads folder.
How Else Can I Import Photos to My MacBook Air?
Another direct (if slightly slower than AirDrop) option for transferring photos between your devices is to physically connect your iPhone to your MacBook using your phone’s charging cable.
Expert Tip: Note
Depending on the model of your iPhone and MacBook, your Lightning Cable may not be able to connect, in which case you’ll need an adaptor.
Plug the Lightning cable into your iPhone as though you were going to charge it, but remove the power adapter from the other end and plug the other part of the cable into your MacBook. You may need to unlock your iPhone for a full-access connection.
Open the Photos app on your MacBook and click iPhone under the Devices section of the sidebar.
Click the photos you want to select for copying, or click and drag to select multiple photos at once, then click Import Selected to begin the transfer. Or if you want to transfer everything, click Import All New Items.
The imported photos will now appear under both the Imports category and your Library.
Why Can’t I Transfer Photos From iPhone to MacBook?
There are a few reasons you may have trouble with photo transfers.
If you’re using AirDrop, make sure settings for both your iPhone and MacBook are set to either Contacts Only or Everyone.
Expert Tip: Tip
If Contacts Only isn’t working, Everyone should. If it still refuses to work try toggling between both options once or twice or restarting both devices.
If you’ve connected your iPhone to your MacBook with a Lightning Cable and they aren’t recognizing each other, try disconnecting and then reconnecting the cable. If that doesn’t work, try restarting one or both devices.
If iCloud synching isn’t working, you might have the option turned off for one or both devices. Go back into their respective menus to double-check.
If iCloud is enabled but still not working, go into your Apple ID/Apple Account settings on either device and make sure they’re connected.
Frequently asked Questions
How do I transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone?
To move all of your photos to a new iPhone, back up your original device, and then set up the new one from that backup, which will include all photos, text messages, contacts, and apps. To move just a few at a time, try AirDrop, email, or a cloud-based storage service like Google Photos or Dropbox.
How do I transfer photos from Android to iPhone?
The Move to iOS app will help you migrate all of your photos and other data from your Android device to a new iPhone. Otherwise, you can send images using online options or a data cable.