Can photos and videos on an iPhone be backup to a Mac automatically?

[hajime]

Hi, I don't use iCloud not has a NAS. Can the photos and videos on the iPhone be backup to a Mac automatically? If so, what is the best way to do it?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

iCloud is how I “automatically” sync (not backup) my photos & videos from iOS to Mac. Then from the Mac I run Time Machine & offsite backups.

That’s the only “automatic” (by my definition) method I’m aware of. How are you defining “automatic”?

 

[hajime]

For example, took some photos outside. When returning home, the photos from the phone automatically got copied to a Mac, without iCloud nor NAS. Is this possible?

If not, what is the best way to do it manually? I heard that Sequoia allows one to connect an iPhone to a Mac. Then, drag and drop files from the phone to the Mac. However, I read that it only works for photos rather than both photos and videos.

 

[chown33]

For example, took some photos outside. When returning home, the photos from the phone automatically got copied to a Mac, without iCloud nor NAS. Is this possible?

Please clarify: Do you want a solution that relies on a cloud service of any kind, or do you want something that doesn't use any cloud service at all?

If not, what is the best way to do it manually? I heard that Sequoia allows one to connect an iPhone to a Mac. Then, drag and drop files from the phone to the Mac. However, I read that it only works for photos rather than both photos and videos.

Here's the User Guide for Image Capture (builtin app on Macs):

Image Capture User Guide for Mac

Learn how to use Image Capture on your Mac to import items from a camera, iPhone, iPad, scanner, or other device to your Mac.

support.apple.com

You can transfer your pictures and movies to your Mac from a camera or other device, such as your iPhone or iPad. [bold added]

 

[hajime]

Thanks. A solution that does not rely on cloud service from any company is desired. I read that a NAS could get the job done but I am trying to see if I could get it done without buying a NAS.

Another concern is supposing that I took 1000 photos and videos from my iPhone during the summer. As it is going to be full, I somehow copy all these files to a Mac (perhaps to an internal or an external SSD). Then, delete all these files from my iPhone and start taking photos/videos again. Will the files be labelled from 1 again or from 1001? If few months later I somehow copy these new batch of files to a Mac, will the files get messed up?

Will all these become complicated if I ask Photos to store all the files to an external drive rather than an internal one?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

There are some apps in the App Store for wireless transfer. I don’t know how easy they are to use; certainly not as automatic as iCloud but worth a look.

 

[chown33]

Another concern is supposing that I took 1000 photos and videos from my iPhone during the summer. As it is going to be full, I somehow copy all these files to a Mac (perhaps to an internal or an external SSD). Then, delete all these files from my iPhone and start taking photos/videos again. Will the files be labelled from 1 again or from 1001? If few months later I somehow copy these new batch of files to a Mac, will the files get messed up?

You can transfer images from the iPhone, and put them in folders on the Mac. Then it won't matter if some have the same name.

I suggest trying things to find out what happens. I suggest transferring the first 3 and last 3 images in your phone's library to the Mac. Then delete them on the phone. Take 3 new photos of anything. Connect to Image Capture and see what the new photos are named. After that, you can delete the 3 practice photos.

Doing things this way, you'll discover how things work, and also be able to practice the expected work flow.

Will all these become complicated if I ask Photos to store all the files to an external drive rather than an internal one?

Photos.app on the Mac can work with multiple libraries.

Where are the items I imported into Photos on my Mac?

When you import photos and videos into Photos, they’re stored in the photo library in the Pictures folder on your Mac.

support.apple.com

Create additional photo libraries in Photos on Mac

In Photos on your Mac, create new photo libraries, switch between libraries, and designate a library as the System Photo Library.

support.apple.com