Import 400+ GB of iPhone photos into MacOS Photos

[twanj]

MacOS Photos doesn't crash exactly when I select Import all new photos, but it doesn't import new photos. It goes to Imports then does nothing. Sometimes the iPhone disappears from Photos and I have to unplug and plug back in.

I realize I have a lot - 400+ GB and 41,500 items on an iPhone 17 Pro 512 GB.
M3 MBP 4TB.

I can select photos, and then do Import selected but that's time consuming with so many items.

Any other ideas?

Once it's imported it loses the fact that a photo is favorited. Is that normal? It also loses the person's name that's tagged on my phone, but I guess that's for privacy reasons. Annoying having to re-tag the people once it's on my Mac.

 

[Slartibart]

try using ImageCapture to import the photos into your Mac. What version of Apple Photos/MacOS; what version of iOS?

 

[TheIntruder]

I don't use Photos, so I can't speak to how well that process works.

But I do use Image Capture, and it is been demonstrated to choke when asked to process very large numbers of files.

Either way, I'd suggest breaking up the process into smaller portions. It's a hassle, but the integrity of the final result counts more than speed or convenience.

 

[twanj]

try using ImageCapture to import the photos into your Mac. What version of Apple Photos/MacOS; what version of iOS?

Latest version of each.

Thanks, I'll give that a look!

 

[T Coma]

MacOS Photos doesn't crash exactly when I select Import all new photos, but it doesn't import new photos. It goes to Imports then does nothing. Sometimes the iPhone disappears from Photos and I have to unplug and plug back in.

I realize I have a lot - 400+ GB and 41,500 items on an iPhone 17 Pro 512 GB.
M3 MBP 4TB.

I can select photos, and then do Import selected but that's time consuming with so many items.

Any other ideas?

Once it's imported it loses the fact that a photo is favorited. Is that normal? It also loses the person's name that's tagged on my phone, but I guess that's for privacy reasons. Annoying having to re-tag the people once it's on my Mac.

What if you - even if only temporarily - subscribed and synced to iCloud Photos and set your Mac to sync and save locally? If the problem is because you’re trying to import too much, use iCloud once if you don’t want to subscribe long term, sync them all to your Mac, and then import pics more regularly after you unsubscribe.

Yes it will cost you $10, but who knows, you might like having it. I avoided it for a long time until I tried it. Now I’ve got the whole family subbed.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

Image Capture is your friend as was said above. It’s a grossly underused feature!