iPhone 12 Sync of photos between Mac and iPhone via USB not working

[Change Agent]

All the tips on the internet are about iCloud syncing. I do not use iCloud for my photos and simply sync them between my Mac and my iPhone via a USBC cable. However, if I delete photos on the mac in the Photos application they do not get deleted on the iPhone when I sync them. Any suggestions as why not and how to fix?

Thanks.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Are these photos taken on the iPhone, then imported to the Mac? If so, that's where it's going to hang up.

Photos "Sync" is a one-way street Mac to Phone. When you move photos from iPhone to Mac they're not synced but rather "Imported." There's an option to "Delete from phone after import" so if you want the Mac to control what's on the phone, you should use that to completely wipe the photos off the phone. Then you can "Sync" photos back from the Mac to the iPhone (using albums or whatever filtering method you want). If you then later delete a photo from the Mac, that WOULD delete it from the phone since the only version of the photo on the phone was synced from the Mac.

The other option, of course, is iCloud Photos. That's how I've chosen to set mine up and it "just works"; I can make any changes (edit a photo, add/remove from album, add a photo, delete a photo, etc) on any of my devices and it syncs automatically to all of them (3 Macs, an iPad, and an iPhone). There is no equivalent to that feature using USB sync.

 

[Change Agent]

Are these photos taken on the iPhone, then imported to the Mac? If so, that's where it's going to hang up.

yes indeed, and thanks for this information. I did not know this. would have expected a more sophisticated setup from Apple.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

yes indeed, and thanks for this information. I did not know this. would have expected a more sophisticated setup from Apple.

Well, to be fair - they have a more sophisticated setup available

 

[Change Agent]

Well, to be fair - they have a more sophisticated setup available

I know but I can not use this (if you talk via iCloud here) because of the not suitable Data Protection Apple offers (or not offers if you like).

 

[Change Agent]

Are these photos taken on the iPhone, then imported to the Mac? If so, that's where it's going to hang up.

Photos "Sync" is a one-way street Mac to Phone. When you move photos from iPhone to Mac they're not synced but rather "Imported." There's an option to "Delete from phone after import" so if you want the Mac to control what's on the phone, you should use that to completely wipe the photos off the phone. Then you can "Sync" photos back from the Mac to the iPhone (using albums or whatever filtering method you want). If you then later delete a photo from the Mac, that WOULD delete it from the phone since the only version of the photo on the phone was synced from the Mac.

Just saw you previous post too.

First of, iCloud is not an option becuse of Data Protection laws I must adhere too.

Indeed taken on the phone and imported to the Mac.

I did not know it is a one-way street. Your suggested method suggest that photos taken on the phone, should be deleted on the phone when importing to Photos and next synced back to the phone. Correct?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Just saw you previous post too.

First of, iCloud is not an option becuse of Data Protection laws I must adhere too.

Indeed taken on the phone and imported to the Mac.

I did not know it is a one-way street. Your suggested method suggest that photos taken on the phone, should be deleted on the phone when importing to Photos and next synced back to the phone. Correct?

Yes exactly. When you import the photos you should remove them from the iPhone. That way your Mac becomes the repository for the photos. Then you can sync back whatever you need to appear on the phone.

 

[Change Agent]

Yes exactly. When you import the photos you should remove them from the iPhone. That way your Mac becomes the repository for the photos. Then you can sync back whatever you need to appear on the phone.

thanks for the heads-up. will give it s go.