Whether you want to backup your iPhone files or you just simply want to view your images on Mac’s large screen, here you will learn how to transfer files from an iPhone over to a Mac using multiple ways.

iPhone Transfer Tips

Check this quick tip to download photos from Dropbox to iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Dropbox gives you 5GB of free space, and then you have to subscribe to its different plans. The web version, as well as the app, is easy to access with a single ID. Now you should be back to the previous status quo, and be able to access data, particularly photos, from your iPhone or iPad, as was true for my father. This Mac 911 article is in response to a. To export your images, open the Photos app on your Mac. Select the photos you want to export to your hard drive. You’ll need to hold down the Command key to select several images. Or to select a group of photos, click the first image, hold down the Shift key, then select the last image.

An iPhone is a great piece of device that can both create as well as store dozens of file types. It can store your photos, videos, documents, and many other types of files for you. Sometimes, you may need to transfer some of your iPhone files over to your Mac. There could be various reasons why you may want to do it.

Maybe you are running out of space on your iPhone and you want to transfer a few of your large files to your Mac. Or maybe you need to edit a PDF file available on your iPhone using your Mac. Regardless, the question is how do you transfer your files?

Well, there are multiple ways to transfer files from an iPhone to a Mac. You can use built-in options, official apps, and third-party apps to get your job done. The following shows all of those methods to help you do the task.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with iTunes

You are likely familiar with the iTunes app especially if you use it to create backups of your iPhone. In addition to letting you backup your files, the app lets you transfer files from your iPhone to your Mac as well.

It needs utilizing the File Sharing option available in the app that lets you both copy files from iOS to Mac and Mac to iOS. The following is how you use it.

Step 1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your Mac if you do not already have it.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch the iTunes app. When the app launches, find and click on the icon for your iPhone.

Step 3. A menu will appear in the left sidebar of the app. Find the option that says File Sharing and click on it to open it.

Access File Sharing in iTunes

Step 4. On the right-hand side panel, you will see the apps that are compatible with the File Sharing feature. Once you see your files, drag the file from the iTunes window and drop it onto a Finder window on your Mac.

Your chosen file or files will be copied from your iPhone to your Mac. You will find the file in your chosen directory on your Mac.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with iCloud

If you have a high-speed Internet connection, you can use the iCloud service for transferring files from your iPhone to your Mac. It utilizes the iCloud Drive feature that lets you share files across your Apple devices.

Step 1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app, tap on your name at the top, and select iCloud.

Access iCloud settings on the iPhone

Step 2. On the screen that follows, turn both Photos and iCloud Drive toggles to the ON position. It will enable both of these features on your device.

Step 3. On your Mac, click on the Apple logo at the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences. Then, find and click on the iCloud option.

Step 4. Ensure the iCloud Drive and Photos options are check-marked.

Enable iCloud Drive on the Mac

You will see a new folder named iCloud Drive in your Finder. Any files that you put in iCloud Drive on your iPhone will be available in this folder on your Mac.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with AirDrop

AirDrop is the easiest way to transfer files from an iPhone to a Mac as all it requires you to do is connect both your devices to the same wireless network. As long as you meet this minimum requirement, you are good to transfer your files.

Step 1. Open a Finder window on your Mac, click on AirDrop in the left sidebar, and click on Turn On Bluetooth in the right-hand side pane.

Step 2. On your iPhone, select the files you want to transfer and tap on the share icon. Then, tap on AirDrop and select your Mac on the list.

Use AirDrop to transfer files on the iPhone

It will transfer your selected files from your iPhone to your Mac. These files will be available in the Downloads folder on your Mac.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with Cloud

iCloud is not the only cloud service you have available for iPhone to transfer your files. You can use various other cloud services as well such as Google Drive and Dropbox. Here we show you how to use Google Drive to share files from your iPhone to your Mac.

Step 1. Download, install and launch the Google Drive app on your iPhone. Sign in to your Google account.

Step 2. Upload the files that you want to transfer to your Mac in the app on your iPhone.

Step 3. Install the Google Drive app on your Mac. It will add a new folder called Google Drive to the Finder. Open this folder and you will be able to access your iPhone files on your Mac.

Access the iPhone files on the Mac via Google Drive

You can also use Dropbox in a similar way to transfer your files.

How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac with AnyTrans

The methods described above should work just fine if you have plenty of time available. However, if you are short on time and you would like something easy and fast, you are better off using a third-party app to transfer your files.

AnyTrans is an excellent choice when it comes to transferring files from iOS-based devices to your computer. It lets you quickly select and send files from your iPhone to any of your computers.

The following shows how to use the app on your Mac.

Step 1. Download AnyTrans and install it on your machine.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and launch the app. Click on More in the app to view more options available for you.

Step 3. Click on the File System option followed by the System in the left sidebar. It will let you view your iPhone files.

View iPhone files in AnyTrans

Step 4. Select the files you want to transfer to your Mac from the right-hand side pane. Then, click on the option that says To Computer at the top.

Step 5. You will see the following when your files are transferred.

Files successfully transferred from your iPhone to your Mac

AnyTrans really makes transferring files between iOS and other devices easier than any other method for you.

The Bottom Line

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to transfer files from your iPhone to a Mac, you have several options available to do the task as described in the above guide.

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By Adela D. Louie, Last updated: August 27, 2019

Photos that you have on your iPhone device is one of the largest sizes of files that you have. And because of that, your iPhone will tend to run out of space quicker when you have tons of photos saved on your device. So if you want to save more space on your iPhone device, then it is a good idea of how to download photos from iPhone to Mac.

And with that being said, we are going to show you in this article some ways on how to download photos from iPhone to Mac without even breaking a sweat. We are going to show you the easiest way possible for you to be able to get this job done in no time so stay tuned.

People Also ReadHow to Import All Photos From iPhone to Mac6 Ways on How to Copy Photos from iPhone to Mac4 Solutions to Download Photos from iCloud

Part 1: A Great Way to Move Your Photos from iPhone to Mac

As what we have mentioned earlier, there are actually a lot of ways on how you can possibly download your photos from your iPhone device to your Mac. And with that, some of the methods are as follows.

• Download Photos from iPhone to Mac Using a USB Cable
• Download Photos from iPhone to Mac Using your iCloud
• Download Photos from iPhone to Mac Using Airdrop

Part 2: Get Your Mac Cleaned Up Before Downloading Photos from iPhone

As we all know, your Mac has a larger space when it comes to storage compared to your iPhone device. Well, this is actually the main reason as to why we would prefer downloading photos from iPhone device to our Mac, right? However, you also have to keep in mind that the storage on your Mac also has a limit. A limit that you may want to consider on checking up every now and then because once that you run out of space on your Mac, then you will start experiencing slow performance on your Mac.

Therefore, you have to clear your Mac. When you clear your Mac, you have to consider similar photos. As what have said before, the photo is one data which occupied large space because each picture is big in size. In order to find and deleted similar photos on your Mac, you need a powerful tool.

As a software which is recommended by lots of Mac users, we would like to share our product to all of you. And that is the PowerMyMac driven by FoneDog.

FoneDog PowerMyMac is a tool with powerful functions. It can be used to clear and release the space on your Mac. This software will definitely make your Mac run well like it is a new Mac. FoneDog PowerMyMac has many functions which can be used to optimize and clear Mac. One function among them is its Similar Photos.

The function of 'Similar Photos' can help you find and delete all similar photos on your Mac. This function is totally the same as the function of 'Duplicate Finder“ supported by FonePowerMyMac. The only difference is that Similar Photos could only be used to deal with your photos, while Duplicate Finder can handle the photos, files, and other data on your Mac.

Now, deleting all similar photos on Mac is a rapid method. You are able to use FoneDog PowerMyMac to do it.

Step 1. Download FoneDog PowerMyMac on Your Mac

First of all, you have to install FoneDog PowerMyMac on your Mac. All you could do is to visit the official website of FoneDog and download FoneDog PowerMyMac.

Step 2. Open FoneDog PowerMyMac

After you download it, you can continue to open it on your Mac. But you have to pay attention that you are able to see the system state of your Mac in the main screen on FoneDog PowerMyMac. Once you start the procedure, it will show the system state to you by default so that you can know which part of the Mac is acquiring a large amount of data. It may be your internal storage, RAM or the use condition of disks.

Step 3.Select the Cleaner

In the same page of the procedure, you can continue to choose the module you need from the top of the screen. Because we are going to find and delete your similar photos on your Mac, so please click the module of 'Cleaner'.

Step 4. Select Similar Photos

After you choose the module, FoneDog PowerMyMac will show you lists of different options. Therefore, you can go on to choose 'Similar Photos' on the list.

Step 5. Scan Your Photos

Then, the procedure will ask you to scan. In this way, FoneDog PowerMyMac will find all photos on Mac. Therefore, in order to let the producer find all photos, you can go on by simply clicking the 'Scan' button.

Then the scan process will start. All you have to do is waiting for the procedure to finish.

Step 6. Check the Result

Once that the scanning process is complete, you can then go ahead and click on the View button. This way, you will be able to see the result of the scanning process.

Step 7: Select All Similar Photos to Clean

Once that you are seeing the result on your screen, then you can go ahead and choose all of the Similar Photos that you want to get rid of your Mac. You can go ahead and tick on each photo that you want to delete.

Step 8: Remove All Similar Photos

After choosing all of the similar photos that you would want to remove from your Mac, then it is now time for you to start with the cleaning process. So from here, all you need to do is to click on the Clean button located at the bottom of your screen.

Then you will be able to see a pop-up box on your screen asking for your permission to continue with the deleting process. So if you wish to continue removing all of your similar photos, just go ahead and click on the Confirm button.

The cleaning process will then start so all you need to do is to wait for it to finish. The time that the process will take will actually depend on the size of the similar photo you are trying to delete. So all you need to do is to wait.

Part 3: How to Download Photos from iPhone to Mac

Now, since that you were able to clean up your Mac and make more space, then you can go ahead now and download all the photos that you want from your iPhone device to your Mac. And with that, we are going to show you several ways on how you can do this.

1. Download Photos from iPhone to Mac Using Photos App (USB Cable)

One of the methods that are considered to be the easiest way for you to be able to download your photos from your iPhone to your Mac is by using your very USB Cable. Once that you have connected your iPhone device to your Mac using your USB cable, then your macOS Photos App will automatically be launched on your screen. So to further help you with this method, here is a quick guide that you can follow.

Step 1: Go ahead and have your iPhone device connected to your Mac using your USB cable.

How To Download All Photos From Iphone To Macbook Air

Step 2: Then automatically, the Photos App will then launch on your screen and will then show you all of the photos that you have on your iPhone device. Once that you see all of your photos from your iPhone on your Mac’s screen, you can then go ahead and choose all the photos that you want to download from your iPhone to your Mac.

How To Download All Photos From Iphone To Mac

NOTE: If you were not able to see your iPhone photos, then you can go ahead and choose the iPhone located at the left side of your screen menu.

Step 3: Once that you are done choosing all of your photos that you want to download from your iPhone to your Mac, then you can go ahead and click on the “Import All New Items” button which is located at the upper right hand of your screen.

Step 4: After you have downloaded the photos that you want from your iPhone device to your Mac, then you can go ahead and make your Photos to automatically remove the ones that you downloaded from your iPhone device. This way, you will be able to have more space on your iPhone for new photos.

2. Download Photos from iPhone to Mac Using Your iCloud

Another common way that you can download photos from your iPhone device to your Mac is by using your iCloud. This means that you are going to make use of your iCloud Photos Library or also known as your iCloud Photos.

However, in using your iCloud, once that you were able to consume more than 5GB of space for your photos and videos, then you need to upgrade it to download more photos. You can have the option to get the 50GB space for only $0.99 up to the 2TB space for only $9.99.

And for you to use your iCloud and set it up on your iPhone device, just go ahead and follow the guide below.

Step 1: Go ahead and go to your Settings.

Step 2: After that, go ahead and tap on your name located at the top of your screen.

Step 3: Then choose iCloud.

Step 4: Just below the iCloud indicator for your storage, you will be able to see a list of applications that are using your iCloud.

Step 5: From there, go ahead and choose Photos.

Step 6: Then go ahead and simply switch on iCloud Photo Library to turn it on.

Now, for you to set up your iCloud on your Mac, here is what you will be needing to do.

Step 1: Go ahead and open up the Photos app on your Mac.

How To Download Photos From Iphone To Mac Catalina

Step 2: Then, go to the Photos menu located in the menu bar of the app.

Step 3: After that, click on Preference.

Step 4: Then go ahead and click on iCloud.

Step 5: Lastly, go ahead and put a checkmark on the box right beside the iCloud Photo Library.

Now in this method, you have to make sure that both your iPhone device and your Mac are using the same iCloud account. This is for your photos to sync in two different devices. You also have to remember that once that you have modified your photos on your iPhone device, the changes will also apply on your Mac automatically. That is why if you would want to remove some photos from your iPhone and keep them in your Mac, you have to make sure that you have disabled the sync once that you have downloaded your photos from iPhone to your Mac.

Part 4: Conclusion

As you can see, the process of how to download photos from iPhone to Mac is a very easy thing to do. You can choose from the methods that we have shown you above and apply it. Just make sure that you are going to choose which one is you think the more convenient for you.

How To Download All Photos From Iphone To Macbook

Also, you have to make sure that you have a lot of space on your Mac for new photos that you are going to download from your iPhone device. And one way of ensuring this is by using the FoneDog PowerMyMac.

How To Download All Photos From Iphone To Macbook Pro