Photos: "Preparing to import from 'iPhone'" or "Please Unlock iPhone"

Hello, Ventura 13.6, iOS 17.0.3 on iPhone Pro Max 14, 1TB here

I reached out to Apple regarding this persistent issue. Despite their dedicated assistance for over an hour, attempting various solutions, the problem remains unresolved. They were supposed to reach me out, it didn't happen

• Booting the Mac in safe mode and then connecting the iPhone, but the issue persisted.
• Resetting the iPhone's network settings, which didn't resolve the problem.
• Activating Airplane mode on the iPhone, then deactivating it, but the problem remained.
• Taking a new photo with the iPhone and then attempting to connect it to the Mac, but this didn't help.
• Replacing the cable, which also didn't solve the issue,
• Testing multiple USB slots (USB-A and USB-C on the back) without success.

Unfortunately, none of these measures rectified the situation. Apple urgently needs to address this issue.

I've had the same problem for over a month. Today i upgraded my MacBook Air to Somona 14.1 and my iPhone to iOS 17.1 and it worked again.

Thought I'd share in case you're checking this thread.

Hi c_blaha,

That sounds like a good plan and should get you closer to getting this taken care of. If you run into any other issues, the community would love to assist. Just create a new thread and provide additional details. 

Have a great day.

Hey c_blaha ,

We'd recommend checking out this article as it provides information that may help resolve your issue: Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support

"Import to your Mac

You can import photos and videos to your Mac by connecting your device to your Mac. However, if you use iCloud Photos, then you don't need to import. 

To import to your Mac: 

1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Open the Photos app on your computer.
3. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.
4. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust to continue.
5. Choose where you want to import your photos. Next to "Import to," you can choose an existing album or create a new one.
6. Select the photos you want to import and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Photos.

7. Wait for the process to finish, then disconnect your device from your Mac."

If you need further assistance, contact Apple Support here: Contact - Official Apple Support

Thanks!

I've had the same problem for over a month. Today i upgraded my MacBook Air to Somona 14.1 and my iPhone to iOS 17.1 and it worked again.

Thought I'd share in case you're checking this thread.