How to import iPhone photos in macOS Sequoia 15 through Photos app?

Question

Level 2

158 points

How to import iPhone photos in macOS Sequoia 15 through Photos app?

For weeks I had been frustrated by my Sequoia 15 Photos.app's inability to see my iPhone.

Well, I have figured it out. Photos.app simply imports my new pictures; I don't have to do anything. I no longer have to click on an iPhone icon. There is no iPhone icon in Photo.app's window. I just open the app, and POOF they're there in my Library. It's magic.

I suppose there are settings and cables that all have to be in the right place, but I just happen to have everything right.

--Gil

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Sequoia 15 Photos.app cannot see my iPhone

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 8, 2025 06:54 PM

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Answer 1

markwmsn

Level 6

16,613 points

Aug 9, 2025 05:37 PM in response to Gil Dawson

My Photo Stream used to work like that, no cables needed, before Apple shut it down two years ago.

That's also how iCloud Photos still works, but in all directions. (Photos you add directly to your Mac go to your iPhone, and if you get an iPad it also participates.)

I don't think there is any setting that magically imports photos directly from the phone without going through the import process, except iCloud Photos.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

199,927 points

Aug 10, 2025 12:53 AM in response to Gil Dawson

That is strange, Gil. Even with iCloud Photos enabled your iPhone should appear in the sidebar of the Photos window or in Image Capture. Om my Macs it does. But better don't import from the iPhone directly, if iCloud Photos is enabled.

Are you seeing a header "Devices" in the sidebar? Connect your iPhone and unlock it. Hover the pointer to the right of "Devices" until you are seeing a disclosure triangle and click it. Does your iPhone now appear in the sidebar?

My screenshot is in German, because it is not convenient to change the language right now, sorry, but I hope you can see, where the disclosure triangle should appear.

léonie

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Answer 3

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

158 points

Aug 10, 2025 11:37 AM in response to léonie

Thanks for your reply, Iéonie.

My Photos window does not have my iPhone's icon, nor a "Devices" entry in the sidebar:

The bottom (blue shirt) photo appeared after I...

Connected my iPhone running iOS 18.6 to my MacBook Air via Lightning/USB C and entered my password
Opened Photos V10.0 on my MacBook running Sequoia 15.6
Took the picture using my iPhone
Quit the camera on my iPhone

After a bit less than a minute, the new photo appeared as you see above.

I have not checked my settings for iCloud on my iPhone nor my MacBook.

--Gil

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

199,927 points

Aug 11, 2025 01:01 AM in response to Gil Dawson

Could you please look at the iCloud settings, Gil?

On the Mac open Photos and look in the main menu bar at tPHhotos > Settings > iCloud. Is iCloud Photos enabled?
On the iPhone open the Settings > Your Name > iCloud, then tap Photos. Is iCloud enabled for Photos?

I am asking, because a system upgrade might enable iCloud Photos by default, if you are having a subscription for iCloud storage.

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Answer 5

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

158 points

Aug 11, 2025 07:53 AM in response to léonie

Thanks for your help, Iéonie. I'd appreciate understanding what underlies this phenomenon.

Here is my MacBook->Photos->Settings->iCloud window:

Here is my MacBook -> Photos -> Settings -> General window, in case it might help:

Here is my iPhone -> Settings -> Gil -> iCloud window (via iPhone Mirroring):

Thanks for helping me understand this.

--Gil

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

199,927 points

Aug 11, 2025 10:59 AM in response to Gil Dawson

Thank you for the screenshots, Gil. That is very strange.

Your iPhone issyncing the photos with iCloud Photos, but your Mac not. The Mac should not be able to download the iCloud Photos automatically with thee settings.

There must be another automatic syncing active.

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Answer 7

markwmsn

Level 6

16,613 points

Aug 11, 2025 04:58 PM in response to Gil Dawson

None of that explains why Photos does not "see" your phone (when it is plugged in) and display it in a Devices section.

Does your Finder display your phone in its sidebar when the phone is plugged in?

Does the utility Image Capture "see" your phone and display its photo/video contents?

Do you ever get a prompt on either your Mac or your phone when you connect them about allowing them to communicate? Have you ever rejected the opportunity?

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Answer 8

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

158 points

Aug 17, 2025 05:05 PM in response to markwmsn

Hi, markwmsn --

Thanks for the questions. My apology for my delay in answering; we had been without 117VAC house power for several days. Right now:

My MacBook Air M1, 2020, 8GB, is running Sequoia 15.6.

My iPhone SE is running iOS 18.6.

It is plugged in to my Air via a Lightning - to - USB-A cable to a dongle.

The dongle is plugged into my Air via a pigtail to a USB-C connector.

A Finder window is open.

The Finder window's sidebar does display my iPhone.

Selecting the iPhone in the Finder window displays a complex window pane reminiscent of iTunes.

The Applications Folder in the Finder window's sidebar does contain "Image Capture.app".

After launching Image Capture.app, its window does show my iPhone SE.

Selecting my iPhone SE in the sidebar displays a few recent photos from my iPhone:

I recall some time in the past having been asked to enter my password on my iPhone, something about "trust". This has not happened recently, that I recall. I cannot imagine my having ever said, "No," to such a request. (But it is entirely possible that I did so then forgot.)

Thanks again for your interest.

--Gil

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Answer 9

léonie

Level 10

199,927 points

Aug 18, 2025 06:55 AM in response to Gil Dawson

You may want to try this:

with the iPhone connected to your Mac and Image Capture open, select your iPhone in the sidebar, then click the menu with the three dots in the toolbar.

It will show you which app to open, when the iPhone is connected. Try to set the app in this menu to Photos: 8sorry, my screenshot is in German - "Digitale Bilder is the German name for Image Capture" and "Fotos" is "Photos". Perhaps this menu is set on your Mac to "No application".

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Answer 10

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

158 points

Aug 20, 2025 04:04 PM in response to léonie

Thanks for the suggestion, Iéonie--

Indeed, with my iPhone connected to my MacBook, Image Capture was set to "no application", as you said. I did change it to "Photos.app". I also selected "Keep originals", although I'm not at all certain what that means.

Thereafter, I Quit Image Capture and unplugged my iPhone.

Then I replugged my iPhone. Photos.app launched and my iPhone appeared in its sidebar:

Launching Photos is a trifle annoying, yet is something up with which I can easily put.

Two questions:

What does my having checked "Keep Originals" cause to happen?
There is a tiny cloud-shaped icon next to my iPhone in Photos.app's sidebar and also Image Capture.app's sidebar. I see it also in your image above. What does that icon mean?

Thanks for your help. Iéonie.

--Gil

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Answer 11

Gil Dawson Author

Level 2

158 points

Aug 11, 2025 11:12 AM in response to léonie

Thanks, Iéonie for confirming the mystery.

For now, I shall proceed without changing any settings. If I notice a change, I'll report it here.

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