Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive Using Mac

Why transfer photos from an iPhone to an external drive?

It’s a good idea to transfer photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive using a Mac if you’re in need of freeing up space, as having too many photos can significantly slow down your device. Plus, the Insufficient Storage message can get very tiresome. You’ll be able to keep backups, transfer large photo libraries with ease, and save space on your iPhone–avoiding additional cloud storage fees.

A note from our experts: 

 

When you’re sorting through your pictures, it’s easy to end up with lots of similar or identical images cluttering your Mac and taking up valuable storage. To stay organized, MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder can scan your folders, find similar photos, and remove them so you keep only your best shots, creating space for new memories.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder:

1. Download and open MacKeeper.
2. Click on Duplicates Finder.
3. Press Start Scan.
4. Once the scan is complete, tick Duplicates or Similar Photos and press Remove Selected.  

How to move photos from iPhone to an external hard drive on Mac?

When your iOS device fills up because of thousands of photos, it can slow you down and could trigger the annoying Insufficient Storage error message. To resolve this, we recommend you move photos from iPhone to an external hard drive on Mac by transferring images with Image Capture, importing photos though the Photos app, syncing with iCloud, or using third-party software to manage your photos efficiently.  

Before you go further: 

 

If you’re unfamiliar with how to back up on Mac, we suggest checking out our supporting blog to help you get more insight into what backing up your data means and the different types. Including remote, live, or online backups. That way, you’ll be better prepared for all your Mac organizational needs.

1. Using Image Capture app

If you want a fast, no-fuss way to move your photos from iPhone to Mac, the Image Capture app is a solid choice. It gives you full control to decide which photos you want to import and where the imported photos are stored on Mac. Image Capture is a simple and free tool that’ll make moving images from an iOS device a breeze.

Let us show you how to use the Image Capture app to easily transfer your photos:

1. Connect your iPhone and external drive to your MacBook.
2. Open Image Capture.
3. Select your iPhone from the device list.
4. Choose your external drive as the place to move your photos.
5. Select the photos you want to transfer, or click Import All.

2. Via Photos app on macOS

In case you prefer using Apple’s built-in tools, the Photos app gives you an easy way to move your iPhone pictures to your Mac and then straight to your external hard drive. This method is quick and perfect if you like keeping everything organized in one place.

Here’s how to move your photos with the macOS Photo app:

1. Plug your iPhone and external drive into your Mac.
2. Open the Photos app.
3. Select your iPhone, choose the photos you want to move, and press Import.
4. Then, go to File > Export > Export [number] Photos.
5. Choose your external hard drive as the destination.
6. Click Export.

3. Use iCloud on Mac to transfer

If you already rely on cloud storage and you want to know how to download photos from iCloud to Mac to be able to send them across devices, then we can help. We’ll show you how to download, save, and move images onto your MacBook, ready for you to transfer to an external SSD drive when needed.

Here’s how to use iCloud on Mac to transfer your photos:

On your iPhone:

1. Open your Settings > Apple ID.
2. Click on iCloud.
3. Look for Photos and turn on Sync This iPhone.

On your Mac:

1. Sign in to iCloud.
2. Open Photos.
3. Plug in your external hard drive.
4. Press Command + click to select the photos you want to download.
5. Click the download icon.
6. Choose your external drive for the location and press Save.

An extra help from us: 

 

Are you transferring photos from your phone to an external hard drive to desperately free up space? There are better ways, and our attached blog can walk you through nine that’ll show you how to free up space on your Mac. From utilizing macOS tools to sorting out your iTunes content, with the help of our Apple experts, you’ll reclaim essential space and keep your device running smoothly in no time.

4. Try third‑party software

Do you want to use third-party software to handle the transfer for you? It can definitely save you some time and headache, but we want to urge you to stay cautious. While these tools can automate the process, the convenience might come at a cost. If you’ve already bought a new external drive, you shouldn't have to pay to transfer photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive using Mac–especially when macOS tools can be used for free.

Transfer your photos to save space on your iOS device

Now that we’ve shown you several ways to move photos from iPhone to external hard drive on Mac, whether it’s with an Image Capture app, iCloud, or third-party software, you should have extra space on your iOS device in no time. With the right app, you can safely move, import, or share your photos, ensuring your backup is complete and any future recovery is simple.

Suppose you want to give your photo library decluttering efforts an extra boost. In that case, MacKeeper’s Duplicates Finder can check for duplicate files and pictures and remove all redundant copies for you in seconds. We, at MaKeeper, which is built by Clario Tech, encourage all Apple users to keep their devices and saved content organized to ensure that none of your data gets lost and your iPhone, iPad, or Mac continues to function normally.