How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto [6 Tips]

Applies To: iPhone XS/XS Max/XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6s, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro

It's true that you can import photos from your iPhone to Mac using iPhoto - Mac's built-in app that can transfer or manage your iPhone photos. However, if you want to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac with iPhoto, the photos you can copy are limited to the items in Camera Roll. And I guess that's why so many people are searching for "How to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto," which will be detailed in this article. If you are one of them, read this article and learn six alternative ways to import photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto.

Option 1. Quickest Way to Import Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iPhoto via All-in-one Transfer tool

To transfer all your iPhone photos in Camera Roll, Photo Stream, and Photo Library to Mac, no matter you want to do it all at once or selectively, you can use the software for iOS data transfer, EaseUS MobiMover Pro, to help you with it. With MobiMover installed on your Mac (MobiMover is also compatible with PC running Windows 7 or later), you can transfer files from iPhone/iPad (in iOS 8 or later) to Mac, from Mac to iPhone/iPad or from one iOS device to another.

What can MobiMover transfer or manage for you:

Photos: Camera Roll, Photo Library, Photo Stream, Photo Videos

Videos: Movies, TV shows, Music Videos

Audios: Music, Ringtones, Voice Memos, Audiobooks, Playlists

Others: Contacts, Notes, Messages, Voice Mails, Books, and Safari Bookmarks

You can not only transfer photos from iPhone to Mac but also do many other things like transferring photos from iPhone to iPhone or putting music to iPhone with MobiMover. Using MobiMover is a good choice for you when you want to import photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto or Photos App. Follow the steps below to easily and quickly transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without using iPhoto.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to Mac with a USB cable. Run EaseUS MobiMover, choose "Phone to Mac" and click the "Next" button to continue. 

Step 2. Check the category/categories you want to copy from your iPhone to Mac. As you can see, you can copy other supported files together with photos from your iPhone to Mac all at once. After that, don't forget to customize the storage path for the exported photos unless you want to save them on your desktop. 

Step 3. Now, click the "Transfer" button to start transferring photos or other files from your iPhone to Mac without iTunes. Exporting files from iPhone to Mac with MobiMover is the right way for backup to avoid unexpected data loss. 

To your conveniences, MobiMover can also work as an iPhone content manager that enables you to delete/edit the existing files on your iPhone or add new items to your device from computer. Perfect, right? Don't hesitate to have a try.

Option 2. How to Import Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iPhoto via Photos App

Photos app is an optional service brought by Apple to replace iPhoto to help iOS users to manage pictures. It is much faster, easier, less cluttered, and has more editing options compared with iPhoto. To use Photos app, you just need to plug your iPhone into the USB port on your Mac and open the Photos app. More detailed steps are shown below.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac via a USB cable.

Step 2. Open the Photos app on your Mac, ignore this step if it has opened automatically.

Step 3. Click on the "Import" option in the upper right of your Photo's screen.

Step 4. Select the photos you want to transfer to Mac and click the "Import" button to start moving.

Option 3. How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iPhoto via Image Capture

Image Capture makes transferring pictures between iPhone and Mac much easier. And during the transferring process, it won't convert your photo format or reduce image quality.

Step 1. Plug your iPhone to Mac with a USB cable > Open Image Capture application on your Mac (Press Command + Space and tap Image to open Image).

Step 2. From the Image page, select your iPhone from the device list.

Step 3. Then, you'll see a list of your photos along with some technical information like file sizes, file types, width, and height...

Step 4. You can click on the "Import" button to transfer the selected photos or click on "Import All" to transfer all images.

Option 4. How to Move Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iPhoto via AirDrop

If you want to import photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto and want to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without cable at the same time, using AirDrop can meet your needs.

Step 1. Turn on AirDrop on your Mac.

• Go to Finder > Go > AirDrop and switch on Bluetooth and WiFi to turn on AirDrop on your Mac.
• Set the option Allow to be discovered by as Everyone or Contacts Only.

Step 2. Turn on AirDrop on iPhone.

• Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen to open Control Center.
• Press deeply on the module where Airplane Mode locates in, tap on AirDrop and set your iPhone to be discovered by Contacts Only or Everyone.

Step 3. Transfer photos from iPhone to Mac.

• Open Photos App on your iPhone.
• Select the photos you want to import from your iPhone to Mac.
• Click the Share button and click the name of your Mac in the AirDrop section to import photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto.

Option 5. Import photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto using iCloud

Similarly, you can use iCloud to copy photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto wirelessly. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone and then follow the steps below to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto using iCloud.

Step 1. Go to visit iCloud.com from your Mac.

Step 2. Login into iCloud with your Apple ID and password which you use to sign into iCloud on your iPhone.

Step 3. Choose Photos among the options and then you will see the photos on your iPhone.

Step 4. Select the photos you'd like to import from iPhone to your Mac and then click the Download Selected items icon at the top right corner of your screen. By doing so, you can transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto.

You can use the similar way to download iCloud photos to PC if you need.

Option 6. How to Move Photos from iPhone to Mac Without iPhoto via Email

Email is the last option to move photos. This method can be used to send one or two pictures since it is very slow to transfer.

Step 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone > Select the Photos you'd like to move to Mac.

Step 2. Click on the "Share" button and select "Email."

Step 3. Enter your email address.

Step 4. Login your Email on the Mac and download the photos to your Mac.

The Bottom Line

By reading our post, you can know all possible ways to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto. Of the six methods, the first one is the optimal choice, since EaseUS MobiMover can help you move all kinds of iOS data, including photos from iPhone to Mac. Besides, it has some additional functions like video downloader and iOS unlocker, which are worth exploring. Now, you can free download this application on your Mac to transfer iPhone photos to Mac without using iPhoto.

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac without iPhoto FAQs

1. How do I import photos from my camera to Mac without iPhoto?

Run the Preview app on your Mac, and choose File > Import from [camera's name]. If you have more than one camera and connect all to your Mac, you should go for File > Import from Camera > Device name. Then, a window will appear with all images from your camera.

2. How do I transfer photos from iPhone to Mac directly?

Connect your iPhone to your Mac with an appropriate cable, and launch the Photos app. Then, an Import screen will appear with all the pictures and videos on your iPhone. You can select the desired files and click Import to transfer the photos from iPhone to Mac directly. If the Import screen fails to show up, click your device name on the Photos sidebar.