Photos for OS X: Import photos from a camera or mobile device
To bring photos in to the Photos app, you can connect a camera, iOS device, or other mobile device to your computer and import the photos from there.
You can also import photos from a camera’s memory card. To find out how, see Import photos and video from storage media.
Import photos from a camera or iOS device
Connect a camera, iPad, iPhone, or other iOS device to your computer with a USB cable.
Make sure the camera or device is turned on and the camera is set to the correct mode for importing photos.
For information on which mode to choose, see the instructions provided with your camera. If your camera has a “sleep” mode, make sure it’s disabled or set to a time increment long enough to allow your images to download.
Open Photos (if it isn’t already open), then click Import in the toolbar.
Note: The Import button only appears when a camera or storage device is connected.
Photos displays all the photos and videos on the device. You can choose to import a selection of photos or all the new photos on the device.
Do one of the following:
Import all new photos: Click Import All New Photos.
Import a selection of photos: Click the photos you want to import, then click Import Selected.
If a message asks whether you want to delete or keep the photos on your camera after they’re imported, click Delete Items to remove the photos, or click Keep Items to keep them on the camera.
Photos imports your photos. To cancel importing, click Stop Import.
When all photos have been imported, disconnect the camera or device from your computer.
Imported photos appear in the Last Import album in Albums view.
If you have photos taken with a film camera, you can import them into Photos by converting them to digital files (using the Image Capture app and a home scanner). After importing the digital files into Photos, you can edit them and add them to albums and projects, just as you can any other digital photos. You can also use the Image Capture app to set Photos to open automatically whenever you connect your camera. For more information, open Image Capture in the Applications folder, then choose Help > Image Capture Help.
Tip: You can change the date and time of scanned images in Photos; select the image and choose Image > Adjust Date and Time.
Import from a third-party mobile phone
If you use a third-party phone, you may be able to connect the device to your computer using a USB cable, then copy photos from the phone into Photos just as you would from an external storage device.
Note: Some third-party phones may connect to a computer using a Bluetooth (wireless) connection. Use the Bluetooth File Exchange app to import photos via Bluetooth. For more information, open Bluetooth File Exchange in the Utilities folder (in the Applications folder), then choose Help > Bluetooth Help.
Connect the phone to your computer.
Drag the photos onto your computer’s internal disk.
Do any of the following:
Drag files or folders from the Finder to the Photos window.
Drag files or folders from the Finder to the Photos icon in the Dock.
In Photos, choose File > Import. Select the photos or folder that you want to import and click Review for Import. If you selected multiple photos or videos, select the photos or video that you want to import and click Import [number] Selected or Import All.
Important: Don’t eject a device while the photos are being imported.
If nothing happens when you connect your digital camera
Try the following:
Make sure the USB cable is properly connected to your camera and the computer. If your computer has another USB port, try plugging the cable into it.
Check your camera to make sure it’s turned on and set to the correct mode for importing photos. See the instructions provided with your camera.
Check your camera’s memory card for damage. See the documentation that came with your camera for more information on this or other possible problems.