Exporting and Re-importing Photos Between iPhone, PC, and iCloud

[macbackup11233]

TL;DR: Looking for the best way to export photos from an iPhone to a PC and the most efficient way to reimport them to iCloud Photos?

Background:

I've always used an iPhone and recently started using a MacBook for all my work, gradually transitioning to using my Mac exclusively for daily computing and my PC only for gaming. Before this, I was syncing photos from my iPhone to both OneDrive and iCloud so I could access them on my PC when needed. I also had older photos spread across various files that were not being synced.

On my PC I managed to consolidate all 15k photos and run a duplicate scanner and got rid of most of the duplicates. However, I need to run that scan on my windows images vs my iCloud images. I also am having issues with a large amount of files and their metadata. My overall goal is to export all of my existing photos (10K) from iCloud photo and run a duplicate scan across my images on my PC with the ones I export as well as use a metadata tool to correct a the issues with the files.

Additionally, my macbook only has 256gb of storage and I don't currently have space to download originals and store them on my mac to export them. However, I do have enough room on my iPhone. I've started the process of downloading originals to my iPhone from iCloud photos and I'm wondering what would be the best way to export them onto my PC?

Once I've exported all 10k photos and done metadata corrections and duplicate scans on windows I would reupload everything to my iCloud photos app. I've already attempted the windows iCloud nonsense and will not be using that.

What is the best and quickest way to import photos into the iCloud photos?

 

[SebCohen]

Same issue. I meticulously cull and store photos on my Win PC. Importing them via iTunes reduces the size of images, making them annoyingly awful on the iPhone. I’ve researched a bit and everyone says you need to upload to iCloud and the sync with iPhone. I haven’t tried via an external ssd, but fear importing them will result in the same reduction in resolution.

No, I don’t want Photos to keep control over my images. I’d rather loose my right foot.

 

[macbackup11233]

Yes, I am currently in that situation. I posted about this on Friday, and my photos still have not finished downloading to my phone from iCloud after selecting “save originals.” The sync keeps stopping, and it’s difficult to determine why or troubleshoot the issue. I decided to leave it running, and now, as of Sunday, I am down to the last 500 downloads.

I hope that once all the originals are downloaded to my phone, I can connect it to my PC and transfer them. Have you had any experience doing this before?

After that I plan to stop using photos all together and figure out a self hosted solution.

 

[Tagbert]

You could get an external SSD for your MacBook, move your photo library there and then download all of the originals. Then you could copy photos from the photo library folder, if needed.

If you can keep everything within iCloud and iCloud devices, then syncing and file management is easy. Trying to manually sync with separate files will always be a complicated pain in the ass.

 

[Fred Zed]

I’ve been trying to upload photos via sd card on my MacBook to the iCloud. It ain’t easy - meaning it don’t work consistently and reliably. Wish there was more options.

 

[SebCohen]

Can we talk about how AWFULLY SLOW iCloud is?

 

[macbackup11233]

I’ve been trying to upload photos via sd card on my MacBook to the iCloud. It ain’t easy - meaning it don’t work consistently and reliably. Wish there was more options.

Yes, my experience uploading photos to the photos app is why I decided to try and switch away from using it all together. There is just to much that is left obfuscated from the user. I can't clearly see all the photos are uploaded because when you re-upload the same folder it acts like some of them haven't already been uploaded.

However, if you do move away from using it does that mean you CANNOT use the native camera app on the iphone?

Can i have the native camera app on my iPhone store the picture somewhere else besides the photos app?

 

[SebCohen]

TL;DR: Looking for the best way to export photos from an iPhone to a PC and the most efficient way to reimport them to iCloud Photos?

Background:

I've always used an iPhone and recently started using a MacBook for all my work, gradually transitioning to using my Mac exclusively for daily computing and my PC only for gaming. Before this, I was syncing photos from my iPhone to both OneDrive and iCloud so I could access them on my PC when needed. I also had older photos spread across various files that were not being synced.

On my PC I managed to consolidate all 15k photos and run a duplicate scanner and got rid of most of the duplicates. However, I need to run that scan on my windows images vs my iCloud images. I also am having issues with a large amount of files and their metadata. My overall goal is to export all of my existing photos (10K) from iCloud photo and run a duplicate scan across my images on my PC with the ones I export as well as use a metadata tool to correct a the issues with the files.

Additionally, my macbook only has 256gb of storage and I don't currently have space to download originals and store them on my mac to export them. However, I do have enough room on my iPhone. I've started the process of downloading originals to my iPhone from iCloud photos and I'm wondering what would be the best way to export them onto my PC?

Once I've exported all 10k photos and done metadata corrections and duplicate scans on windows I would reupload everything to my iCloud photos app. I've already attempted the windows iCloud nonsense and will not be using that.

What is the best and quickest way to import photos into the iCloud photos?

I first imported/synced photos via the new Windows "app", My Devices? Anyway, that's when it reduced the image size/resolution. I also noticed videos from my Android phone lost their correct date (on Android it's not written in the shot date, just created date). They all got the synced date as new date, messing up the order.

So I just tested out importing photos and videos directly from an ssd. Not only was it way way faster, everything worked perfectly.

I used the Files app on my iPhone, went into the specific folders, selected all and save. It didn't specify WHERE I was saving it (usually it's a save to Files or to Photos, but did not specify now. But all images and videos got saved to the Photos app correctly. They show up correct in year/month/day and in Places.

They get a "Saved from Files" designation.

Which makes me wonder why it's more difficult via My Devices and way more complicated via iCloud sync (which is also very slow).

 

[Fred Zed]

I first imported/synced photos via the new Windows "app", My Devices? Anyway, that's when it reduced the image size/resolution. I also noticed videos from my Android phone lost their correct date (on Android it's not written in the shot date, just created date). They all got the synced date as new date, messing up the order.

So I just tested out importing photos and videos directly from an ssd. Not only was it way way faster, everything worked perfectly.

I used the Files app on my iPhone, went into the specific folders, selected all and save. It didn't specify WHERE I was saving it (usually it's a save to Files or to Photos, but did not specify now. But all images and videos got saved to the Photos app correctly. They show up correct in year/month/day and in Places.

They get a "Saved from Files" designation.

Which makes me wonder why it's more difficult via My Devices and way more complicated via iCloud sync (which is also very slow).

Can you give more details please ? So you selected all photos and copied them directly from SSD to iCloud file folder ? And then it all automatically appeared in the iCloud Photos ? Explain please. Thanks. Was this on a Mac or windows PC?

 

[SebCohen]

Can you give more details please ? So you selected all photos and copied them directly from SSD to iCloud file folder ? And then it all automatically appeared in the iCloud Photos ? Explain please. Thanks. Was this on a Mac or windows PC?

You misunderstood….I opted out of going the iCloud route. I used a backup ssd of all my pho and copied it directly to the iPhone.


Some more info:

So I have a YEAR/MONTH/DATE/DEVICE folder structure on my Windows machine.

It’s just way easier if I’m doing a hard backup of everything and way easier to mentally navigate this visual hierarchy (for me). It also separates my “pro” camera, iPhone and my FunCam into separate folders.

I just don’t want the “let Photos manage your photos” option. I’ve helped too many friend migrate their 10+ years of Apple Photos into another service or backup. Sure, they do a good job for my parents….theres also a TON of duplicated and quite messy organisation IF you dig into that folder manually.

BUT I want last 2-3 years easily accessible on my iPhone Photos app.

I had to go into each separate folder and select all and save on device. No hokus pokus really, worked flawlessly.

This does mean I will get a duplicate copy of photos not shot on my iPhone in my iCloud…but I don’t use iCloud for other that a first ditch backup of latest iPhone pictures if it gets stolen.

I dump all my iPhone pictures into my tried and trusted structure once or twice anyway, so I don’t really have to sort much.

The copying from iPhone to Win is also way way waaay easier now. They just show up as month folders you can copy paste. Super easy.