"Live Photos" not showing in Mac Photos app

[mcmul]

I imported the "Live Photos" on my iPhone into the Photos app on my Mac. I selected to delete the photos on my phone after the import -- what I always do as I otherwise find photo management unbearable. However, after the import, I found that out of around 100 photos, I had 100 stills and 100 videos. I imported these photos using a USB cable and, according to the Apple forums, this is an issue when doing WiFi imports (I don't know why, presumably another Apple "feature") -- the software apparently splits the "Live Photo" into a high-quality still and low-quality video.

How do I go about seeing them in "Live Photos" form? Is there a setting in Photos which re-enables the "Liveness" of the photos? Do I need to manually merge them? I can't tell you how frustrating it is to constantly battle Apple's abysmal software and services.

 

[617660]

Can someone answer this question? I am having the same issue as my live photos shows as a copy of still and a copy of video in Photo app on Mac.

 

[0970373]

Right click on the photo and "Turn Live Photo On."

 

[617660]

The problem I am having is just like what OP stated. When live photo is imported to Photo App on a Mac (2011 MBA) via USB cable, it shows as one still and one video. Right click does not offer the "turn live photo on" option. I assume it imported as just one file on your mac, is it?

 

[0970373]

The problem I am having is just like what OP stated. When live photo is imported to Photo App on a Mac (2011 MBA) via USB cable, it shows as one still and one video. Right click does not offer the "turn live photo on" option. I assume it imported as just one file on your mac, is it?

I also have a 2011 MBA and I just import via cable or sync via iCPL. Live photos are imported as one file. If the "turn live photo on/off" option isn't there, it's not a live photo as far as the system is concerned. If it isn't working for you, you're probably better off calling Apple support to help isolate the issue with you. They'll know more about why it's splitting on import.

 

[617660]

we are talking about different way of importing live photos. You are importing through iCloud Photo Library, whereas I am importing through USB cable.

I don't want to pay extra for icloud storage (5GB is not enough for my photo library). However, it seems like as of now, iCPL is the only way for live photos to sync nicely.

Btw, I want MBA to back up (sync up) pics on the Iphone 6s' and thought Photo Stream would do that wirelessly. But the Photo Stream album on my MBA is not showing the same pics as on my iPhone 6s...so how does Photo Stream work? I know on its current form, it only shows the "Still" portion of Live Photo.

 

[0970373]

we are talking about different way of importing live photos. You are importing through iCloud Photo Library, whereas I am importing through USB cable.

I don't want to pay extra for icloud storage (5GB is not enough for my photo library). However, it seems like as of now, iCPL is the only way for live photos to sync nicely.

Btw, I want MBA to back up (sync up) pics on the Iphone 6s' and thought Photo Stream would do that wirelessly. But the Photo Stream album on my MBA is not showing the same pics as on my iPhone 6s...so how does Photo Stream work? I know on its current form, it only shows the "Still" portion of Live Photo.

I've done it both ways so it is what I'm talking about. Photo Stream will not work for syncing live photos. It's why I started using iCPL. But prior to turning on iCPL, I would have to sync live photos via cable. I still suggest calling or chatting w/ Apple if it isn't working properly for you. They can see things on their back end that we can't. As for photo stream: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH13692?locale=en_US

 

[617660]

I can only say that Live Photo is a rush job by Apple, the ecosystem is just not ready to handle it yet.

I just synced up with iphone through USB cable again. Now, some photos show with Live photo stamp on the lower left (and play as a Live Photo with a click), but others don't. I can't turn Live Photo on, it's like Photo app on MBA doesn't recognize its liveliness.

 

[mcmul]

Right click on the photo and "Turn Live Photo On."

It would be great if that worked, but it doesn't -- it's greyed out.

 

[mrnorwegian]

Not sure if it solves your problem but the Photo sync app is now updated with support for transferring live photos to and from an iPhone. https://photosync-app.com/photosync/en/newsarticle/photosync-31-for-ios-released.html. They arrive as a mov and jpeg on the mac.

 

[Govind]

It would be great if that worked, but it doesn't -- it's greyed out.

I have the same problem. its greyed

 

[SamVilde]

Brand new 2017 MBP is importing photos from my still-new iPhone 7 as jpgs. There is no "liveness", and "play live photo" is greyed out, as stated above.

In my photo library (on the Mac) there are three photos that show up in the live photo album, and they have the live icon in the upper right, and play when you hover over them - so the computer is working - I wonder if it's something in the transfer process? And I am surprised that it is only three photos that show up in that album. I have many more.

 

[617660]

can't believe people are still experiencing issue now.

If Photo imports directly from iPhone through USB, I am pretty sure it works.
If using image capture, it should work.
if using airdrop, good luck.

 

[mlemoine]

My issue seems to be more basic: I simply can’t see any or the “live” photos from my iPhone under “Import” in Photos. I can only see the normal photos and videos. Do you know how to fix this? Thank you

 

[ploth]

My issue seems to be more basic: I simply can’t see any or the “live” photos from my iPhone under “Import” in Photos. I can only see the normal photos and videos. Do you know how to fix this? Thank you

Did you figure this out? I have the same issue.
My Live Photos don't seem to be available to the Mac - and other photos that are not live show up in the photos app under "Live Photos".

Apple has really dropped the ball since they deserted Aperture IMO. I still haven't moved away from Aperture to a 3rd party app (a few large libraries) - Apple Photos app os useless for most thingsI need.