MacBook photos turn dark when forwarding

Suddenly, Macbook photos turn dark when forwarding. This is first time. I looked at online discussions about accessibility and settings but nothing when tried. ALSO, this does not happen when I use my iPhone. Thanks for any help!

MacBook Air, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 22, 2025 7:42 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 30, 2025 6:58 AM




Tom Perkins1 wrote:


Tom Perkins1 wrote: … I DON'T USE SHARE. I TAP THE SQUARE WITH THE ARROW POINTING UP.

This is called the "Share" icon.

It brings up the "Share" menu. I guess that's what you mean.


Good answers, but they knock out a couple of my ideas. In Settings>Camera, can you see anything, like Styles or Formats that might be odd?


To narrow things down, try these things:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. This Library won't be connected to iCloud. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.


See what happens…

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 30, 2025 6:58 AM in response to Tom Perkins1




Tom Perkins1 wrote:


Tom Perkins1 wrote: … I DON'T USE SHARE. I TAP THE SQUARE WITH THE ARROW POINTING UP.

This is called the "Share" icon.

It brings up the "Share" menu. I guess that's what you mean.


Good answers, but they knock out a couple of my ideas. In Settings>Camera, can you see anything, like Styles or Formats that might be odd?


To narrow things down, try these things:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. This Library won't be connected to iCloud. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.


See what happens…

Nov 29, 2025 6:16 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Tom Perkins1 wrote: … The Photo app on the iPhone is synced to my MacBook.

Do you mean that you use iCloud to synchronize your Photos Library with your Mac and iPhone? Or do you mean that you transferred some pictures to the Mac from the iPhone using a cable?

NO THROUGH CLOUD. NO CABLES

If you use iCloud Photos, do you use Optimize Storage? NO

When I try to send that photo to another person in my Macbook Photo app

Do you mean that you are using the Share routine? That transfers the picture to another app, like Mail or Messages, where that app can send it off somewhere. I think you said the picture darkens no matter which app you use-- is that right?

I DON'T USE SHARE. I TAP THE SQUARE WITH THE ARROW POINTING UP. THEN I DECIDE IF I WANT TO SEND IT AS A MESSAGE OR EMAIL

it automatically turns to that very dark color.

So, if you share using Messages, for instance, where do you see the darkening? In your Messages app? Or in he receiver's texting app? If on yours, does it also appear dark at the receiving end?

IT'S CRAZY, FOR ABOUT A HALF SECOND, WHETHER EMAIL OR MESSAGE IT WILL BE NORMAL/LIGHT, THEN IT TURNS DARK. AND YES, IT APPEARS DARK ON THE RECEIVING END. AGAIN, THIS ONLY HAPPENS WITH MAC AND NOT IPHONE.

When I send a picture from Photos using Messages, I usually go to Photos, select the picture, do ⌘C to copy, and then paste it into the Message. If you do that, does it produce the same result for you? I HAVE NOT DONE THAT. GOOD QUESTION. OK, DID A DUPLICATE AND SENT IT TO MY MAIL ADDRESS. SAME THING. DARK.


I just played with he share button, and that seemed to work fine for me. However, I'm still stuck on macOS18, so that may be the thing. JUST TRIED SHARING. SAME THING.

Using the iPhone directly there is not a problem.

Do you edit the pictures, adjusting brightness, etc? SOMETIMES BUT RARELY.


By the way, sending pictures of children to a public site is usually to be avoided, and I'm surprised the moderators haven't removed them. Cute, though! THANKS! TRIED TO DELETE BUT APPLE SAYS IT IS TOO LATE.

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Reply

Nov 26, 2025 7:47 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

I think one reason no one has been able to help is that you didn't include much information about what's happening. That makes it hard to know what to say. For instance, what do you mean by "forwarding?" Are you getting an email with a picture in it, and you forward the file with the same email onward? Are you removing the pictures and putting it in another email? Or could you mean sharing? But sharing with AidDrop or what?


Where was this picture before you "forwarded" it? Did you take it with your MacAir's camera? Was it in the Photos Library? How did get to you, and how was it stored.


Are you using iCloud Photos? Are you using Optimize Storage? Do you have 10% of your Mac's storage free?


I just don't have any idea how to respond…

Nov 29, 2025 8:06 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

First, I am a techno-impaired senior but I'm getting better.


All the pictures were taken with my iPhone. The Photo app on the iPhone is synced to my MacBook. When I try to send that photo to another person in my Macbook Photo app it automatically turns to that very dark color. Using the iPhone directly there is not a problem. Ditto when printing from my Mac. It's only when I try sending the photo from Macbook that it turns dark. I never had a problem until last week.


These are my images only. They are taken straight from my Photo Library app.

Nov 29, 2025 10:55 AM in response to Tom Perkins1

Tom Perkins1 wrote: … The Photo app on the iPhone is synced to my MacBook.

Do you mean that you use iCloud to synchronize your Photos Library with your Mac and iPhone? Or do you mean that you transferred some pictures to the Mac from the iPhone using a cable?


If you use iCloud Photos, do you use Optimize Storage?

When I try to send that photo to another person in my Macbook Photo app

Do you mean that you are using the Share routine? That transfers the picture to another app, like Mail or Messages, where that app can send it off somewhere. I think you said the picture darkens no matter which app you use-- is that right?

it automatically turns to that very dark color.

So, if you share using Messages, for instance, where do you see the darkening? In your Messages app? Or in he receiver's texting app? If on yours, does it also appear dark at the receiving end?


When I send a picture from Photos using Messages, I usually go to Photos, select the picture, do ⌘C to copy, and then paste it into the Message. If you do that, does it produce the same result for you?


I just played with he share button, and that seemed to work fine for me. However, I'm still stuck on macOS18, so that may be the thing.

Using the iPhone directly there is not a problem.

Do you edit the pictures, adjusting brightness, etc?


By the way, sending pictures of children to a public site is usually to be avoided, and I'm surprised the moderators haven't removed them. Cute, though!

MacBook photos turn dark when forwarding

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