Transfer photos from iphone to NAS connected to Mac

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Level 1

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Transfer photos from iphone to NAS connected to Mac

I just hooked up a NAS on my home network and can access it in Finder on my Macbook Pro 2021 (OS Sequoia). Connecting my iphone 14 to the Macbook thinking I could easily transfer all my photos to the NAS and free up some space on the iphone. I find no other way than to import all 5000+ photos to the Photos app unfortunately. Then when "selecting all" in the Photos app and dragging them to my NAS folder, Photos cannot manage it and freezes repeatedly. Is there a secret way to point out my NAS folder in Photos and importing my photos directly there? if not possible, please explain how to get my photo files to where I want them! Ideally I would just like to see my iphone as a disk in Finder when connecting it to the Macbook and then drag/drop whatever files I like to whatever folder I like, without using the Photos app at all, is that possible?

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Oct 1, 2025 2:51 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

216,692 points

Oct 1, 2025 3:05 PM in response to HenryLLL

Instead Photos, use the Image Capture app. It should let you access the iPhone, and directly point it to wherever you want to save the photos including your NAS.

From the Import to dropdown, select "Other" and then navigate to a location on your NAS.

Once the location is set, you can select photos and videos, and then click on Download to Download All.

click here ➜ Image Capture User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,834 points

Oct 1, 2025 2:56 PM in response to HenryLLL

Use Image Capture (in the Applications Folder) to get the images from your phone to where you prefer.

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Answer 3

HenryLLL Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 3, 2025 7:23 AM in response to Phil0124

Just tried Image Capture now with a new drive. Transfered 5000+ files with no problems whatsoever, everything worked like a charm. Super easy to use, understand and point out file locations etc, I will never use the Photos app again. Thanks for the help! :)

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Answer 4

HenryLLL Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2025 11:48 PM in response to Phil0124

Thanks a lot! found "image capture", pre-installed it seems.. Will try it tonight! How come this the world's best kept secret? Every thread I've found on the matter when googling just talks about the Photo app :)

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Answer 5

Phil0124

Level 10

216,692 points

Oct 2, 2025 6:33 AM in response to HenryLLL

HenryLLL wrote:

Thanks a lot! found "image capture", pre-installed it seems.. Will try it tonight! How come this the world's best kept secret? Every thread I've found on the matter when googling just talks about the Photo app :)

Yes, Image Capture has been pre-installed on Macs for literally decades. Since the advent of OSx in the very early 2000's.

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Answer 6

Phil0124

Level 10

216,692 points

Oct 3, 2025 7:56 AM in response to HenryLLL

You're welcome. Glad it worked out.

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