Photos not syncing from iMac to iPhone

Question

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Photos not syncing from iMac to iPhone

Since almost 2 years I have massive problems syncing my photos from my iMac to my iPhone.

I get an error message that "393 Photos could not be synced and I should look into iTunes for details".

"iTunes"??? That was disbanded how many years ago????

Interesting enough, syncing works perfectly well with my iPad!

I moved from iPhone 14 Pro to 16 Pro a few months ago - problem persists,

I deleted all photos from iPhone, then re-synced - problem persists,

I upgraded to iOS 26.1 - problem persists.

What else can I do?

iMac 24″

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 8:37 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 4, 2025 6:46 AM in response to Gulliver

Does your iPad indicate the same number of pictures and videos as your Mac? as your iPhone?

Some pictures, particularly ones transferred by iTunes (!) aren't fully under the control of Photos. Those pictures can't be edited or deleted, for instance. Could the problem pictures also be un-deleteable?

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,495 points

Nov 16, 2025 2:00 PM in response to Gulliver

Which system version is installed on your Mac?

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Answer 3

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Dec 4, 2025 9:12 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I do NOT use iCloud for several reasons. Only direct sync from Mac to device.

Currently I am in contact with second level support from Apple, spent 2 hours on the phone with them already. No solution so far.

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Answer 4

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Nov 16, 2025 3:43 PM in response to léonie

Hi leonie,

long time no see 😊.

I have most recent version installed on all my devices, iMac, iPhone and iPad - all OS 26.

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Answer 5

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Nov 22, 2025 6:43 AM in response to Gulliver

Bump! Anybody???

Here is a screenshot of the error-message I receive:

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Answer 6

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Dec 4, 2025 6:10 AM in response to léonie

The iMac is running OS 26.1, iPhone is iOS 26.1.

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Answer 7

Gulliver Author

Level 7

25,740 points

Dec 4, 2025 7:49 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

iPad and iMac show same number of photos, iPhone shows 393 photos less.

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Answer 8

Dec 4, 2025 8:42 AM in response to Gulliver

Gulliver wrote:

iPad and iMac show same number of photos, iPhone shows 393 photos less.

at Photos at iCloud.com?

Are the pictures un-deleteable?

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