How to Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive on Mac

Why Need to Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive?

It’s essential to know how to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive using Mac. But why need to transfer your iPhone photos to an external hard drive? Because photos are often large files that can quickly take up storage space on your iPhone. An external hard drive typically offers more storage capacity than the storage space on your iPhone.

Besides, external hard drives have excellent read and write speeds, making data transfer smooth and efficient. Consequently, many users choose external hard drives as their first choice for copying photos to a secure external storage solution.

How to Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive Using Mac

Although iTunes or iCloud are official ways to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive via Mac, many users have found that it is slow and complicated to transfer photos. So, this blog will show you two useful methods to accomplish this task. Let’s check it!

Method 1. Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive via Image Capture

Image Capture is a versatile program on Mac, which makes it easy to capture and transfer photos from iOS devices and other camera-equipped gadgets. With this tool, it’s easy to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive. Here is a full guide to do that:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone and external hard drive to your Mac > Launch the Image Capture app on your Mac > Locate your iPhone in the Devices section and select it.

Step 2: In the Import To pop-up menu, specify your external hard drive as the destination to save the photos > Select specific photos and click Import to begin the transfer, or choose Import All to transfer all items.

Method 2. Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive with Photos App

For Mac users using OS X 10.10.3 or later, the Photos app can also transfer photos from your iPhone to your Mac via USB cable. It also extends its functionality to transfer photos from your iPhone to an external hard drive connected to your Mac.

So, how to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive with Mac? Follow the steps:

Step 1: Connect both your iPhone and the external hard drive to your Mac > Launch the Photos app on your Mac > Navigate to the Devices section to select your iOS device.

Step 2: Click the Import to option to specify the external hard drive as the destination for the imported photos > Manually select the desired photos to transfer and click Import [number] Selected or click Import All New Photos to transfer all photos.

Bonus Tip: Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive on PC

If you also have a Windows PC at hand, the easiest way to move your iPhone photos to an external hard drive is to use FoneTool – a free and safe backup and transfer tool. With this tool, you cannot only transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive free but also transfer your data (including photos, videos, music, and more) from one iPhone to another iPhone with one click.

Benefits of Using FoneTool to Transfer iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive:
Selective Transfer: With FoneTool, you can choose to transfer entire albums or selectively transfer the desired photos.
No Data Loss: With the help of FoneTool, you can send your photos from iPhone without losing quality to the external hard drive during the transfer process.
Compatible with Various File Formats: FoneTool supports a wide range of image file formats to ensure efficient transfer and preservation of all your photos.
Backup and Restore: FoneTool allows you to backup and restore your iPhone to an external hard drive, ensuring data redundancy and peace of mind.

So, how to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive using PC? Now click the download button to install FoneTool on your PC and then follow the instructions below to transfer your iPhone photos.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the PC using a USB cable > Plug in your external hard drive on the PC > Run FoneTool.

Step 2: Choose Phone Transfer in the main interface > Select the iPhone to PC mode > Click Start Transfer to initiate the process.

Step 3: Preview and select desired photos by clicking the Plus icon > Once selected, click OK to confirm the selection.

Step 4: Specify the destination folder on your external hard drive by going to Transfer Settings > Click Start Transfer to initiate the transfer process.

★Tip:

 If your iPhone photos are in HEIC format, FoneTool includes a built-in HEIC converter, which allows you to convert photos to more widely compatible formats like JPG, JPEG, or PNG, ensuring easy accessibility across various devices and platforms.

The Bottom Line

Learn about these effective ways to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive using Mac or PC. Whether you prefer to use a Mac or PC, all these methods also work for transferring photos from your iPhone to an external hard drive.

However, if you look for an easy and fast way to transfer iPhone photos to external hard drive, FoneTool is the top choice for you. With the help of FoneTool, you cannot only move your photos to the external hard drive but also scan and delete duplicate photos on your iPhone or PC. Try it out!