One possible reason why you may not be able to import pictures from your iPhone is if iCloud Photo Library is enabled on your device. iCloud Photo Library is a feature that allows you to store and access your photos and videos across all your Apple devices. However, when you have iCloud Photo Library enabled with the “Optimize Storage” option turned on, it means that the full-resolution versions of your photos are not stored on your iPhone. Instead, only optimized versions, which take up less storage space, are kept locally.
When you connect your iPhone to a computer via USB to import photos, the computer typically accesses the full-resolution versions of the photos stored on the device. However, since iCloud Photo Library with “Optimize Storage” is enabled, these full-resolution versions may not be available on your iPhone. Instead, your device may only have the optimized versions, which are not suitable for importing.
To check if iCloud Photo Library is enabled on your iPhone, go to the Settings app, tap on your name at the top, and then select “iCloud.” From there, tap on “Photos & Camera.” If you see that iCloud Photo Library is turned on, and “Optimize Storage” is also enabled, then this is likely the reason why you cannot import photos using a USB connection.
If you want to import the full-resolution versions of your photos, you have a few options. One option is to disable iCloud Photo Library temporarily. You can do this by going to the same settings mentioned earlier and toggling off iCloud Photo Library. However, keep in mind that doing so will remove any optimized versions of your photos from your iPhone, so you may need to make sure you have enough available storage space to accommodate the full-resolution versions.
Alternatively, you can use other methods to transfer your photos from your iPhone to your computer. For example, you can use AirDrop, which allows you to wirelessly transfer files between Apple devices. Another option is to use cloud storage services like Google Photos or Dropbox to upload your photos to the cloud and then download them onto your computer.
It’s worth noting that the inability to import photos via USB due to iCloud Photo Library with “Optimize Storage” enabled is a limitation specific to the iPhone. On other devices, such as iPads or iPods, where iCloud Photo Library is enabled, you should still be able to import photos using a USB connection as they store the full-resolution versions locally.
If you are unable to import pictures from your iPhone, it may be because iCloud Photo Library is enabled with “Optimize Storage” turned on. In such cases, the full-resolution versions of your photos are not stored on your device, making them inaccessible for USB imports. To import the full-resolution versions, you can temporarily disable iCloud Photo Library or explore alternative methods such as AirDrop or cloud storage services.