Mac storage basics · iPhone and iPad backups and updates
How do I move photos from my iPhone to my Mac and delete them from the phone?
Short answer: Without iCloud Photos, connect the phone and import with Photos or Image Capture, ticking the option to delete after import. With iCloud Photos on, don't — deletions sync everywhere.
If iCloud Photos is on, don't do this — your library syncs, and deleting on the phone deletes everywhere. Use Optimise Storage on the phone instead.
Without iCloud Photos, connect the iPhone with a cable and either:
- Open Photos, select the phone in the sidebar, import, and tick Delete items after import; or
- Open Image Capture, choose where to save (an external drive works), and turn on the option to delete after import.
Check the photos arrived before relying on the deletion. Importing straight to an external drive is covered in importing iPhone photos to an external drive.