---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-move-iphone-photos-to-my-mac-and-off-the-phone
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-move-iphone-photos-to-my-mac-and-off-the-phone
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "iPhone and iPad backups and updates"
question: "How do I move photos from my iPhone to my Mac and delete them from the phone?"
alt_questions:
  - "image capture delete after import"
  - "transfer iphone photos to mac and remove"
  - "free iphone storage using mac"
  - "import photos then delete iphone"
  - "photos import delete items after import"
  - "offload iphone pictures to mac"
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."
tags: ["iphone", "photos", "import"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-import-iphone-photos-straight-to-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-is-the-photos-library-stored-on-a-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I move photos from my iPhone to my Mac and delete them from the phone?

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-import-iphone-photos-straight-to-an-external-drive).