How to Import Photos into Apple Photos on Mac (Complete Guide)

Learn how to import photos into Apple Photos on Mac using iCloud, iPhone, external drives, cameras, email, and more in this complete Apple Photos importing tutorial. This is Video 2 of my 12-part Apple Photos on Mac training series, where I walk you step-by-step through importing, organizing, editing, managing, sharing, and mastering your photo library. In this video, you’ll learn every major way to import photos and videos into Apple Photos on Mac, including iCloud Photos, iPhone syncing, flash drives, external hard drives, drag and drop importing, email attachments, text messages, digital cameras, memory cards, CDs, DVDs, and even older camcorders. If you’re just getting started with Apple Photos or trying to move your entire photo collection into one organized library, this tutorial shows you the best importing workflows for Apple Photos on Mac, whether your photos come from modern devices like iPhone or from older media and archives. 📸 Start the series here (Video 1 – Apple Photos Interface Overview):    • Apple Photos on Mac Explained: Complete In...   In this video you’ll learn: • How to import photos into Apple Photos using iCloud Photos • How to verify your Apple Account and iCloud settings • How to import photos from an iPhone or iPad • How to import photos from a flash drive or external hard drive • How to drag and drop photos directly into Apple Photos • How to import photos using the File → Import menu • How Apple Photos detects and handles duplicate images • How to import multiple folders of photos at once • How to import photos from text messages and Apple Mail • How to import photos from email attachments and iCloud links • How to save images from the internet into Apple Photos • How to import photos from DSLR or mirrorless cameras • How to import photos using Image Capture on Mac • How to import photos from CDs, DVDs, and older media • How to convert VHS, camcorder, or DVD footage into Apple Photos • How to merge another Apple Photos library into your current library Whether your photos come from your iPhone, camera, external drive, or older media, Apple Photos gives you multiple ways to import and organize everything into one library. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:18 Apple Photos Setup (Mac, iPad, iPhone) 05:15 Import Photos Using iCloud 08:26 Verify Your Apple Account for iCloud 13:25 Accessing Photos on iCloud.com 16:40 Import from Flash Drive or External Drive 19:05 Drag and Drop Photos into Apple Photos 23:56 Import Photos from the File Menu 28:39 Avoiding Duplicate Photos During Import 30:15 Safely Eject External Drives 32:09 My Personal Photo Workflow 33:15 Import Multiple Folders into Apple Photos 38:15 Import Photos from Text Messages 41:36 Import Photos from Apple Mail 45:17 Import Photos from Email in Web Browser 46:25 Import Photos from iCloud Links 52:38 Import Photos from the Internet 53:22 Downloading Free Images Safely 56:54 Import from DSLR or Mirrorless Camera 58:44 Bonus Tip: Select Multiple Photos Quickly 01:01:37 Import Photos by Connecting iPhone 01:04:06 Import Photos Using Image Capture 01:06:30 Scan Documents from iPhone to Mac 01:10:02 Import Photos from CD or DVD 01:15:49 Import Old Videos (DVD, Camcorder, VHS) 01:23:56 Import and Merge Apple Photos Libraries 📱 Devices & Software Used • iPhone 16 Pro running iOS 26 • macOS 26 Tahoe (Details may vary slightly by video.) 🌟 All My Links, One Place Courses, gear, social links, and extras: 👉 https://beacons.ai/learnwithjoel 💬 Got a Question or Video Idea? Join the Learn with Joel Community and let’s keep learning together: 👉    / learnwithjoel   🛒 My Favorite Tech Gear Amazon Tech Favorites: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/joelfeld (As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases — this supports the channel at no extra cost to you.) 🌐 Stay Connected Website: https://joelfeld.com #learnwithjoel #appletutorials #appletips #ios #macos #techmadeeasy