[Solved] Photos Stuck on Preparing to Import from iPhone in 2024

When you get a new iPhone, the most important data that you want to transfer is your precious photos. However, it can happen that the iPhone gets stuck on “Preparing to Import” when transferring photos.

However, you don’t need to worry too much as you will learn how to deal with this in this article. We will look at the common causes of photos stuck on preparing to import from iPhone and solutions to this issue.

Part 1: Why is iPhone Stuck on Preparing to Import?

If your device gets stuck on “Preparing to Import from iPhone," it can be attributed to several underlying causes.

• Incompatible file sizes and formats: If you're attempting to import large files or files in unsupported formats, the iPhone may struggle to process them, resulting in the "Preparing to Import" issue.
• Insufficient storage space: When importing media, your device needs temporary storage space to handle the files. If your phone's storage is nearly full, it can impede the import process and lead to a hang-up.
• Poor Internect connection: When the Internect connection is unstable, your device can also get stuck on Preparing to Import.
• System glitchs or bugs: These issues can disrupt the import process, causing it to stall at the preparation stage. Similarly, the outdated system on your iPhone or computer can lead to compatibility problems, resulting in importing or transferring issues.
• Issues with third-party tools: Some thrid-party softwares might have their own bugs or compatibility issues that can cause the import process to freeze.

Part 2: Solutions to Photos Stuck on Preparing to Import from iPhone

Following are some simple solutions to the issue of photos being stuck when importing from an iPhone. They should solve your problem.

Restart your phone

The most common way to solve issues of photos stuck on "Preparing to Import from an iPhone” is to restart your phone. To achieve this, all you have to do is select the Apple menu and click on Restart. However, different iPhone versions have different methods to restart them. Here are the various ways to restart the different versions of the iPhone.

• iPhone 5 and earlier:
  1. Press the button at the top of your iPhone. Hold it down until the slider button appears.
  2. Drag the slider button and wait for 30 seconds. The device automatically turns off after this.
  3. Again, press and hold the top button of your iPhone. An Apple logo appears on the screen, which means you have successfully restarted your iPhone.

  

• iPhone 6, 7 or 8:
  1. Press and hold down the side button of your iPhone until a power-off slider appears.
  2. Drag the slider button and wait for about 30 seconds to see your phone power off.
  3. After your device goes off, press and hold the side button again until it’s turned on.

  

• iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14:
  1. Press and hold down the power button and the volume button together until the power off slider button shows.
  2. Drag the power off slider and wait for about 30 seconds to switch it off.
  3. Afterwards, switch it on again.

  

Update the iOS of your iPhone device and Mac to the latest version

Because of incompatibility problems, 'preparing to import from iPhone photos' can occur if your device iOS is outdated. Hence, you need the latest version of iOS/MacOS to tackle this issue. Here are the steps to update the iOS/MacOS version of your device.

• Open Settings.
• Tap on General and navigate to Software Update.
• Select Download and Install. Ensure that your phone is well-charged for this step.

If the process of "importing photos from iPhone to Mac" is stuck in the "preparing" stage, then it seems like you might need to update your Mac system as well. “Photos not importing from iPhone to Mac” is a sign to update your MacOS system. Here's how to solve the issue on your Mac.

• Navigate to the Apple menu at the corner of your Mac screen and choose System Preferences.

• Go to Software Update and click on Update Now to get your update process running.

Check the media from which you are sending photos

You can check the source of the media to see if it’s the issue of the data transferring tool. If you're using third-party apps to import media, they may have their own bugs or compatibility issues that can cause the import process to stall. Therefore, check the third-party app thoroughly and confirm the issue is not from their side. If it’s the third-party app’s problem, then you can use another app.

If the size of the photos you are sending is too large, or your phone has insufficient capacity storage, then your photos probably won’t import from the iPhone. To solve this problem, you might need to delete unnecessary photos, apps, music, and other data on your phone. This will help you get more space for the new incoming photos.

Part 3: Easy Photo Transfer from iPhone to Another Device

Wondershare MobileTrans is an efficient tool to transfer your photos and media from your iPhone to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or PC. It can help you avoid the common issue of being stuck on "Preparing to Import" or facing problems like photos not being imported from your iPhone to your Mac. It’s a user-friendly solution you need to manage your media files across different devices or platforms.

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Here are the straightforward steps to export your photos and media to your computer using MobileTrans:

Step 1: First, download and install the MobileTrans software on your computer.

Step 2: Use a USB or lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your computer. MobileTrans will detect your device automatically.

Step 3: In the MobileTrans main menu, select the Phone Backup & Restore option. This allows you to transfer data from your iPhone to your computer.

Step 4: Choose Photos or other types of data you want to transfer.

Step 5: Click the Start button to begin the transfer process. MobileTrans will start the transfer of your selected photos or media from your iPhone to your computer.

With MobileTrans, you can easily avoid the "Stuck on Preparing to Import" problem and ensure a smooth transfer of your precious photos and media from your iPhone to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or PC.

Final Verdict

In summary, when your iPhone is stuck on "Preparing to Import" while transferring photos, you can resolve this issue with easy solutions. First, identify the issue and then follow the steps mentioned above for every reason, and you can start transferring your photos smoothly.

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