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Forum Discussion
Camera Upload Error on Mac OS High Sierra/ Photos...Could Not Be Imported
Since April 10, I've been spending a LOT of time trying to upload photos and videos from my iPhone 7 [iOS 11.3 (15E216)] to my Mac [macOS High Sierra (Version 10.14.4)]. It used to do that no problem, but no more.
Sometimes I get only an error message, while other times, I get a message that makes me hopeful -- "Finding photos / Thus could take a while..." But it is followed up by another error message.
I've tried everything I can think of, including disabling then enabling imports, installing the newest version, etc. -- but I still get nothing but error messages. The two most common are:
1. "Camera upload error / Failed to import 210 of 210 photos."
2. "210 photos or videos from 2018.Phone.7 couldn't be imported. 0 photos and videos were imported."
Please help. Thank you!
I got a solution that worked for me from Dropbox Support. Thought I'd share it here for those who might benefit:
The application "Image Capture" which apparently comes with Macs -- who knew? -- can act as a "middleman" in the process to transfer images to Dropbox.
- Go to the Spotlight Search (top righthand side of your computer) and type "image capture".
- When it comes up, select your phone from the interface on the lefthand side of the app.
- The images from your phone will pop up in the main window of the app. Select those which have not been imported.
- (You might want to click the box that says "delete after import" or "Keep originals" at the lower left of the app.)
- Select Other -> Dropbox -> Camera Uplpads in the "Import To" dropdown.
- Click on the "Import" or "Import All" button and it will import.
Most of these steps don't have to be repeated on subsequent uses.
As I mentioned, I'm not thrilled with this "workaround," but I suppose it will do until Dropbox engineers get around to fixing what is obvious problems.
- Go to the Spotlight Search (top righthand side of your computer) and type "image capture".
I might have a fix (or at least a better workaround than using the "Image Capture", since that doesn't use the same naming format as Dropbox and you might end up with duplicates once importing works again - at least I get file like "IMG_9365.JPG" instead of "yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.jpg").
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos. At the very bottom, toggle "Transfer to Mac Or PC" from "Automatic" to "Keep Originals". After doing this, I reconnected my iPhone and importing worked.
Note: This might transfer your current photos as HEIC files instead of JPEGs. I'm not a big fan of this HEIC format, but eh, at least I have importing now. If storing HEICs make you sad, I believe you can go to Settings > Camera > Formats and toggle it over to "Most Compatible", so future photos will be in JPEG.
My environment is as follows:
MacBook Pro, OS X 10.13.4
iPhone 8, iOS 11.3.1
Dropbox app on OS X: Stable Build 49.4.68
- - - Most people can stop reading here - - -
- Additional notes while debugging:
I noticed that while importing fails when the setting is set to "Automatic", certain photos do get imported. These consisted of iPhone screenshots and some low-res close-ups of stuff. - I found https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Syncing-and-uploads/Since-iOS-11-upgrade-camera-uploads-stopped-working/td-p/242509, which led me to suspect HEIC or image formats being the problem (again), especially in light of (1).
- I was able to confirm that if I took a photo, switched the setting back to "Automatic", then reconnected my phone, the import process would fail with the error message.
- Additional notes while debugging:
I got a solution that worked for me from Dropbox Support. Thought I'd share it here for those who might benefit:
The application "Image Capture" which apparently comes with Macs -- who knew? -- can act as a "middleman" in the process to transfer images to Dropbox.
- Go to the Spotlight Search (top righthand side of your computer) and type "image capture".
- When it comes up, select your phone from the interface on the lefthand side of the app.
- The images from your phone will pop up in the main window of the app. Select those which have not been imported.
- (You might want to click the box that says "delete after import" or "Keep originals" at the lower left of the app.)
- Select Other -> Dropbox -> Camera Uplpads in the "Import To" dropdown.
- Click on the "Import" or "Import All" button and it will import.
Most of these steps don't have to be repeated on subsequent uses.
As I mentioned, I'm not thrilled with this "workaround," but I suppose it will do until Dropbox engineers get around to fixing what is obvious problems.
- Go to the Spotlight Search (top righthand side of your computer) and type "image capture".
I am also still having this problem since my original post to this thread. I'm now curring using dropbox version v48.4.58. I opened a ticket with Support as requested previously but they have not provided any resolution.
- Sanchez
Dropbox Staff
Thank you for your response, Sanchez.
We can't think of anything that happened on 4/10 which might have anything to do with our connection or my computer, or even the phone, which is not where I use Dropbox. I did get updates to Clean Text Menu, Evernote, and iMovie on that date, though. I can't imagine they would be a problem. Could they?
Phone and iPad both using iOS 11.4.
Computer, which is where I use Dropbox, is using macOS High Sierra version 10.13.4, which is, according to my App Store, the most recent one available to me.
- Sanchez
I am experiencing exactly the same problem as Michelle A.8. On a MacBook Pro, I am running OS 10.13.4, Mac Dropbox v47.4.74; on an iPhone X, I am running iOS 11.3, Dropbox 92.2 (updated 2 days ago from 90.2 -- I have experienced the failure to download on both). I am not running any beta software.
After not having had any problem for years, my photos stopped uploading around the same time as Michelle A.8. I have also tried the same remedies as Michelle A.8, including unchecking and re-checking the "Enable camera uploads for Photos and videos" box, reinstalling the software, etc.
Please let us know what to do to fix this, as I value having my photos uploaded to Dropbox.
Thanks.
I have the same issue as Michelle and Max. I am running Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.4 and an iPhone 8 running 11.3. I had not syched for roughly 4 months but when I attempted to synch and backup my photos on 4/15/2018, I received the message stating that 550 photos could not be synched. Oddly, I was able to synch all of my phone screenshot .png files but other files (such as 'Live' photos and .mov files) would not synch.
Previously, unchecking/rechecking the "Enable camera uploads for Photos and videos" feature would work. This action does not remedy this issue.
Exactly the same issue here as well.
I have the exact same problem as the original poster. Is there a solution for it yet?
- Jane
