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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 proble...
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:
Jane
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffI 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.
- Jane
I don't see this as a solution, it's a work around, as not everyone wants their photos imported a HEIC files - I certainly don't.
There is still a problem with the setting as 'Automatic' whereby its not importing the PNG files.
Larrie wrote:
I don't see this as a solution, it's a work around, as not everyone wants their photos imported a HEIC files - I certainly don't.
There is still a problem with the setting as 'Automatic' whereby its not importing the PNG files.
I most certainly agree that neither of the so-called "solutions" marked in this thread is actually a solution, and I have voiced that repeatedly, both here and in emails to DropBox and their support.
It is a temporary work-around, and I fully expect Dropbox to fix it so that importing images is as integrated for Mac users as it is for any other users. Or at least as integrated as it was up until April 9, before whatever it is that broke, broke.
Since the problem arose for me, I have looked around, and it is clear to me that there are other options to DropBox, just in case it doesn't get fixed.
Thanks benjuang, perfect! :relieved:
