Is anyone else having problems importing photos in Tahoe 26.1 or 26.2?

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Level 1

13 points

Is anyone else having problems importing photos in Tahoe 26.1 or 26.2?

Photos import in Tahoe is broken -- brand new iMac (M4 chip), running Tahoe 26.2, and the Photos app cannot import new photos from an iPhone or import photos sent via AirDrop.

When I try to run an import from the iPhone, the only thing that happens is that a series of icons at the top of the window jutter back and forth for a few seconds, and then stop. (see attached image capture of those buttons) The latest tech I spoke with says this is a known issue for multiple users and that we will have to wait for a Tahoe update before we can import photos again.

I would love to know what got broken, as I've never had problems importing photos while running Ventura or Sequoia on older machines.

(While incredibly frustrated, I also feel like I ought to light a candle for the techs who will be fielding questions about this throughout the holidays...)

iMac (M4, 2024)

Posted on Dec 18, 2025 7:03 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 19, 2025 7:46 AM in response to RhetRx

AirDrop is working OK for me-- macOS26.2 on M3 PowerBook and iOS26.2 on iPhone16. Also iPadOS26.1 M4 iPad.

A change is that the AirDropped picture comes in from Photos with the original modified date rather than today's date, which makes it hard to find in Downloads. (I does arrive selected.) I would prefer original creation date and today's modify date, as before. Weird.

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Answer 2

RhetRx Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 19, 2025 8:10 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I can perform the AirDrop part....what doesn't work is then bringing the image into Photos. I can easily open the image in Acorn, so there's nothing wrong with the file. It's Photos that isn't cooperating with any of the import options.

Glad your system is working, though!

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Answer 3

Dec 19, 2025 8:20 AM in response to RhetRx

Ah, well, I misunderstood. But, indeed, I can import an AirDropped picture into Photos.

If you haven't, you should try these things:

Restart the computer (of course)
Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.
Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it. This is a bit harder, because a new user can't access a different user's stuff. You would need to temporarily move your Library out of your own user's Pictuers folder up to the general "Users" folder.

The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.

Let us know what happens…

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Answer 4

RhetRx Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 19, 2025 2:18 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thank you for your suggestions. While on the phone with Apple, we explored starting the machine in Safe Mode, and ensured that no login items were interfering. It was at that point that they told me I was experiencing a known System issue, not something with my brand new account, that needed to be repaired by an upcoming Tahoe update.

I will try opening a different Library to see if that makes a difference, although now I am on to the mystery of why Music isn't recognizing the Library that I backed up from the older machine. (I'm noticing a trend here...)

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