AirDrop works between nearby Macs. For a Mac on another network, or a big batch you want to download later, a link is easier. Photos are also where quality quietly gets lost: chat apps shrink them and email caps how many fit in one message.
Transfer photos from Mac to Mac
Pick the photos on your Mac, download them on your Mac. No cable, no app, original quality.
Keep for
Clipboard
Press ⌘V / Ctrl+V anywhereClips are visible to devices on your Wi-Fi for 30 minutes. Avoid sending passwords.
On your network
liveLooking for files…
The quick way, with fdrop
- 1
Open fdrop.cc on the Mac
Open fdrop.cc in Safari or Chrome and drag photos straight out of the Photos app onto the page.
- 2
Open fdrop.cc on the Mac
On the same Wi-Fi, the photos appear under “On your network” automatically. Anywhere else, send yourself the link fdrop gives you.
- 3
Download
Downloads go to your Downloads folder. Drag them into the Photos app to add them to your library.
Other ways, and their catch
AirDrop
Right-click the photos on the Mac, choose Share → AirDrop and pick the Mac.
Good: Fast and full quality, built in. Catch: Apple devices only, both need to be close by, and the Mac must accept AirDrop from you (Contacts Only or Everyone).
Shared network folder
Turn on File Sharing on one Mac, then open it from Finder → Network on the other.
Good: Good for moving lots of files regularly. Catch: Both on the same network, plus passwords and firewall settings that are easy to get wrong.
USB drive
Copy onto a USB stick or external drive and plug it into the other computer.
Good: No network needed. Catch: You need a drive at hand, and older FAT32 drives can’t hold files over 4 GB.
iCloud Photos
Turn on iCloud Photos on the Mac, wait for it to upload, then turn it on with the same Apple ID on the Mac.
Good: Automatic once it’s set up. Catch: Only 5 GB free, uploads can take a long time, and you have to sign into your Apple ID on the other device.
Email it to yourself
Attach it (or paste it) in an email to yourself and open the email on the Mac.
Good: Works on every device. Catch: Gmail attachments stop at 25 MB and Outlook.com at 20 MB, so most videos won’t fit.
Good to know
- Select several photos at once: each becomes its own download, and nothing is resized.
Questions
How do I transfer photos from Mac to Mac without a cable?
Open fdrop.cc on both devices, pick the photos on the Mac and download them on the Mac. No app or account needed. Of the built-in options, AirDrop is the closest, with the trade-offs listed above.
Will the photos lose quality?
No. fdrop doesn’t compress, resize or re-encode anything. The receiver gets the same file you uploaded.
Do the Mac and Mac need to be on the same Wi-Fi?
Only for the automatic “On your network” list. If the Mac is somewhere else or on mobile data, copy the link fdrop gives you and open it there.
Why not just use AirDrop?
Use it when it works. fdrop helps when the Mac isn’t nearby, is signed into a different Apple ID, or isn’t showing up, and it gives you a link you can open anywhere.
How long do the files stay online?
2 hours by default. Pick 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days or 30 days before uploading, or delete them yourself at any time from the device you uploaded on.