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Need help with PicFrom? Message us on Telegram at @PicFromSupportBot or email support@picfrom.com. We usually reply within a day or two.

System requirements

• A Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later).
• macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
• If your photos are in iCloud, you're signed in to iCloud on this Mac and iCloud Photos is turned on.
• Free space on the drive where the archive will be saved.
• To copy photos straight from an iPhone: the free PicFrom app on an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, on the same Wi‑Fi as the Mac.

Installing and first run

1. Download PicFrom and open the DMG.
2. Drag PicFrom to the Applications folder and open it from there.
3. On the welcome screen, click Get Started.
4. Click Save Photos. The first time, choose a folder or an external drive for your archives. PicFrom creates a folder named iCloud on this Mac inside it.
5. PicFrom asks for access to your photos: click Continue, and when macOS asks, allow full access. Saving then starts on its own.

Common questions

Will my photos disappear from iCloud? No. PicFrom makes a copy, and your photos stay in iCloud and on your iPhone. If you later want to free up space in iCloud, delete them yourself in Photos, but check the archive on your drive first. Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days, and after that you can't get them back.

The Photos access window didn't appear. It shows up after you click Save Photos and then Continue. If you denied access earlier, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos, turn on PicFrom and go back to the app.

Copying stopped. Click Save Photos again. Files that are already copied aren't downloaded a second time, and PicFrom continues from the same spot.

There isn't enough space. Choose a bigger drive. Or accept PicFrom's offer to save as many of the newest photos as will fit, and copy the rest once you've made room.

Some files didn't download from iCloud. Check your internet connection and click Save Photos again. PicFrom only tries to download what isn't on the drive yet.

Copying photos from an iPhone

Photos that aren't in iCloud can come straight from an iPhone over Wi‑Fi. On the Mac, click Transfer from Phone and follow the steps on the screen. Step-by-step instructions are on the iPhone app page.

The iPhone can't find the Mac. Check that both are on the same Wi‑Fi: mobile data won't work, and guest networks often keep devices apart. Make sure Local Network is turned on for PicFrom on both: on the iPhone in Settings → PicFrom, on the Mac in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network. If the Mac is saving photos from iCloud, wait until it finishes. Then tap Scan Code Again on the iPhone and scan the code the Mac shows now.