Notes stopped adding photos from iPhone

[rmathewson]

I often use Mac Notes for capturing notes and screenshots from webinars. The "Insert from iPhone" feature allows for easy 1-step screenshot capture. However, the option no longer exists in the Photos menu in the app. The feature literally stopped working as I was midway through a webinar.

I've tried a full machine restart without any luck.

 

[Rod]

Well, I'm a long way ahead of you on macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iOS 18.1 but for some time, (I can't remember how long) adding photos/videos to Notes on the iPhone has been via the little paper clip icon in Notes as per below.


I can't explain why it would suddenly change "mid stream" so to speak unless you have Automatic Updates enabled and the iPhone actually updated during the webinar.

But the above only applies to the iPhone. On my MBP the menu still looks the same as your example and works as you described it used to with the addition of the option to take a photo on iPhone/iPad.

 

[Rod]

Just to follow on from the above it may be that Apple now assumes everyone is using iCloud Photo Library meaning photos taken on any device are available to all devices in Photos. Indeed the screen shot on my iPhone I attached was copied from the Photos app on my MBP.

 

[IWT]

it may be that Apple now assumes everyone is using iCloud Photo Library meaning photos taken on any device are available to all devices in Photos.

I think there's a lot of truth in that, Rod. Apple is pushing this hard and in doing so, may be limiting other previous options to some extent??

Ian

 

[rmathewson]

I might go with the "Apple is pushing people to iCloud" story if not for the fact that "Take a Photo" is still visible as an option on the menu. It's just not clickable.

 

[Rod]

I might go with the "Apple is pushing people to iCloud" story if not for the fact that "Take a Photo" is still visible as an option on the menu. It's just not clickable.

My guess is the "Take a Photo" option is greyed out because the computer cannot identify a phone to take the photo with. You will see on my screenshot Take a Photo is under the heading Rod's iPhone 13 pro Max and Rod's iPad #1 both of which are devices using the same iCloud Photo Library so are able to share to the MacBook.

You might also take into account that Big Sur is 5 years old now and back then we had iCloud Photo Sharing, now defunct. I'm not sure what iOS version you have on your iPhone but it may no longer be syncing to your computer.

 

[Jimmysb]

Having looked at notes, and the 'top' menu, it seems to indicate iPhone or iPad:

 

[MacBiter]

You might also take into account that Big Sur is 5 years old now and back then we had iCloud Photo Sharing, now defunct. I'm not sure what iOS version you have on your iPhone but it may no longer be syncing to your computer.

sorry to be pedantic but it's 4 years old not 5.

 

[Rod]

Sorry you're right of course, getting ahead of myself.

 

[rmathewson]

My guess is the "Take a Photo" option is greyed out because the computer cannot identify a phone to take the photo with. You will see on my screenshot Take a Photo is under the heading Rod's iPhone 13 pro Max and Rod's iPad #1 both of which are devices using the same iCloud Photo Library so are able to share to the MacBook.

You might also take into account that Big Sur is 5 years old now and back then we had iCloud Photo Sharing, now defunct. I'm not sure what iOS version you have on your iPhone but it may no longer be syncing to your computer.

Hmm, yes, that makes sense. The timing of my experience led me to think that something was broken, but that was just dumb luck. Bad luck, as it turns out.