How to download images from Messenger on my Mac

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Today I was asking, “Where do my photos get saved when I download them from the Messenger app on my Mac?

They aren’t going to my Downloads or Desktop folders, and they aren’t in the Photos App. As far as I can tell, they aren’t downloading successfully when I click the Download icon next to the images.

Screenshot of my Messages app conversation. Someone sent me 11 photos. I click the download icon (down arrow with a square around it icon), and as far as I can tell, no images are successfully downloaded.
Screenshot of my Messages app conversation. Someone sent me 11 photos. I click the download icon (down arrow with a square around it icon), and as far as I can tell, no images are successfully downloaded.

So, this is how I successfully download and save images sent to me via Messenger on my Mac. For a gallery of images sent, first, click the blue icon and # of Photos text link.

I successfully download and save images sent to me via Messenger on my Mac by first clicking the blue icon and # of Photos text link.

This click will open a new view where your gallery image thumbnails are visible.

Gallery image view in Messenger on Mac.
Gallery image view in Messenger on Mac.

From this view, you can drag your mouse and select each image or select images one by one. Hint: hold Shift to add to your selection. You’ll know you’ve selected an image because its border will change to blue. Once blue, you can drag the image or images to any folder you want. You can also drag the image to your Desktop.

Blue outline indicates selecting images on Messenger for Mac.
The blue outline indicates selecting images on Messenger for Mac.

Your saved files may or may not be in the Apple HEIC format; this depends on the preferences you have set. If you have questions about the HEIC format, like how to convert it to another image format, check out our article, where we share tips and background about the HEIC compressed image format.

Saved images from dragging and dropping from Messenger on my Mac.
Saved images from dragging and dropping from Messenger on my Mac.

For more photo import tips on your Mac, check out, “How to import photos to iPhotos (Mac Photos App) from your iPhone.”

Happy Designing!

About the author

Kelly Barkhurst

Designer to Fullstack is my place to geek out and share tech solutions from my day-to-day as a graphic designer, programmer, and business owner (portfolio). I also write on Arts and Bricks, a parenting blog and decal shop that embraces my family’s love of Art and LEGO bricks!

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