How to Import Photos from iPhone to PC

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Want to move your iPhone photos to a PC to free up space or back them up? Whether you’re using Windows or Mac, there are a few easy ways to transfer your images—cable or no cable. This guide covers all the best methods to import photos from your iPhone to your computer quickly and painlessly.

Prepare Your iPhone First

Before you start transferring anything:

  • Unlock your iPhone and keep it awake during the process.
  • Trust your computer if prompted (“Trust This Computer” will pop up the first time you connect).
  • Make sure you’re using a working Lightning cable—some cheap ones don’t support data transfer.

1. Use the Windows Photos App

If you’re on Windows 10 or 11, this is the simplest method:

  1. Connect your iPhone via USB.
  2. Open the Photos app (search for “Photos” in the Start menu).
  3. Click Import > From a USB device.
  4. Select the photos you want to import or choose Select All.
  5. Click Import and wait for the process to finish.

Imported photos usually land in the Pictures folder under a new album with the import date.

2. Transfer via File Explorer (Manual Copy)

If you want to drag and drop photos manually:

  1. Plug your iPhone into your PC with a USB cable.
  2. Open File Explorer > Select This PC > Choose your iPhone under Devices and Drives.
  3. Open the DCIM folder—this is where all your photos and videos are stored.
  4. Select the files you want and copy/paste or drag them to a folder on your PC.

Tip: Photos may be inside multiple subfolders like 100APPLE, 101APPLE, etc.

3. Use iCloud Photos on Windows

If you want wireless sync and access across devices:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos, then turn on iCloud Photos.
  2. Download iCloud for Windows from Apple’s site.
  3. Open iCloud on your PC and sign in with your Apple ID.
  4. Check Photos and click Options to enable iCloud Photo Library and Download new photos to my PC.
  5. Click Apply and wait for your photos to sync automatically.

Your photos will be stored in the iCloud Photos folder on your PC.

4. Transfer Photos to a Mac (Without iTunes)

Got a Mac? Here’s how to import photos without iTunes:

  1. Connect your iPhone via USB.
  2. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
  3. You should see an import screen—if not, click your iPhone name under Devices.
  4. Select photos to import or click Import All New Photos.

You’ll find the imported photos in the Photos library.

5. Use AirDrop (Mac Only)

If you’re on macOS and don’t want to plug anything in:

  1. Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices.
  2. On iPhone, open Photos, select what you want to send, then tap Share > AirDrop.
  3. Select your Mac from the list.

The files will show up in your Downloads folder on the Mac.

6. Try Cloud Services Like Google Photos or Dropbox

For a cable-free backup that works on any platform:

  • Install Google Photos or Dropbox on both your iPhone and PC.
  • Enable photo backup in the app settings.
  • Log into the same account on your PC and download your pictures from there.

Note: Deleting photos from synced folders may delete them from all devices.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your iPhone isn’t showing up on your PC:

  • Unlock your iPhone and check for a “Trust This Computer” prompt.
  • Restart both your iPhone and computer.
  • Use an Apple-certified Lightning cable.
  • Update iTunes and make sure your computer OS is up to date.

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