How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

Easily download photos from iPhone to PC or Mac, plus hidden ways to transfer photos that Microsoft will never tell you!

By Cullen Thomas Updated 12/01/2022

How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

If you’re wanting to know how to transfer photos from iPhone to a PC or Mac, you have lots of options. Whether you're looking to move photos from iPhone to Mac or transfer iPhone photos to PC, the process is not as complex as you might think. Transfers between Apple devices are pretty simple, and for PC owners, we've found some easy methods (including the solutions that Microsoft doesn't advertise). Let's cover how to get photos off iPhone and onto a computer easily!

Jump To:

  • How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC
  • How to Import Photos from iPhone to PC (Alternative Method)
  • How to Download Pictures from iPhone to Computer with iCloud Photos (Mac or PC)
  • How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer (Mac)
    • How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac in MacOS Catalina & Later
    • How To Import Photos from iPhone to Mac in MacOS Mojave
  • How to Import Photos Using AirDrop on Mac

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC

How to Upload Photos from iPhone to Computer in Windows 8

If you have a PC with an older version of Windows, Auto Play will pop up when your iPhone is connected to your computer with a USB cable. On a PC with Windows 8, your computer will detect the device and provide a pop-up that says "Tap to choose what happens to this device." When you click on that pop-up, you’ll see the Import Photos and Videos option to allow you to move photos and videos from iPhone to PC. The rest of the process should be pretty similar to what is demonstrated below for Windows 10. When in doubt, look for the Import button!

How to Import Photos from iPhone to PC in Windows 10

If you're looking for the easiest way to transfer photos from your iPhone to your PC (with the additional detail Microsoft doesn't provide), here's how to get photos off your iPhone and onto your PC:

  1. To transfer photos from your iPhone to PC, plug your iPhone into your Windows computer with the USB cable.
  2. On your iPhone, a pop-up will ask if you would like to allow the computer to access the iPhone. Tap Allow.
  3. On your Windows computer, the Photos application may automatically launch. If it doesn't, launch the Photos program using the Windows Start menu or search bar.
  4. Click the Import button in the upper-right corner of the Photos app.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

     

  5. In the drop-down menu, select From a USB device.

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  6. If you have multiple USB devices plugged in to your PC, such as a thumb drive, you'll be asked to select which one you want to import from. Select your iPhone.
  7. The computer will search for photos to import, then a box with the new photos for transfer will pop-up. If the Photos application crashes here, you may have a common bug. Try the alternate method listed in the next section.
  8. Select the photos you want to import.

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  9. To see where the photos will be saved and to change that location, click settings, represented by a gear icon.

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  10. ​​​In the import settings menu, you will see the location where the photos will be saved plus a Change the import destination link in case you want to change where imported iPhone photos are saved to your PC.

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  11. Click Done to go back to the image-selection screen.
  12. Once you've selected the images you want, click the Import button.

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  13. Once they're imported, you can view the photos in the Collections menu of the Photos app or select the Album icon on the left sidebar to view specific albums.

How to Transfer Pictures from iPhone to Computer with a Cable (Alternative Method)

Some users encounter bugs with the built-in Windows Photos application. If you can't get it to work and need another solution, try this method to copy photos from iPhone to your PC:

  1. To transfer iPhone photos to PC, plug your iPhone into your Windows computer with the cable, unlock the iPhone, and tap Allow, as above.
  2. On your Windows computer navigate to This PC. You should see your iPhone listed under Devices and Drives. 
  3. Right-click on your iPhone, and in the context menu select Import pictures and videos.

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  4. You can either import all new items, or click Review to organize and group items to import. I recommend selecting Review because the automatic organization may not be ideal.
  5. The More options link at the bottom offers options to change where the files are saved, but for most users the default Pictures folder is fine.

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  6. Click Next and the computer will scan your iPhone for images and videos.
  7. In the following window, select the items you wish to import.

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  8. A slider at the bottom of the menu changes how the images are grouped into folders, e.g. by hour, by hours, by day, by month, or by year taken. You can slide it all the way to the right to save them all in one folder.
  9. Click Import when you're ready to transfer images.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

Next, we’re going to delve into how to import pictures from iPhone to your computer with the iCloud Photo Library. 

Related: What Is iCloud & How Does It Work? Apple iCloud Basics

How to Download Photos from iPhone to Computer with iCloud Photos (Mac or PC)

Psst.. Here's the secret you'll never hear from Microsoft: you can use iCloud.com to securely store and access your photos, even with a PC! Like any iCloud user, you'll need to pay a small monthly fee for storage ($0.99/month for 50 GB or $2.99/month for 200 GB). However, I consider this is a small price to pay, as the process for how to transfer photos from iPhone to computer will be practically effortless, since iCloud will automatically keep the two libraries in perfect sync. If you want to avoid having to plug your iPhone into your computer to transfer your photos, this method is likely a great solution for you.

First, both Mac and PC users will need to follow the iPhone steps below to make sure your photos are safely backed up in the cloud:

  1. Open the Settings app and select your Apple ID profile at the top.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  2. Tap iCloud.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  3. Choose Photos.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  4. For iPhones with iOS 16 installed, toggle on Sync this iPhone. (For older software versions, toggle on iCloud Photos.)

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

If you own a PC, you can simply log in to your iCloud.com account with your Apple ID to view and access your photos. The downside to this method is that you can only download up to 1,000 photos at a time from iCloud.com to your PC (so downloading your entire photos library at once is likely out of the question).

If you own a Mac, follow the steps below to sync your Photos app to iCloud. This way, your iPhone pictures will appear in your Mac Photos app and vice versa. For Mac users, here's how to get photos from your iPhone to your computer:

  1. Open System Preferences from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. 

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  2. Choose Apple ID and sign in.

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  3. In the menu on the left, iCloud should already be selected. If it's not, click it.
  4. Check the box next to Photos and enter your computer passcode if asked.

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  5. Now all the photos you take on your iPhone, and all the photos you add on your computer, will show up in both places. Keep an eye on your iCloud storage!

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer (Mac)

The classic way to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac is to use the photo transfer feature in the Photos app. It's important to note that the import Photos from iPhone to Mac process has changed a little since MacOS Catalina, Big Sur,and soon macOS Monterey, so if you're using a newer operating system you'll want to use the method shown next. If you use Mojave or earlier, you can skip to the next section.

How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac in MacOS Catalina & Later

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with the USB cable and unlock your iPhone.
  2. Open the Photos app on your Mac. You can find it with Spotlight search, in your Dock, or by opening the Applications folder and selecting the Photos app.
  3. Your iPhone should already be selected in the browser on the left of the Photos page. If it isn't, then select your iPhone.

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  4. Select the photos you wish to import by clicking on them.
  5. Click the Import button at the top.

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That's it; Finder has made this process easy! If you'd rather move photos from iPhone to Mac without a USB cable, you can also learn how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using AirDrop or iCloud Photo Stream. These methods are especially helpful if you own a MacBook that doesn't have USB-A ports built in!

How To Import Photos from iPhone to Mac in MacOS Mojave

This method will help you transfer iPhone photos to a Mac or MacBook if you use the macOS Mojave operating system. If your device is compatible with the newest macOS version, we always recommend keeping your device updated! This ensures that bug fixes, privacy updates, and new features are always available to you.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with the USB cable.
  2. Open the Photos app on your Mac. You can find it with Spotlight search, in your Dock, or by opening the Applications folder and selecting the Photos app.
  3. Select File from the top menu, then select Import.

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  4. You can download select photos by holding down the command key (cmd) on your keyboard while clicking all the photos you want to transfer, then click Review for Import.

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  5. If you've already imported some or all of your selected photos, your Mac will let you know and then give you the option to import the remaining photo(s) by clicking Import New Photo.

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  6. If you'd rather import all the photos on your iPhone that you haven't previously backed up, click Import All New Items.

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  7. To view the recently imported photos, select Last Import on the sidebar.

And you’re done! If you'd rather transfer iPhone photos to Mac without a USB cable, you can also learn how to import photos from iPhone to MacBook or Mac using AirDrop or iCloud Photo Stream. These methods are especially helpful if you own a MacBook that doesn't have USB-A ports built in!

How to Download Photos from iPhone to Mac with AirDrop

AirDrop uses Wi-Fi to transfer files from iPhone to Mac and vice versa (and can be used for other files as well), which means first you need to be sure both your iPhone or iPad and computer are connected to Wi-Fi. Remember that AirDrop also requires a 2012 or later Mac model running OS X Yosemite or later to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. Here's how to upload photos from your iPhone to your computer using AirDrop: 

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone. Select the photos you want to transfer to the computer, then tap the Share icon.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  2. Select AirDrop in the Share menu.

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  3. Choose your computer from the list of devices displayed at the bottom of the screen.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  4. If successful, it will say Sent below your computer's icon.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  5. Tap Done in the upper-right corner to leave the AirDrop screen.

    How to transfer picture and video from iphone to pc

  6. If your computer is not using the same iCloud account as the iPhone you are sending files from, you will need to click Save when the file arrives on your computer. If you are using the same iCloud account, the pictures will automatically save.

Need more methods to download pictures to a computer? Here's three more you can use to transfer photos from iPhone to computer. Also, get organized with our article on how to edit the Launchpad on your Mac. 

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How do you transfer Photos and videos from iPhone to PC without iTunes?

Windows Explorer allows you to transfer pictures from iPhone to PC: just connect your iPhone to computer and run Windows Explorer. Then, find your iPhone name under “Portable devices”. Open the “DCIM” folder, then drag and drop photos to your PC.

How do I transfer Photos and videos from my phone to my computer?

Option 2: Move files with a USB cable.
Unlock your phone..
With a USB cable, connect your phone to your computer..
On your phone, tap the "Charging this device via USB" notification..
Under "Use USB for," select File Transfer..
A file transfer window will open on your computer..

How do I transfer videos from my iPhone to Windows 10?

Transfer files between your PC and devices with iTunes.
Connect your device to your computer. ... .
In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window..
Click File Sharing..
In the list on the left, select the app on your device that you want to transfer a file to or from..

How do I transfer Photos and videos from my iPhone to my computer wirelessly?

Part 1..
Download the iCloud for Windows app onto your computer..
Open it and tick the box next to "Photos.".
Select the "iCloud Photo Library" option from a prompt window..
Select "Download new photos and videos to my pc.".
Click "Done," then click "Apply.".