How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer

If you want to transfer photos from iPhone to computer, you may be looking for a way to save your pictures somewhere other than your phone. Moving them to a computer can make it easier to organize, view, and keep copies of your favorite memories.

You can do this with a USB cable or, if you use iCloud Photos, over the internet. The steps are a little different on a Windows PC and a Mac, so choose the section that matches your computer.

What you’ll need

• Your iPhone and its charging cable, if you plan to use a USB connection.
• A Windows PC or Mac with enough free storage space.
• Your iPhone passcode.
• Your Apple Account details if you plan to use iCloud.

Good to know: Importing photos copies them to your computer. It does not normally remove the originals from your iPhone, so you can check that the copies arrived before deciding whether to delete anything.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer

A cable is often the simplest way to move a large group of photos.

1. Unlock your iPhone.
2. Connect it to your computer using a USB cable that supports data transfer. Some cables only charge, so try another cable if the computer does not recognize your phone.
3. Keep the iPhone unlocked and watch for a message asking whether you trust the computer.
4. Tap Trust on your iPhone if you recognize and trust the computer.
5. Enter your iPhone passcode if asked.

Careful: Only tap Trust on a computer you own or are comfortable using. Trusting a computer gives it access to certain information on your iPhone while connected.

Step 2: Transfer photos to a Windows PC

On a Windows 11 computer, you can use the built-in Photos app to import pictures from a connected iPhone.

1. Leave your iPhone connected and unlocked.
2. On your PC, open the Photos app. You can find it by selecting Start and typing “Photos” in the search box.
3. In Photos, select Import. Depending on the app version, you may see your connected iPhone listed as a device.
4. Choose your iPhone if it appears, then wait while the app finds available photos and videos.
5. Select the items you want to copy. You may be able to choose an import destination folder.
6. Select Import to copy the selected items to your PC.

If your iPhone does not appear in Photos, check that it is unlocked, that you tapped Trust, and that the cable supports data. You may also need Apple’s Apple Devices app on your PC so Windows can communicate with the iPhone. Find it in the Microsoft Store if it is not already installed.

Tip: If you have many photos, import them in smaller groups. This can make it easier to spot any items that did not copy successfully.

Step 3: Transfer photos to a Mac

On a Mac, the built-in Photos app can import pictures directly from your iPhone.

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust if it asks whether to trust the computer.
3. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
4. In the Photos sidebar, select your iPhone under Devices if it is not selected automatically.
5. Wait for the photos and videos to appear.
6. Choose Import Selected to copy selected items, or choose Import All New Photos if you want to bring in everything that has not already been imported.

When the import finishes, open Library or Recents in Photos to check that the pictures are there. Keep your iPhone connected until the import is complete.

Good to know: If you use iCloud Photos on both your iPhone and Mac with the same Apple Account, your pictures may already appear in the Mac Photos app. In that case, you may not need to import them with a cable.

Step 4: Use iCloud Photos without a cable

If you prefer not to connect your iPhone physically, iCloud Photos can make your photo library available on your computer. iCloud Photos is a service that keeps your photos and videos in sync across devices signed in to the same Apple Account.

1. On your iPhone, open Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap iCloud, then Photos.
3. Turn on Sync this iPhone if you want your photo library to sync with iCloud.
4. On your computer, open a web browser and go to iCloud.com.
5. Sign in with the same Apple Account you use on your iPhone. Complete any verification step if asked.
6. Open Photos, select the pictures you want, and use the download option.

You can also use iCloud for Windows to access iCloud Photos from a Windows PC. On a Mac, photos synced through iCloud Photos appear in the Photos app when iCloud Photos is enabled there too.

Careful: iCloud Photos is a syncing service, not simply a one-way transfer. If you delete a photo from your iCloud Photos library on one device, that deletion can sync to your other devices. Make sure you have a separate copy before deleting anything you want to keep.

Step 5: Check that your photos transferred

Before you disconnect or delete anything, take a moment to confirm that the transfer worked.

1. Open the folder or app where your computer saves imported photos.
2. Look for a few pictures you recognize, including some of the newest ones.
3. Open several photos to make sure they display properly.
4. If you transferred videos, open one to check that it plays.
5. If you imported only selected items, compare your selection with what appears on the computer.

On Windows, imported files may be saved in the Pictures folder or in the destination you chose during import. On a Mac, imported pictures are usually stored in the Photos library unless you export them as separate files.

Troubleshooting: If your computer can’t see your iPhone

Try these checks if your iPhone does not appear or the import stops.

• The iPhone is not showing up: Unlock it, reconnect the cable, and look for the Trust This Computer? message. If you do not see it, disconnect and reconnect the cable.
• The cable only charges: Try a different cable that supports data transfer, and use another USB port if one is available.
• The import option is missing: Close and reopen the Photos app. On Windows, check that the Apple Devices app is installed and up to date.
• The transfer stops partway through: Make sure both devices have enough free storage and keep the iPhone unlocked while importing. Try copying a smaller group of photos.
• Some photos are missing: If you use iCloud Photos with Optimize iPhone Storage, some full-resolution originals may need to download from iCloud before they can be imported by cable. Try using iCloud.com or allow the originals to download first.

If the menu names look different on your computer, use the search feature in Windows or macOS to find Photos or the relevant iCloud settings. The exact layout can vary with software updates.

Your photos are safely on your computer

Once you’ve checked that your pictures and videos have copied successfully, you can organize them into folders or albums on your computer. Keep a second backup of important photos if you can, so one computer problem does not put your only copy at risk.