The fastest way: plug in your iPhone and use the Photos app

Connect your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable. Windows will recognize it as a device. Open the Photos app (search for "Photos" in your Windows taskbar), then select Import in the top right. Choose From a USB device. Windows will show you all photos and videos on your iPhone. Select the ones you want, pick a folder to save them to, and click Import.

This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Photos app copies files to your PC without removing them from your iPhone — you keep both copies. The import usually takes a few minutes depending on how many photos you're moving.

If Windows doesn't recognize your iPhone, unlock it and tap Trust when prompted. If you don't see that prompt, disconnect and try a different USB port on your PC, preferably one on the back of your computer rather than the front.

Key Takeaways

  • Plug your iPhone into your PC with a USB cable, then use the Windows Photos app to import pictures in a few clicks.
  • Your iPhone will ask you to trust the computer the first time you connect — tap Trust to allow the transfer.
  • iCloud Photos and OneDrive both sync photos automatically if you set them up, but they require internet and storage space.
  • File Explorer lets you manually browse your iPhone's photos folder and drag files to your PC if the Photos app doesn't work.
  • Older iPhones and some USB cables don't work reliably — try a different cable or USB port if you get an error.

Using File Explorer if the Photos app doesn't work

Open File Explorer and look for your iPhone in the left sidebar under This PC. It will show up with your iPhone's name. Double-click it to open the device, then navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM. This folder holds all your photos and videos.

You can drag photos directly from this folder to a folder on your PC. Create a new folder on your Desktop or in your Documents first, then drag the photos into it. This method is slower than using the Photos app but works when the Photos app won't recognize your device.

If your iPhone doesn't appear in File Explorer at all, try restarting both your iPhone and your PC. Also check that your USB cable is the original Apple cable or a certified third-party cable — cheap knockoff cables often don't work for data transfer.

Setting up automatic syncing with OneDrive or iCloud

If you want photos to move to your PC automatically without plugging in a cable, you can use OneDrive or iCloud Photos. Both services upload photos from your iPhone to the cloud, then read them to your PC.

For OneDrive: install the OneDrive app on your iPhone from the App Store, sign in with your Microsoft account, and turn on Camera Upload in settings. Photos will upload whenever your iPhone is on Wi-Fi. On your PC, sign into OneDrive and your photos will appear in a folder called OneDrive\Pictures\Camera Roll.

For iCloud Photos: on your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos. On your PC, read iCloud for Windows from Apple's website, sign in, and check the box next to Photos. Your photos will sync to a folder in C:\Users\[Your Name]\Pictures\iCloud Photos.

Both methods require an internet connection and use cloud storage space. OneDrive gives you 5 GB free; iCloud gives you 5 GB free. If you have more photos than that, you'll need to pay for more storage or delete old photos from the cloud.

Why your iPhone might not show up on your PC

The most common reason is that your iPhone doesn't trust the computer yet. Unlock your iPhone, look for a dialog that says "Trust This Computer?", and tap Trust. If you don't see this dialog, disconnect the cable, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in.

A second common reason is a bad USB cable. Apple's original cables wear out quickly, and third-party cables are often unreliable. Try borrowing a different cable or buying a certified MFi-certified cable from a store like Best Buy or Amazon. If a different cable works, your old one is the problem.

If you're using an older iPhone (iPhone 6 or earlier) or an older version of Windows, you may need to install iTunes from the Microsoft Store or Apple's website. Newer iPhones and Windows 10/11 don't need iTunes, but older devices sometimes do.

Moving photos to a specific folder on your PC

When you use the Photos app to import, you can choose where to save the photos. During the import process, click New Folder to create a folder with today's date or a custom name. This keeps your photos organized by trip, event, or month instead of dumping them all into one folder.

If you're using File Explorer to drag photos, create a folder structure before you start. For example, make a folder called iPhone Photos, then inside it create subfolders for 2024, 2025, and so on. Then create month folders inside those. Drag your photos into the right month folder as you transfer them.

You can also use Windows Search to find photos by date. Press Windows key + S, search for "photos", and Windows will show you all image files on your PC organized by when they were taken. This helps you find duplicates or photos you forgot you had.

Removing photos from your iPhone after transfer

The Photos app import doesn't delete photos from your iPhone — it makes a copy on your PC. If you want to free up space on your iPhone, you have to delete them manually. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, select the photos you want to remove, and tap Delete.

Before you delete anything, make sure the transfer actually worked. Check your PC folder and open a few photos to confirm they're there. If something went wrong during the import, you'll still have the originals on your iPhone.

If you're using OneDrive or iCloud Photos, photos stay on your iPhone even after they upload to the cloud. You can delete them from your iPhone to save space, and they'll still be on your PC and in the cloud. This is useful if your iPhone storage is full.

Transferring videos along with photos

The Photos app imports videos the same way it imports photos — just select them during the import process. Videos take up much more space than photos, so if you have a lot of video, the transfer will take longer.

If you're using File Explorer, videos are in the same DCIM folder as photos. They'll have file names ending in .MOV or .MP4. Drag them to your PC the same way you drag photos.

OneDrive and iCloud Photos both sync videos automatically if you turn on camera upload. However, videos use a lot of cloud storage space quickly. A one-minute video can use 50 MB to 200 MB depending on quality. If you have limited cloud storage, transfer videos using the USB cable method instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need iTunes to transfer photos from my iPhone to my PC?

No. Windows 10 and Windows 11 can recognize your iPhone without iTunes. Just plug in your iPhone, unlock it, tap Trust, and use the Photos app. iTunes is only needed on older versions of Windows or for older iPhones.

Will transferring photos delete them from my iPhone?

No. Using the Photos app or File Explorer makes a copy on your PC and leaves the originals on your iPhone. You have to manually delete photos from your iPhone if you want to free up space. OneDrive and iCloud Photos work the same way — they upload copies, not move.

Can I transfer photos wirelessly without a USB cable?

Yes, but you need to set up OneDrive or iCloud Photos first. Both services upload photos over Wi-Fi automatically. This takes longer than a USB cable but doesn't require you to plug anything in. You can also email photos to yourself or use third-party apps like Google Photos.

What if my USB cable doesn't work?

Try a different cable first — cheap cables often don't work for data transfer. If a different cable works, your old one is broken. If no cable works, try a different USB port on your PC, preferably one on the back of the computer. If your iPhone still doesn't show up, restart both devices and try again.

How long does it take to transfer photos?

A USB cable transfer usually takes a few minutes for 100 photos. OneDrive and iCloud Photos upload in the background and can take hours or days depending on your internet speed and how many photos you have. Videos transfer slower than photos because they're larger files.