How to Import Photos from Your iPhone to Your PC

The fastest way: use the Photos app or File Explorer

Connect your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable, unlock your iPhone, and tap Trust when prompted. On your PC, open File Explorer, find your iPhone in the left sidebar under "This PC", and navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM > 100APPLE. Your photos are in that folder. Select the ones you want, copy them, and paste them into a folder on your PC.

Alternatively, open the Photos app on Windows 11 or 10. Click the Import button in the top right, select your iPhone from the list, choose which photos to import, pick a destination folder, and click Import. The Photos app handles the file transfer and automatically organizes photos by date.

Both methods work without installing extra software. File Explorer gives you more control over where files land; the Photos app is faster if you want everything imported at once.

Key Takeaways

Connect your iPhone with a USB cable, unlock it, and tap Trust on the phone to let your PC access the photos.
File Explorer lets you browse your iPhone's DCIM folder and copy individual photos to any folder you choose.
The Windows Photos app can import multiple photos at once and sorts them automatically by date.
If your iPhone does not appear in File Explorer, restart both devices and try a different USB cable or port.
iCloud Photos synced to your PC will not appear in the DCIM folder—check your iCloud folder instead.

Using File Explorer for more control

File Explorer is built into Windows and requires no setup. Plug in your iPhone, unlock it, and tap Trust when the security prompt appears. Open File Explorer on your PC, and look for your iPhone's name in the left sidebar under "This PC". Click it to expand.

Navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM > 100APPLE. This folder holds all photos taken with your iPhone camera. You will also see folders like 101APPLE, 102APPLE if you have many photos—open each one to see what is inside. Select the photos you want by clicking one, then holding Ctrl and clicking others, or pressing Ctrl+A to select all. Right-click and choose Copy.

Create a new folder on your PC where you want the photos to live—your Documents folder, Pictures folder, or a custom folder work equally well. Open that folder, right-click in the empty space, and choose Paste. The photos will copy over. This process can take several minutes if you are moving hundreds of photos.

Using the Windows Photos app for automatic organization

The Photos app comes with Windows 10 and 11. Connect your iPhone, unlock it, and tap Trust. Open the Photos app from your Start menu. Click the three dots in the top right corner and select Import.

A window will open showing your iPhone and any other connected devices. Click your iPhone, and the app will display all photos and videos it can import. You can select individual items by clicking them, or click Select All to import everything. Choose where you want the photos saved—the default is your Pictures folder—and click Import.

The Photos app automatically groups imported photos by the date they were taken, making it easier to find them later. If you import the same photos twice, the app will skip duplicates and only add new ones.

What to do if your iPhone does not appear

If your iPhone does not show up in File Explorer or the Photos app, the most common cause is a trust issue. Unlock your iPhone and look for a dialog asking whether to trust this computer. If you see it, tap Trust. If you do not see it, disconnect the cable, wait 10 seconds, and reconnect.

Try a different USB cable or a different port on your PC. Some cables are designed for charging only and do not transfer data. If you have a cable that came with your iPhone or another Apple device, use that one first. Restart both your iPhone and your PC, then reconnect.

On your PC, check Device Manager to see if your iPhone appears with a warning icon. Right-click it and select Update driver. Windows will search for the latest driver and install it. After that, disconnect and reconnect your iPhone.

Importing photos stored in iCloud

If you use iCloud Photos on your iPhone, your photos may be stored in the cloud rather than on the device itself. When you connect your iPhone to your PC, you will not see these photos in the DCIM folder because they are not physically on the phone.

To import iCloud photos to your PC, install iCloud for Windows from Microsoft Store. Sign in with your Apple ID, enable Photos, and choose a folder on your PC where iCloud photos will sync. Your photos will read automatically. This process can take hours or days depending on how many photos you have.

Alternatively, visit iCloud.com on your PC, sign in with your Apple ID, click Photos, select the photos you want, click read, and save them to your PC. This method works for a smaller number of photos but is slower for large libraries.

Organizing photos after import

Once your photos are on your PC, create a folder structure that makes sense for you. Many people organize by year and month—for example, 2024 > January, 2024 > February. Others organize by event or person. Choose a system you will actually use.

Windows built-in search works well if you remember roughly when a photo was taken. Right-click any photo, select Properties, and check the Date Taken field to see when it was captured. You can sort photos in any folder by date, name, or size by right-clicking in the empty space and choosing Sort By.

Consider backing up your imported photos to an external hard drive or cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive. This protects against accidental deletion or PC failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone say "Trust This Computer" when I plug it in?

Apple requires you to authorize each computer that accesses your iPhone's files for security reasons. Tapping Trust tells your iPhone that this PC is safe and can read your photos and other data. You only need to do this once per computer.

Can I import videos from my iPhone the same way as photos?

Yes. Videos appear in the same DCIM folders as photos in File Explorer, and the Photos app imports both at the same time. Videos take up more space, so importing them can take longer. Make sure you have enough free space on your PC before importing large video files.

What if I want to import photos but keep them on my iPhone too?

Copying photos to your PC does not remove them from your iPhone. The copy process creates duplicates on your PC while leaving the originals on your phone. You can delete them from your iPhone later if you want to free up space.

Is it safe to unplug my iPhone while photos are importing?

No. Wait until the import is completely finished and the progress bar disappears before unplugging. Disconnecting during a transfer can corrupt files or leave incomplete copies on your PC. If the import seems stuck, wait at least five minutes before assuming it has frozen.

Can I import photos wirelessly without a USB cable?

Not directly from your iPhone to your PC without extra software. However, you can upload photos to OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud on your iPhone, then read them on your PC. This is slower than a cable but works if you do not have one available.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.