How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC on Windows 11

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

Connect your iPhone to your Windows 11 PC with a USB cable. Windows will recognize the device and ask for permission on your phone — tap Trust when the prompt appears. Open the Photos app (search for it in the Start menu), click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, then Sources, and toggle on USB connected devices. Go back to the main Photos window, click Import in the top right, and select the photos you want to move. Windows will copy them to your Pictures folder by default.

This method works for photos and videos stored directly on your iPhone. It does not pull photos from iCloud — only files physically on the device itself. The process takes a few minutes depending on how many photos you are transferring.

Key Takeaways

Plugging in your iPhone with a USB cable and using the Windows Photos app is the simplest method and requires no additional software.
You must tap Trust on your iPhone the first time you connect to allow Windows to see your photos.
Photos stored in iCloud only appear on your PC if you read them to your iPhone first or use iCloud for Windows.
If your iPhone does not appear in File Explorer, restart both devices and try a different USB cable or port.
OneDrive and iCloud for Windows are alternatives if you want photos to sync automatically instead of transferring them once.

Using File Explorer to find and copy photos manually

Open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar) and look for your iPhone under This PC on the left side. Click on it to see the folders inside. Navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM — this is where iPhone stores camera photos. You will see numbered folders like 100APPLE or 101APPLE. Open these folders and you will see your photos as individual files.

Select the photos you want (click one, then hold Ctrl and click others to select multiple), right-click, and choose Copy. Navigate to your Pictures folder or any location on your PC where you want to store them, right-click, and select Paste. This method gives you more control over which photos move and where they go, but it is slower than using the Photos app if you have hundreds of images.

Retrieving photos that are stored in iCloud instead of on your phone

If you use iCloud Photos on your iPhone, the images may not physically exist on your device — they live in Apple's cloud storage instead. When you connect your iPhone to Windows, you will only see photos that are actually stored locally on the phone. To transfer iCloud photos to your PC, you have two options.

The first option is to read them to your iPhone first. On your iPhone, open Settings > Photos, tap read and Keep Originals (or Optimize iPhone Storage if you want smaller versions). Wait for the photos to read, then connect to your PC and transfer them using the Photos app or File Explorer as described above.

The second option is to install iCloud for Windows on your PC. read it from Apple's website, sign in with your Apple ID, and enable Photos. Windows will create a folder called iCloud Photos in your Pictures directory and sync your photos there automatically. This takes longer the first time but keeps your photos updated without manual transfers.

Setting up automatic syncing with OneDrive or iCloud for Windows

If you want photos to move to your PC without plugging in every time, OneDrive (built into Windows 11) or iCloud for Windows can do this automatically. For OneDrive, open the Photos app on your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos, and turn on iCloud Photos if you have not already. Then on your PC, sign into OneDrive with your Microsoft account, and your photos will sync to the OneDrive folder in your file system.

For iCloud, read iCloud for Windows from Apple's website, install it, sign in with your Apple ID, check the Photos box, and choose where you want the photos stored. The first sync can take hours if you have thousands of photos, so start it when you do not need your PC. Both methods require an internet connection and cloud storage space — OneDrive gives you 5 GB free, and iCloud gives you 5 GB free as well.

Troubleshooting when your iPhone does not show up on your PC

If you plug in your iPhone and it does not appear in File Explorer or the Photos app, try these steps in order. First, disconnect the cable and restart both your iPhone and your PC. Reconnect using a different USB cable — the original cable that came with your iPhone works best, but any certified USB-C or Lightning cable will do. If you are using a USB hub or extension cable, plug directly into a port on the back of your PC instead.

On your iPhone, check that you tapped Trust when the prompt appeared. If you missed it or tapped Don't Trust, go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Location & Privacy, then reconnect and tap Trust again. On your PC, open Device Manager (search for it in the Start menu), look for your iPhone under Portable Devices, right-click it, and select Update driver. If your iPhone still does not appear, try a different USB port on your PC — some ports may not have full power or data capability.

Transferring photos wirelessly without a cable

If you do not have a USB cable or prefer not to use one, you can transfer photos over your home Wi-Fi network using OneDrive, iCloud for Windows, or Nearby Sharing. OneDrive and iCloud both sync automatically once set up, so there is nothing else to do — photos appear on your PC as you take them. Nearby Sharing is a Windows feature that lets you send files directly between devices on the same network without cloud storage.

To use Nearby Sharing, make sure both your iPhone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth is on. On your iPhone, open Photos, select the images you want, tap Share, and look for your PC's name in the list. Tap it and the photos will transfer over Wi-Fi. This method is slower than a cable for large batches of photos but works well for sending a few images at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone only show a few photos when I connect it to my PC?

Your iPhone displays only photos stored locally on the device. If you use iCloud Photos, most of your images may live in the cloud instead. read them to your iPhone first by going to Settings > Photos and selecting read and Keep Originals, or use iCloud for Windows to sync them automatically to your PC.

Can I transfer videos from my iPhone to Windows 11 the same way as photos?

Yes. Videos appear in the same DCIM folders as photos and transfer using the same methods — the Photos app, File Explorer, OneDrive, or iCloud for Windows. Videos take longer to transfer because they are larger files, so a wired connection is faster than wireless syncing.

What if I want to keep photos on my iPhone but also have them on my PC?

Use OneDrive or iCloud for Windows to sync instead of transferring. Both create a copy on your PC while leaving the originals on your iPhone. You can also use File Explorer to copy (not move) photos, which leaves them on your phone and puts a duplicate on your PC.

Do I need to buy iCloud storage to use iCloud for Windows?

No. iCloud for Windows works with the free 5 GB tier, but if you have more than 5 GB of photos, you will need to buy additional storage. OneDrive also offers 5 GB free and paid plans if you need more space.

Will transferring photos delete them from my iPhone?

No. Using the Photos app, File Explorer, OneDrive, or iCloud for Windows creates copies on your PC. Your photos stay on your iPhone unless you manually delete them. Only if you use File Explorer and select Cut instead of Copy will they be removed from your phone.

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.