Be honest. Is your iPhone gallery filled with countless photos of your cat, kids - or yourself - in almost identical poses? Then it could be time for some good housekeeping.
Transferring photos from your iPhone to a PC makes sense for lots of different reasons. Not only does it free up space on your phone, but it also gives you the chance to store, edit, and organise your photos on a bigger screen.
And the good news is that transferring your photos to your PC is pretty simple, whether you’re using a USB cable or the power of iCloud. So let us take you through it step by step, and get your photos safely transferred.
Using a USB cable to transfer photos from iPhone to PC
One of the most straightforward methods to transfer your photos is by using a USB cable. If you’ve got one, here what you need to do with it:
1. Connect your iPhone to the PC
Grab your iPhone and plug one end of the USB cable into it. The other end goes into your PC’s USB port. Your computer should immediately recognise that something’s been connected. If it’s a newer iPhone and your PC has a USB-A port (the old-school rectangular one), you might need an adapter or a Lightning to USB-A cable.
When you connect your iPhone to your PC, you might hear a little chime from your computer, and your iPhone screen will light up. This is a good sign - it means your devices are talking to each other.
2. Select ‘Trust This Computer’ on your iPhone
Your iPhone might ask you to ‘Trust This Computer.’ This isn’t your iPhone being paranoid - it’s just making sure you’re okay with your PC accessing its data. Tap ‘Trust’ and enter your passcode if prompted. Now your PC has the green light to access your photos.
3. Open the Photos App on your PC
With your iPhone connected and trusted, it’s time to open the Photos app on your PC.
If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, the Photos app should be pre-installed. To find it, you can type ‘Photos’ into the search bar at the bottom-left of your screen, or you might find it pinned to your Start menu.
Once the app is open, you should see an ‘Import’ button in the top-right corner. Click on it, and you’ll get an option to choose the device you want to import from. Your iPhone should be listed there.
Double-click on your iPhone, then select the photos and videos you want to transfer to your PC.
4. Import photos using File Explorer
Not a fan of the Photos app? No worries, File Explorer is another great option. To access your iPhone’s photos through File Explorer, follow these steps:
Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing `Windows + E`.
On the left sidebar, you’ll see ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer.’ Click on it.
You should see your iPhone listed under ‘Devices and drives.’ It might say something like ‘Apple iPhone.’
Double-click on your iPhone, then navigate to the ‘DCIM’ folder and choose the photos and videos you want to transfer. Then drag them to a folder on your PC.
Good job! Your photos are now safely stored on your PC, and you’ve freed up some precious space on your iPhone.
Using iCloud to transfer photos from iPhone to PC
If you’re not a fan of cables or your PC doesn’t seem to recognize your iPhone, using iCloud is a great wireless option. This method allows you to sync your photos to the cloud and then download them to your PC.
1. Set up iCloud photos on iPhone
Before you can start transferring photos via iCloud, you need to make sure iCloud Photos is enabled on your iPhone. Here’s how:
On your iPhone, go to `Settings`.
Tap on your name at the top, then select `iCloud`.
Under `Apps Using iCloud`, tap `Photos`.
Toggle on `iCloud Photos`.
With iCloud Photos enabled, all the photos you take on your iPhone will automatically upload to your iCloud account, as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Access iCloud Photos on your PC
Now that your photos are safely floating in the cloud, it’s time to bring them down to earth—or more specifically, your PC.
On your PC, open a web browser and go to www.icloud.com.
Log in with your Apple ID and password.
Once logged in, click on the ‘Photos’ icon. This will take you to your iCloud Photo Library.
Browse through your photos and select the ones you want to download.
After selecting, click the download icon (a cloud with a downward arrow) to save the photos to your PC.
FAQs
How do I transfer photos from iPhone to PC without using iTunes?
You can transfer photos without iTunes by using the methods we’ve discussed—either through a USB cable using the Photos app or File Explorer, or wirelessly via iCloud. Both options are straightforward and don’t require you to touch iTunes at all.
What is the fastest way to transfer photos from iPhone to PC?
The fastest way to transfer photos is typically using a USB cable and File Explorer. It’s a direct connection, meaning your photos move from your iPhone to your PC without any need to sync with the cloud or wait for uploads and downloads. If you’ve got a lot of photos, this method saves you the most time.
How can I transfer photos from iPhone to PC without losing quality?
To transfer photos without losing quality, use the USB cable method. Both the Photos app and File Explorer transfer the images in their original resolution, so there’s no loss in quality. If you’re using iCloud, make sure you’re downloading the full-resolution images, not the compressed versions. You can adjust this in the iCloud settings on your iPhone.
Can I transfer photos from iPhone to PC wirelessly?
Yes, you can transfer photos wirelessly using iCloud. As long as your photos are synced with iCloud, you can access and download them from iCloud.com or the iCloud for Windows app on your PC. This method is really convenient, especially if you’re not near your USB cable.
Need any more help?
If you’re looking for a new iPhone, check out our guide to the best iPhones. When you’ve made your choice, we’ve got some great advice on how to set up your new iPhone.
