Often, you might find yourself clearing out your iPhone storage to free up space for more photos. However, this can lead to deleting photos you’d rather keep. This is where a reliable tool for transferring photos from your iPhone to a PC becomes invaluable, allowing you to safely backup your photos without the need to delete them. This guide will walk you through the best methods to transfer iPhone photos to your PC. Let’s get started!
Things You Should Know about Transferring iPhone Photos to PC
Transferring photos from your iPhone to a PC can be challenging, especially with a large number of photos. Fortunately, there are several methods available. From using apps for wireless transfers to utilizing Cloud storage platforms and dedicated third-party software, you have multiple options to choose from.
While wireless methods are convenient for smaller photo collections, bulk transfers require more efficient solutions. Moreover, not all tools are equally reliable, and safeguarding the security of your private photos is paramount.
Having explored numerous tools and methods for seamless photo and video transfers over the years, I’ve curated the most effective approaches based on personal experience. This guide aims to minimize the hassle involved in transferring your precious memories.
1. Use a Photo Transfer App to Move iPhone Photos to Your PC
Among the various photo transfer apps available, we found TenorShare’s iCareFone to be the most effective. It simplifies the process with a straightforward one-click photo export feature. Here’s how to use it:
Transferring All Photos on iPhone to PC
Here’s how to get started with iCareFone:
- Visit iCareFone’s official website to download the tool.
- After installation, connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB-C or Lightning cable (for iPhone 14 series and lower).
- Once connected, a “Trust This Computer?” confirmation window will appear on your iPhone. Tap “Trust” and enter your device passcode to proceed.
- Once you complete these steps, you’ll be directed to the My Device section of the iCareFone Windows app.
- Your device will be listed here, along with an Export Photos button in the Photos panel. Click on it.
- This action will open File Explorer on your PC. Choose the destination where you want to export the /i
- photos, then click on “Select Folder.”
- The tool will then automatically begin exporting all photos from your device to your PC.
Transferring Specific Photos on iPhone to PC
When your iPhone is connected to your Windows PC via iCareFone, follow these steps to transfer specific photos:
- From the Home Page of iCareFone, select “Manage” from the left panel.
- Under the Photos section, you’ll see all the images stored on your iPhone. Choose the photos you want to transfer.
- After selecting the photos, click on the “Export” button located at the bottom right.
- In the Export Confirmation window that appears, you can choose the format for exporting the photos and adjust the destination folder as needed. Once you’ve made your selections, click on “Next.”
- This will immediately begin transferring your selected iPhone photos to the specified location on your PC.
When using iCareFone, the free version limits you to transferring only up to 10 files. To fully utilize its capabilities, opting for the premium version is highly recommended. The lifetime license costs $69.95, offering a cost-effective choice compared to the monthly plan at $29.95 or the yearly license for $49.95.
With the premium version, you not only gain access to the convenient one-click photo transfer feature but also benefit from reliable backup and restore functionality, which I’ve found invaluable over time. Importantly, it resolves the longstanding challenge of transferring data other than photos and videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC.
Additionally, iCareFone provides essential iPhone management features, allowing you to perform critical actions directly through the app, even if your iPhone display is not functional.
2. How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC Wirelessly
If you’re within the Apple ecosystem, transferring files wirelessly between your iPhone and Mac is convenient with AirDrop.
However, AirDrop can be problematic when sending batches of photos less than 100 at a time, often causing glitches. This limitation can be quite cumbersome. Moreover, AirDrop is not compatible for transferring files from your iPhone to a Windows PC.
That’s where apps like LocalSend come into play. Simply connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network to use it. The user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, and the process is entirely free. So, if you only need to transfer a few photos, these wireless tools are highly effective.
3. Use iCloud to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC
Transferring photos from your iPhone to your Mac can be incredibly straightforward. If you prefer not to sync through the Photos app, here’s a manual method using iCloud Drive:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone and select the photo(s) you want to transfer.
- Tap the Share icon located at the bottom left corner.
- Scroll down and select “Save to Files.”
- You will be directed to your iCloud Drive folder. Tap the blue “Save” button at the top right to initiate the upload to iCloud.
Once uploaded, follow these steps on your Mac:
- Open Finder and click on “iCloud Drive” in the left panel.
- Here, you will find the photos uploaded from your iPhone to iCloud, provided iCloud sync is enabled across your devices.
This method ensures seamless photo transfer between your iPhone and Mac. Remember, both devices must be signed in with the same Apple ID for this process to work effectively. Additionally, you can use the same method to transfer files from your Mac to your iPhone. Being within the Apple ecosystem simplifies these tasks significantly.
4. Use Google Drive to Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC
First, ensure you have the Google Drive app installed on your iPhone. Here’s how to transfer photos from your iPhone to your PC using Google Drive:
- Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone and sign in.
- Tap on the multicolored plus icon at the bottom right corner.
- Select “Upload” > “Photos and Videos.”
- Grant “Full Access” in the permission window that appears.
- Browse through your photo albums and select the images you want to transfer.
- Tap on the blue “UPLOAD” button at the top right corner. You’ll see a “Processing uploads” message at the bottom.
Next, on your Mac or Windows PC:
- Open Google Drive on the web or download the dedicated app.
- Sign in with the same Google account used on your iPhone.
- You will find all the uploaded files here. Simply select and download them to your PC.
This method allows you to easily transfer photos from your iPhone to your PC using Google Drive.
5. Transfer Files from Your iPhone to Your PC Over USB
Here’s how to manually transfer photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC:
- Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC using the USB cable.
- If prompted, add your iPhone as a trusted device in the permission window.
- Open File Explorer on your PC and locate your connected iPhone. Double-click to open it.
- Navigate to your iPhone’s internal storage, where you’ll find folders with cryptic names containing your photos and videos.
- Open these folders one by one to view and manually select the photos and videos you want to transfer. Alternatively, use the Ctrl + A shortcut to select all items, or hold Ctrl +C and click to select specific ones.
- Navigate to the destination folder on your PC where you want to paste the files.
- Use the Ctrl + V shortcut to paste the selected items into the desired location on your PC.
Once the transfer is complete, you can safely disconnect your iPhone from your PC. This method provides a direct way to copy photos and videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC manually. If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!
