What To Do If You Can't Transfer Photos From iPhone To PC

The other day I found that I couldn’t transfer photos from my iPhone to my Windows 10 PC. It was frustrating but I did some research and some fiddling and I was able to get it done. Follow along for what to do when you can’t transfer photos from iPhone to PC.

Transfer Photos From iPhone To PC

Apple has a recommended process for downloading pictures from an iPhone to a PC. Hence, I’ll start with that. If you follow the steps as outlined, then you should have no problems.

Transfer Using Windows 10

Connect your iPhone to the PC using the Lightning cable.
Unlock your iPhone.
When prompted, tap to Trust This Computer on the iPhone (for first-time connections).
On your PC, open the Photos app.
Select Import > From a USB Device.
Follow the on-screen instructions to select and save your photos.

Transfer Using Windows 8

Connect your iPhone to the PC using your Lightning cable.
Unlock your iPhone.
When prompted, tap to Trust This Computer on the iPhone (for first-time connections).
On your PC, launch the Photos app.
Swipe up or right-click and select Import
Choose your iPhone from the available devices
Choose which photos you want and select Import

Transfer Using Windows 7

Connect your iPhone to the PC using a Lightning cable.
Unlock your iPhone.
If prompted, tap to Trust This Computer on the iPhone.
If prompted, click Import pictures and videos using Windows.
Otherwise, go to My Computer > Right-click your iPhone > Click Import pictures and videos.
Click Import.

That’s all there is to it. By following the above steps for your specific Windows computer, you should successfully download your iPhone images to your PC.

Likewise, you may have iCloud Photo library enabled. If you do, here’s another way to move your photos from your iPhone to your Windows PC.

Use iCloud Photo Library

iCloud Photo Library can store photos in the cloud and then delete the images from your iPhone. However, you can always go to iCloud.com and sign-in on a computer and see all the images.

There is also an iCloud client for Windows that you can download to manage your photo library. With either option, you can view and download images to your PC.

Troubleshooting

However, if you run into problems and can’t transfer your pictures from your iPhone to your PC, here are a few troubleshooting tips. Once you go through each of the troubleshooting tips, try to import your photos again after each one.

Update Device Software

To ensure that the transfer process succeeds you need to have the latest version of iTunes, iOS, and Windows. Check for updates for each using the links below:

I recommend downloading the iPhone update via iTunes. This way, even if your iPhone storage is full, the update download on your PC and then installs on your iPhone.

Unlock Your iPhone

Did you keep your iPhone unlocked during the transfer? As a security measure, your iPhone will not transfer photos to your PC if it is locked.

Keep your iPhone unlocked during the process and be sure to read through any prompts and follow the instructions as necessary. It is important that you select “Trust” when the “Trust This Computer?” prompt appears.

Check Lightning Cable & Connections

A faulty connection between your iPhone and PC can also hinder or prevent the transfer of photos. Hence, it won’t hurt to run a few checks on your lightning cable and connection ports.

Test Physical Connections

Use a different Lightning cable.
Connect to a different USB port on the PC.
Try a different PC.
Try to import photos from a different iPhone.

If any of the above works, then you can conclude that there is a fault in with the different component with regard to your iPhone/connection. It’s best to get a replacement part or, in the case of iPhone hardware issues, take it to a repair shop (preferably Apple or Apple Certified).

And if you still can’t transfer photos from iPhone to PC you should also contact Apple Customer Care.

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What To Do If You Can’t Transfer Photos From iPhone To PC