To transfer photos from iPhone to a Windows PC, install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store, plug your iPhone in with a USB cable, enter your passcode and tap Trust, then import with the Microsoft Photos app. If you use iCloud Photos, download the full-resolution originals to your iPhone first, or use iCloud Photos on the PC instead.
Getting photos off an iPhone and onto a Windows computer trips up a lot of people, mostly because two things get in the way: the phone not trusting the PC, and photos that live in iCloud rather than on the phone. Sort those two out and the transfer itself is straightforward.
What you need before you start
- A USB cable that fits your iPhone and a free port on the PC.
- The Apple Devices app, installed from the Microsoft Store.
- Your iPhone passcode, because you'll be asked to confirm on the phone.
- Enough free space on the PC for the photos you're moving.
Importing over a USB cable, step by step
- Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store if you haven't already.
- Connect your iPhone to the PC with the USB cable.
- If asked, enter your iPhone passcode.
- If your iPhone asks whether to Trust This Computer, tap Trust or Allow.
- Open the Microsoft Photos app on the PC and use its import option to bring the pictures across.
Apple's own help page sends you to Microsoft for the import steps inside the Photos app, because that part is Windows software. The bit Apple controls is getting the PC and phone talking: the Apple Devices app, the cable and that Trust prompt.
Two routes compared
| Route | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| USB cable and Microsoft Photos | You import a batch whenever you plug in | Photos stored only in iCloud won't come across until downloaded |
| iCloud Photos | Pictures stay available on your Apple devices, iCloud.com and your PC | Uses your iCloud storage for the whole library |
The iCloud Photos catch
This is where most transfers go wrong. If you've got iCloud Photos turned on, many of your pictures may not be stored at full size on the phone itself. Apple says you must download the original, full-resolution versions to your iPhone before you import to your PC. Otherwise you may find photos missing from the import, or only some of them coming across.
The alternative is to skip the cable entirely. Apple says iCloud Photos keeps your photos and videos available on all your Apple devices, on iCloud.com and on your PC, and it always uploads and stores your original, full-resolution photos. If your library's already in iCloud, that's often the simpler route for a Windows user.
Fixing photos Windows won't open
Newer iPhones save photos in a format that older Windows setups may not open easily. Apple's fix is to change how the camera saves new pictures:
- Open Settings and tap Camera.
- Tap Formats.
- Tap Most Compatible.
From then on, Apple says your camera captures photos and videos in JPEG and H.264 formats. Note that this only changes photos you take after switching. It won't convert pictures already in your library, so it's worth doing before a big shoot you'll need on the PC.
If the PC doesn't see your iPhone
- Keep the phone unlocked and on the Home Screen while you plug in.
- Look for the Trust This Computer prompt on the iPhone. If you tapped Don't Trust by mistake, unplug and plug in again.
- Try a different USB cable or a different port on the PC.
- Open the Apple Devices app and check your iPhone appears in the sidebar.
Apple's storage help page notes that when your iPhone is connected, selecting it in the Apple Devices app shows a bar of how much space each type of content uses. If you can see that, the PC can see your phone and the problem is on the import side.
Keeping things organised once they're on the PC
Before you import, make a folder for the batch with a clear name, such as the client and the shoot. It's much easier than sorting thousands of files called IMG later. Once you're sure the photos have copied, open a few to check they look right before you delete anything from your iPhone.
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And if you use iCloud Photos, I'd treat the PC copy as a backup rather than a reason to clear out the phone. Your library is meant to stay in sync across your Apple devices, so think it through before you start deleting pictures to make space.
When to use which route
- One-off job, such as event photos for a client: cable and Microsoft Photos.
- Ongoing, every photo, always available: iCloud Photos on the PC.
- Sharing a handful of pictures: sending them by email or a shared folder is quicker than either.
My take
If you use iCloud Photos, don't fight it: use it on the PC and save yourself the cable. If you don't, the cable works well, as long as you tap Trust and switch the camera to Most Compatible if Windows struggles with the files. Before you post the photos anywhere, read my piece on whether Facebook compresses photos, and if you'd rather not move files by hand every time, my roundup of Google Photos alternatives covers the cloud options.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need iTunes to transfer photos to a Windows PC?
Apple's current help page says to install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store, then import with the Microsoft Photos app.
Why are some photos missing when I import?
If iCloud Photos is on, Apple says you must download the full-resolution originals to your iPhone before importing.
Why won't Windows open my iPhone photos?
Switch Settings, Camera, Formats to Most Compatible so new photos are saved as JPEG and videos as H.264.
What does Trust This Computer mean?
It lets the PC access your iPhone's photos. Tap Trust or Allow when you plug in.
Can I get my iPhone photos on a PC without a cable?
Yes. Apple says iCloud Photos makes your photos available on your PC as well as your Apple devices.
