Learn how to transfer photos and videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC using a USB cable. The guide covers tapping Trust This Computer, importing with the built-in Windows Photos app and copying manually from the DCIM folder in File Explorer. No iTunes sync needed. Duration: 6 min.
Video Transcript
In this tutorial we show you step by step how to transfer photos and videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC using a USB cable. This method does not need iTunes sync and works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
First, connect your iPhone to the PC with a USB to Lightning or USB to USB-C cable. The first time you connect, your iPhone shows a Trust This Computer prompt. Tap Trust and enter your iPhone passcode, otherwise Windows cannot see your photos.
The easiest way to import is the built-in Windows Photos app. Open the Start menu, launch Photos, then click the Import button at the top right and choose your iPhone from the connected device list. Windows shows thumbnails of all the photos and videos on the device. Select the ones you want, choose a destination folder and click Import.
If you prefer manual control, you can use File Explorer instead. Press Windows key plus E to open File Explorer, click This PC, and you will see your iPhone listed as Apple iPhone. Open it, then open Internal Storage and the DCIM folder. Inside are dated subfolders holding your camera roll. Drag and drop the photos you want into any folder on your PC.
One thing to keep in mind, if some photos are missing from the list, they are likely stored in iCloud rather than on the device. On your iPhone open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap Photos and choose Download and Keep Originals so the full resolution files live on the device before you transfer.
When you finish, safely eject the iPhone from the Windows system tray before unplugging it. That is how you move your iPhone photos to a Windows PC.
Watch the full video above to see exactly where to click, then follow the written 8 steps underneath.
What you'll see in this video
- Connecting the iPhone to the PC with a USB cable
- Tapping Trust This Computer on the iPhone
- Opening the Windows Photos app and clicking Import
- Choosing where to save the imported photos
- Browsing the DCIM folder in File Explorer as an alternative
What is the Best Way to Transfer iPhone Photos to a PC?
The simplest way to move photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC is a direct USB cable connection, with no iTunes sync required. Windows treats a connected iPhone as a camera device, so you can either import photos automatically with the built-in Windows Photos app or copy them by hand through File Explorer. Both methods work on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Photos app is best when you want to preview and pick photos quickly, while File Explorer gives you raw drag and drop access to the camera roll in the DCIM folder. The only setup step is tapping Trust This Computer on the iPhone so Windows is allowed to read the device storage.
8 Steps to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows PC
Follow along with the video above as you work through these steps. As shown in the clip, watch where the Import button sits in the Windows Photos app, and the DCIM folder path in File Explorer.
- Plug your iPhone into the Windows PC using a USB to Lightning or USB to USB-C cable. Use a cable that supports data transfer, not a charge-only cable.
- The first time you connect, your iPhone shows a Trust This Computer prompt. Tap Trust and enter your iPhone passcode. Windows cannot see your photos until you do this. Watch in the video above how the Trust This Computer prompt appears immediately after connecting.
- If some photos live only in iCloud, open Settings > your name > iCloud > Photos on the iPhone and choose Download and Keep Originals so the full files are on the device before transfer.
- On your PC, open the Start menu and launch the Photos app, which is built into Windows 10 and 11. No iTunes is required for this method.
- In the Photos app, click the Import button at the top right, then select your iPhone from the list of connected devices. Allow a few moments for Windows to detect it. As shown in the video, the DCIM folder is where Windows reads photos straight off the iPhone for manual copy.
- Windows shows thumbnails of the photos and videos on your iPhone. Tick the ones you want, choose a destination folder on your PC and click Import.
- To copy manually instead, press Windows key plus E, click This PC, open Apple iPhone, then Internal Storage and the DCIM folder. Drag the dated subfolders or individual photos to any folder on your PC.
- When the transfer finishes, use the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows system tray to eject the iPhone before unplugging the cable, so no files are corrupted.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Always tap Trust This Computer and unlock the iPhone first. A locked iPhone will not appear in File Explorer or the Photos app, which is the most common reason transfers seem to fail.
- Use a data-capable USB cable. Many cheap cables only carry power, not data, so the iPhone charges but never shows up as a device on the PC.
- Photos that are stored only in iCloud will not transfer over the cable. Download originals to the device first if your iPhone uses Optimise iPhone Storage.
- iPhone photos are often saved as HEIC and videos as HEVC. Windows 11 can open these, but on older systems you may need the free HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store to view them.
- Live Photos copy as two separate files, a .HEIC still image and a short .MOV video. Keep both together if you want to preserve the Live Photo effect in apps that support it.
Tips for a Smooth Transfer
- If the Import button finds nothing, unlock the iPhone and leave it on the Home screen during detection. The screen sometimes needs to stay awake for Windows to enumerate the photos.
- For very large camera rolls, the File Explorer method can be faster, since it skips building thumbnails for every photo before the copy starts.
- Create a dated folder on your PC (for example iPhone_May_2026) before importing, so each transfer stays organised and you can tell which photos you have already copied.
- After a big import, check the photo count on the PC against the iPhone before deleting anything from the phone. Confirm the files open correctly first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need iTunes to transfer iPhone photos to a PC?
No. The Windows Photos app and File Explorer both transfer photos over a USB cable without iTunes. iTunes is only needed for syncing music, backups or apps. To import photos you just connect the iPhone, tap Trust This Computer, and use the Photos app Import button or browse the DCIM folder in File Explorer.
Why can I not see my iPhone in File Explorer or Photos?
The most common reason is that the iPhone is locked or you have not tapped Trust This Computer. Unlock the phone, reconnect the cable and tap Trust, then enter your passcode. Also make sure you are using a data-capable USB cable, as charge-only cables will not show the device.
Why are some photos missing when I transfer?
Photos that are missing are usually stored in iCloud rather than on the device itself. On your iPhone open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then Photos, and choose Download and Keep Originals. Once the full files download to the phone, reconnect and they will appear in the import list.
Where are my iPhone photos stored on the device?
In File Explorer your iPhone appears under This PC as Apple iPhone. Open Internal Storage, then the DCIM folder. Your camera roll is organised into dated subfolders. Live Photos appear as a paired .HEIC image and .MOV video file.
What is the difference between the Photos app and File Explorer methods?
The Windows Photos app lets you preview thumbnails, pick photos and import them into a chosen folder in one step, which is easiest for most people. File Explorer gives manual drag and drop control over the raw DCIM folders but does not group photos by album, so you track which files you have copied yourself.