How to Transfer Photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC

Bridging the Gap Between Apple and Microsoft

If you use an iPhone alongside a Mac, moving photos is practically effortless thanks to AirDrop and seamless iCloud integration. However, if you use an iPhone but work on a Windows PC, transferring a large batch of holiday photos or backing up your camera roll to an external hard drive requires a different approach.

Because Apple and Microsoft build their operating systems differently, plugging your iPhone into a Windows computer can sometimes feel clunky. Fortunately, there are three highly effective methods for transferring your photos, depending on whether you prefer a traditional physical cable, cloud synchronisation, or wireless transfer.

Method 1: The Traditional USB Cable (Fastest for Large Batches)

If you are trying to move hundreds of high-resolution photos or large 4K video files, relying on Wi-Fi will take too long. A physical USB cable provides the fastest and most stable connection.

1. Unlock your iPhone and keep the screen on.
2. Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC using an Apple Lightning to USB cable (or USB-C to USB-C cable for iPhone 15 models).
3. Look at your iPhone screen. A prompt will appear asking, “Allow this device to access photos and videos?” Tap Allow. If you do not tap this, your PC will not be able to see the files.
4. On your Windows PC, open the Photos app (you can find this by clicking the Start button and typing “Photos”).
5. In the top right corner of the Photos app, click the Import icon (it looks like a square with a downward-pointing arrow).
6. Select From a connected device.
7. Windows will scan your iPhone and display a grid of all your photos and videos. You can individually click the photos you want to transfer, or use the drop-down menu at the top to Select All.
8. Click the blue Import [X] items button.

By default, Windows will save these files into your main “Pictures” folder. If you want to save them to an external hard drive instead, click the gear icon in the import window to change the destination folder before you click Import.

Troubleshooting Tip: If the transfer keeps failing halfway through, open the Settings app on your iPhone, go to Photos, scroll to the very bottom, and change the “Transfer to Mac or PC” setting from “Automatic” to “Keep Originals”. This stops the iPhone from trying to convert the files during the transfer, which often causes errors on Windows.

Method 2: Using the Windows iCloud App (Best for Continuous Syncing)

If you do not want to plug in a cable every time you take a new photo, you can use Apple’s official iCloud software for Windows to keep your PC continuously updated over the internet.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows PC.
2. Search for iCloud and install the official Apple app.
3. Open the iCloud app and sign in using your Apple ID and password.
4. When the options menu appears, ensure the checkbox next to Photos is ticked.
5. Click Apply.

Now, open the standard Windows File Explorer (the yellow folder icon). Look at the left-hand navigation pane, and you will see a new folder labelled iCloud Photos. Any photo you take on your iPhone will automatically download into this folder as long as both devices are connected to the internet. If you delete a photo from this folder on your PC, it will also be deleted from your iPhone.

Method 3: Using a Cloud Storage Service (Best for Small Transfers)

If you only need to move a handful of photos and you do not want to install the iCloud app or search for a cable, using a third-party cloud service like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox is the easiest wireless method.

Because you are transferring to a Windows PC, Microsoft OneDrive is highly recommended, as it is already pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11.

1. Download the Microsoft OneDrive app from the App Store onto your iPhone.
2. Open the app and sign in with your Microsoft account (the same one you use on your PC).
3. Tap the + (Plus) icon at the top of the screen and select Upload.
4. Select Photos and Videos, choose the images you want to transfer, and tap Done.
5. Wait for the upload to finish on your phone.
6. Go to your Windows PC and open File Explorer. Click on the OneDrive folder in the left-hand sidebar. Your photos will be sitting there waiting for you, and you can drag them onto your desktop or anywhere else you like.