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Transfer Photos from Phone to Computer

Get photos and videos off your iPhone or Android and onto a Windows PC or Mac, with a cable or wirelessly.

Quick guide~10–20 minEasy
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Choose your method · 30 seconds

Cable or cloud?

  • With a cable: fastest for lots of photos, no internet needed, and full quality.
  • Through the cloud (iCloud Photos or Google Photos): automatic, wireless, and your photos are backed up too.

HOWMove your photos

Pick the method that suits you.

  1. Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store (or iTunes on older Windows).
  2. Connect the iPhone with a cable, unlock it, and tap Trust or Allow.
  3. Open the Photos app on Windows, click Import, choose your iPhone, select photos and import.
Seeing .HEIC files that won't open? On the iPhone, go to Settings › Apps › Photos and under Transfer to Mac or PC choose Automatic; the iPhone then converts them to JPEG as it copies.
  • Cable: connect, unlock and trust. Open the Photos app on the Mac, select the iPhone in the sidebar, choose photos and click Import.
  • AirDrop: for a handful of photos, select them on the iPhone, tap Share › AirDrop and choose your Mac.

On the iPhone, turn on Settings › your name › iCloud › Photos › Sync this iPhone. Then view and download them on any computer at icloud.com/photos, or turn on iCloud Photos in the Mac's Photos app or the iCloud for Windows app.

  1. Unlock the phone and connect it with a USB cable.
  2. Tap the Charging this device via USB notification and choose File transfer (or Transfer photos (PTP)).
  3. Windows: open File Explorer, click the phone, and copy the DCIM › Camera folder to your computer. Or use the Photos app's Import button.
  4. Mac: use the Image Capture app (built in) to import from the phone.
  • Google Photos: with backup on, every photo appears at photos.google.com. Select and download them on the computer.
  • Quick Share: on Windows, install Google's Quick Share app to send photos wirelessly from an Android phone.
🖼️
Photos transferred.

Open a few on the computer to check they copied properly before deleting anything from the phone.

Computer can't see the phone?
  • Try a different cable; some cheap cables only charge and can't transfer data.
  • Unlock the phone and check for a Trust or File transfer prompt.
  • Try a different USB port, directly on the computer rather than a hub.

FAQCommon questions

Why can't I open HEIC photos on Windows?

HEIC is the iPhone's space-saving format. Set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic on the iPhone, or install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store.

Will transferring delete the photos from my phone?

No, unless you choose to delete after importing. Check the photos on the computer first.

The import stops partway. What can I do?

Import in smaller batches, keep the phone unlocked, and turn off auto-lock temporarily.

What's the best way to keep photos safe?

Keep them in at least two places: the cloud and a computer or external drive.

MOREOfficial help

Apple SupportTransfer photos from your iPhone or iPad Android HelpTransfer files between your computer and Android device Android HelpShare files between Android and Windows with Quick Share

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