You probably already know how to back up iPhone photos to your computer. Now that you’ve tweaked and edited them to your heart’s content, you might also be wondering: how to transfer photos from computer back to iPhone? And we are here to help!
There are many ways to transfer your images from PC to iPhone, starting with iTunes and ending with different cloud solutions. If you are dissatisfied with standard methods, you may also seek help with specialized software like CopyTrans Photo. In this article, you will find a comprehensive overview of all the ways to transfer photos from PC to iPhone. Keep on reading for detailed info or choose one of the ways below:
Nov 19, 2018 The photos should immediately appear on your iPhone and any other device having the same iCloud account signed in. If that does not happen, check if iCloud Photo Library is enabled on your iPhone or iPad: Settings Your Name iCloud Photos iCloud Photos. Disadvantages: Everything that you store in iCloud makes it to the Apple servers as well.
May 08, 2020.
The OneDrive app can automatically upload photos taken on your iPhone. Your uploaded photos can be seen on your Surface too. Upload your photos to OneDrive. On your iPhone, get the OneDrive app from the Apple App Store. In the OneDrive app, sign in with your Microsoft account. Do one of the following.
Jun 01, 2020.
How to transfer photos from computer to iPhone with CopyTrans Photo
If you are looking for a quick way to transfer your images to iPhone, we have a solution just for you: CopyTrans Photo. The app has an intuitive interface, gets things done quickly and you can see thumbnails of all the files you’re operating at any moment. The process of transfer is intuitive, but you can always see our instructions below!
Here is how to transfer photos from PC to iPhone:
If you haven’t done so already, download and install CopyTrans Photo:
Launch CopyTrans Photo. Connect your iPhone to PC with a USB cable. If prompted to trust PC, press “Trust”.
You will see your iPhone library on the left and your PC library on the right:
Create a new album in your iPhone’s Photo Library. Click on the album: the working area on the left will display the contents (no files there for now).
Using the folder tree on the right, navigate to the PC folder with the photos you want to transfer.
Drag and Drop the files from the right working area to the left.
Click on “Apply Changes” and wait for the syncing process to complete.
All done! Your photos are now waiting for you in the folder “From my Mac” on your iPhone.
Some advantages of using CopyTrans Photo:
The app will save photos from your PC in the native Photos app on iPhone. It will also successfully transfer the EXIF data (date created, location, etc) and preserve the order of images.
You can also transfer videos from PC to iPhone if they are not larger than 1Gb. They will also appear in the native Photos app after transfer.
CopyTrans Photo is not a cloud solution and you don’t have to have iCloud Photos enabled in order to use it. CopyTrans Photo doesn’t require an internet connection.
Another key benefit for users of iPhone 7 and above: the program supports HEIC photos. It can view and transfer HEIC photos, and even convert HEIC to JPG.
Some disadvantages:
CopyTrans Photo will transfer the first 100 photos for free, and then ask you to purchase a license with us (or get more free actions by spreading word about the product). But you can always try first and consult our 24/7 support service if you have any questions.
The app does not do automatic syncing and places the photos into Photo Library. However, CopyTrans Photo will provide a much greater opportunity for creating and editing Photo Library albums then iTunes, and once you’ve organized all the photos there you can just copy them to Camera Roll on your device.
How to transfer photos to iPhone using iTunes
The first app that comes to mind when you think about transferring photos to iPhone is, of course, iTunes. Apple-based solution, it will allow you to transfer files to your iPhone quickly. However, as with so many Apple products, the whole process is tainted by some weird-flavoured magic, leaving behind a bitter taste and a silent question of whether it was really worth it (read on for an explanation).
To transfer photos from PC to iPhone with iTunes:
Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to PC with a USB cable.
Click on the device icon in the top-left corner of iTunes window.
From the panel on the left, choose “Photos”.
Tick the box “Sync photos” and choose the folder from which to import photos to your iPhone (Copy photos from -> Choose folder).
Click on “Done” and wait until iTunes finishes syncing your photos.
Well done! The photos now reside on your iPhone. To browse through them, navigate to “From my Mac” album.
We would not recommend using this method because of the following disadvantages:
You will only be able to sync one folder at any time. If you change the folder later, your previous images will be erased.
The operation will erase all the images previously stored in Photo Library (your Camera Roll photos will stay intact).
Images in the Photo Library can only be changed/deleted from the PC, and iTunes won’t let you delete the images separately – only do a full resync. To be able to create and edit the content of albums inside Photo Library, you can use CopyTrans Photo.
The sync will not be automatic anyway. You will need to relaunch it every time you need to introduce changes.
Upload photos to iCloud
If you are using iCloud Photos (former iCloud Photo Library), your photos will be automatically backed up to Apple’s cloud service – iCloud. Since the sync happens automatically in the background, the question still remains: how to upload photos to iCloud from PC? For that, you’ll need iCloud.com!
You log in, select the Photos section in the main menu and immediately see your iCloud Photo Library on your computer screen. To put photos on iCloud, click on the “Upload photos” button at the top-right corner and select the photos you want to import.
The photos should immediately appear on your iPhone and any other device having the same iCloud account signed in. If that does not happen, check if iCloud Photo Library is enabled on your iPhone or iPad: Settings> Your Name> iCloud> Photos> iCloud Photos.
Disadvantages:
Everything that you store in iCloud makes it to the Apple servers as well. If you want to delete some images forever, they will disappear from your account but not from the Apple servers. We even conducted an investigation and created a tool that can recover deleted photos from iCloud.
On icloud.com, you can manually sort the uploaded images by album. But within an album, the photos are sorted by the transfer date and you cannot change this order online.
Another major drawback is that if you disable iCloud Photo Library and turn it back on after some time, any pictures you previously added to iPhone with iTunes (or any other third-party app like CopyTrans Photo) will get deleted. That’s why you should be extra careful with this setting and regularly backup your cloud photos to a computer.
Send pictures from computer to iPhone via Google Drive
If you have a Google account, you are automatically eligible for 15Gb of free storage on Google Drive (originally SkyDrive). However, Google Drive shares this storage space with other apps, like Gmail and Google Photos.
Download Photos From Your Iphone To You Watch
In order to use this option, you will need to download the official Google Drive app on your computer and your iOS device. Once you run Google Drive on your PC, create a new folder and copy photos to iPhone. The folder will appear with the photos on iPhone in the Google Drive app.
You can create additional folders to transfer multiple photos to iPhone and move them between folders. There is also a possibility to sort photos within one folder by date or by name.
Disadvantages:
The uploaded photos will not be saved in the native Photos app on iPhone but in the Google Drive app.
You cannot edit the photos within the app without first copying them into the native folder – double work.
Dropbox: add photos to iPhone from PC without iTunes
Dropbox offers only 2GB of free storage to their users. On the other hand, you do not have to install the program on the PC. In order to transfer photos from a computer to iPhone, save your data online on dropbox.com directly: log in, create a folder and upload the photos from the computer. After that, go to the Dropbox app on your iPhone to see your imported pictures.
Disadvantages:
Unfortunately, you can only upload individual photos, since Dropbox does not allow importing a folder.
Images will possibly lose in quality.
Although you can import HEIC photos, there will be no possibility to open them.
Transfer photos to iPhone with OneDrive
With Microsoft’s OneDrive you get 5Gb of storage space for free. Just like Google Drive, it requires you to install the official OneDrive app on both your computer and iDevice to transfer photos to iPhone. Drag the desired files or entire albums to the program window and after a few seconds, you will see the images the iPhone in the OneDrive app.
The photos are transferred in the original quality including the date created. You can also choose to sort the photos automatically by tags.
Disadvantages:
The photos will not make it to the Photos app; instead, they will be placed to OneDrive app, which should be installed on the iPhone beforehand.
OneDrive app does not provide built-in image editing, nor support for HEIC photos: if you place HEIC images in OneDrive, you won’t be able to view them or copy to the Photos app.
BONUS
Pro-Tip: After you’ve transferred your photos to your iPhone, use a photo editing tool like Instasize to improve how your photos look before uploading them to your feed! Choose any image on your iPhone to improve color settings, size, aspect ratio, or even make a colourful collage. Check it out yourself!
Conclusion
If you don’t trust cloud solutions, find iTunes hard to use and want to keep your photos in the native Photo app, CopyTrans Photo is the best solution for you. The program allows managing iPhone photos and videos on PC and has several unbeatable advantages such as managing Live Photos, viewing pictures in HEIC format, keeping excellent quality, order and EXIF files, and much more. Give it a go today!
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How to import photos from iPhone to PC? This article shows you 6 ways to transfer photos from iPhone to the computer(Windows PC & Mac) and works for all iPhones like iPhone 12/11/Xs/X/XR/8/7/6s/6.
iPhone Data to Computer
AnyTrans – Full-way iPhone Photos Transfer
Free download AnyTrans to 1-click to transfer all photos and videos from iPhone to the computer (Windows & Mac).
I cannot figure out how to import my photos from my iPhone to a folder on my Windows PC. This is my first iPhone and I am not used to iTunes or the sync features. So far I can get it to sync photos from the photo folder on my pc, but not take them from the iPhone and put them on my PC!
Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer
One day, you’ll find Photos App becomes the biggest storage consumer which may take you more than 30GB (a large number for a 64GB device) or even more on your iPhone. Photos take 47GB of my 128GB iPhone 11, which is a lot. At this moment, you have to consider transferring all photos from iPhone to your computer and deleting them to free up space. How do I transfer my photos from my iPhone to my home computer? Here you will get 6 ways to move your iPhone photos to the computer (Windows or Mac).
Transfer & Manage iPhone Photos with AnyTrans
To transfer and manage all your iPhone photos in one place, here we recommend you an iPhone data manager – AnyTrans, which makes it easy to export, import, delete iPhone photos to anywhere you like.
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There are two options to transfer iPhone photos to computer with AnyTrans: 1-click to export all iPhone photos or choose some specific photos to transfer. Here we will show you how to preview and transfer iPhone photos to computer with AnyTrans.
1. First of all, you need to free download AnyTrans on your PC or Mac computer, install and run it.
2. Run AnyTrans, and then connect your iPhone to the computer with its USB cable > Under Device Manager > Click Photos.
Go to Device Manager and Click Photos
3. Select the album with photos you want to transfer to PC, like My Photos (including Places, People, and more), Albums, Recently Deleted, etc.
4. Select the photos you want to transfer > Click Send to PC (or Mac) button to get selected iPhone photos to your computer.
Select Photos and Send to PC
5. When the transferring process finished, all the photos exported from the iPhone will be saved on your computer in the right folder. And you’ll find all the photos are organized in folders like Live Photos, Camera Roll, Panoramas, etc.
Video Tutorial to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer
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Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC Windows 10
How do I transfer photos from iPhone to computer without iTunes? Just like the Photos App on Mac, Windows 10 also has a Photos App. If you are working with a Windows 10 computer like this, follow us to transfer photos from iPhone to PC with Photos App as below steps:
Download the latest iTunes on your computer.
Plug your iPhone with a USB cable and the Photos app should pop up. Open the Photos app from the Start menu if it doesn’t launch automatically.
Unlock your iPhone and trust the computer.
Click the Import button from the Photos app in the top right corner.
Choose “from a USB Device”, which will allow you to import photos from your iPhone to your PC.
It will start searching for photos on your iPhone, choose photos you want to import, and then click Import again.
Choose photos you want to import and then click Continue again. Select where you want to save the photos.
Once it finished importing the photos, they can be found in folders within your Pictures folder.
Transfer iPhone Photos with Windows Photos
Import Photos to Computer with File Explorer
Windows treats the iPhone as a digital camera or file system, so you can import photos from iPhone to PC with File Explorer (named Windows Explorer on Windows 7). Follow the steps below to import photos from iPhone to PC with File Explorer:
Install the latest version of iTunes on your computer.
Connect your iPhone to PC > Open This PC from the desktop to launch File Explorer or press theWindows key + Eshortcut on your keyboard.
Find your iPhone it will appear under Portable Devices Sections.
Double click your iPhone icon to open your iPhone > You’ll see the Internal Storage icon > Double click it to open it.
You’ll see the DCIM folder that is the Camera Roll folder > Double click open it > Open one folder to see if it contains the photos you want to transfer.
Select the photos you like and copy them > Paste them to the desired folder of your PC.
Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC Windows 7
How do I transfer photos from iPhone to Windows 7? You can get photos off iPhone with AutoPlay on Windows 7. When transferring photos via AutoPlay, you can’t import a single picture you want, instead, you need to import all iPhone photos it supported. Here is how to Import iPhone photos to a Windows 7 PC:
Download the latest iTunes on your computer.
Connect your iPhone to the Windows 7 PC, and unlock it to trust the computer on your iPhone.
If the AutoPlay window appears, click “Import Pictures and Videos using Windows”.
Click the Import Settings link > Change the folder to which your Camera Roll’s photos will be imported by clicking the Browse button next to the “Import to” field.
After setting up your import options, click OK > Choose a tag if desired and click the Import button.
Recently, some users reported that photos won’t upload on Windows due to they are saved in HEIC format. It is not clear whether because of the format. But, if you’re facing this problem too, here are two fixes for you:
1. Give a try on a hassle-free iMobie HEIC converter to change these photos to JPG afterward try again. Here is a detailed guide which tells you how to do that with this tool: How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Computer >
2. Using AnyTrans to transfer HEIC photos to the computer directly because it supports auto conversion during the transferring process. What you need to do is set up the export format of HEIC photos before starting.
Transfer iPhone Photos to PC with iCloud Photos
iCloud Photos on Windows helps you sync photos from iPhone to iCloud, so you can easily download the pictures from iCloud to your PC. Here is how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC with iCloud Photos, follow the steps below:
Enable iCloud Photos or iCloud Photos Library based on your device: Tap Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos (or iCloud Photo Library).
Now photos will be uploaded to iCloud with Wi-Fi.
Download the iCloud for Windows app onto your computer > Install it on your PC > Then sign in using your Apple ID the same as the one on your iPhone.
Check Photo > Then select Download new photos and videos to my PC > Click Done > Apply.
From now on new photos you take with your iPhone will now automatically transferred to your PC whenever you have Wi-Fi.
To download photos from iCloud, open Windows File Explorer on Windows.
Click on This PC (or Computer on Windows 7) on the left of the screen. Double-click on iCloud Photos.
Then double-click on Downloads. Now you can view your iCloud folders of photos.
Why Can’t I Transfer Photos from iPhone to PC? FAQs
You may meet some problems when transfer iPhone photos with the above ways, here are faqs related to the iPhone photo transfer issues on Windows computer:
We have a detailed guide to help you fix the iPhone DCIM folder empty issue, here are the main solutions you can try:
Make sure your iPhone allows your PC to access it: go to settings on iphone > Reset > Reset location & Privacy > Unplug the cable and plug back in.
On your PC click on the Start menu > Open Device Manager > Expand Portable Devices > Right-click on Apple iPhone > Select Uninstall and tick the box beside Delete the driver software for this device > Click OK > Unplug your iPhone and restart your computer. After the computer restarted, plug in your iPhone and check if the issue persists.
Make sure the DCIM folder is not hidden by you: Open File Explorer on your PC > Go to View > Show/Hide > Check if the DCIM folder is hidden.
2. A device attached to the system is not functioning
This error may occur when your iPhone has a connectivity issue with the PC. Another possible reason is that on Windows 10 when you copy your HEIF or HEVC photos on your iPhone to a PC, they are automatically converted to JPEG formats. However, during the process that the error “A device attached to the system does not work correctly” can occur.
Reconnect your iPhone to your computer and try a different USB port or a different USB cable.
Restart your computer and your iPhone.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos > Transfer To MAC or PC > Keep Originals.
Update iTunes to the latest version on your PC.
Download Photos From Iphone 6s To Computer
3. “File Explorer” Not Showing on Windows 10
To open File Explorer in Windows 10, you can:
Press the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard
Select Start > Documents
Open This PC from the desktop
To fix File Explorer not showing on pc, you can try:
Check for update for your Windows: Select the Start button > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Open Start button on PC > Settings > System > Display > Change the size of the text to 100%. Don’t set it to 175%.
Open My PC or any folder on your PC > Find Quick Access > right click it and click Options > Clear File Explorer history.
4. My computer does not recognize my iPhone
If your computer does not recognize the iPhone or iPhone not showing up on PC/Mac, try the tips below:
Unplug and plugin your iPhone several times.
Restart your iPhone or computer.
Try a different USB cable.
Update the device driver: On your PC, click the Start button > Open Device Manager > Expand the Portable Devices > Right-click on the device name and choose Update driver > Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. The device is unreachable iPhone
While trying to import photos and videos from your iPhone onto your PC, you may get the error message “the device is unreachable”, you can fix this by: Open your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos > Transfer To MAC or PC > Keep Originals.
6. Can’t transfer large videos or transfer freezes
Many people complain that when transferring hundreds of photos or larger size videos (4K videos), Windows Photos or File Explorer automatically stops transferring it. For this issue, we recommend you try AnyTrans, it does a great job of transferring large videos or multiple files from your iPhone to PC or Mac.
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Bonus Tip: Import Photos from iPhone to PC Wirelessly
If there is no USB cable available or your iPhone cannot be recognized by your computer, then you can try the AnyTrans app to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac wirelessly.
Easiest Way To Download Photos From Your Iphone
Now, connect your iPhone to PC with the same Wi-Fi, and then do as the following steps:
Step 1. Install the AnyTrans app on your iPhone. You can download it by clicking the below button or directly search AnyTrans on App Store.
Step 2. On your PC, enter anytrans.io in your browser, and you’ll see a QR code.
How to Import Photos from iPhone to PC Wirelessly – Step 2
Step 3. On your iPhone, open the AnyTrans app you just installed and tap on the Scan button to scan the QR code on your computer.
Step 4. Then all your iPhone photos will show up on the computer. Select the photos you want to transfer and click the “Download” button to start transferring photos from iPhone to PC.
How to Import Photos from iPhone to PC Wirelessly – Step 4
What If You Are Working with a Mac?
For Mac users, the easiest way to transfer iPhone photos to Mac is using Mac’s Photos app, here is how:
Download the latest version of iTunes on your Mac. Importing photos to your Mac requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later. Connect your iPhone with a USB cable.
Unlock your iPhone and Trust your Mac. On your Mac, the Photos app will automatically open. If it doesn’t, open the Photos app from the LaunchPad.
Click the Import tab at the top of the Photos app and choose photos you want to import to your computer then click Import Selected.
You can also click Import All New Photos to import all new photos quickly.
To learn more ways of transferring photos from iPhone to Mac like using Image Capture, AirDrop, Preview, please read this guide – How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Mac to get iPhone photos to Mac computer.
The Bottom Line
Besides copying photos from iPhone to computer, AnyTrans also supports transferring other iOS contents, like Contacts, Messages, Videos, Notes, Voice Mails, Music, etc. Now Download AnyTrans to Try It For Free >
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