How to Transfer Pictures from iPhone to Computer: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Transferring photos from iPhone to a computer is a common problem encountered by many users. It can be frustrating when your phone’s storage overloads and you desperately need to transfer your photos to your computer. There are various methods to transfer photos from iPhone to computer, but most users are unaware of how to do it. This guide aims to provide an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide on different methods of transferring pictures from iPhone to computer.

Step-by-Step Guide

Manually transferring photos from iPhone to computer is a straightforward process. However, there are different methods of manually transferring photos depending on the type of computer you use. For Mac users, the process is easier as you can use the Photos app. Here are the steps to follow:

Connect your iPhone to your computer using a lightning cable.
Open the Photos app on your Mac.
Select the photos you want to transfer. You can select multiple photos by holding the Command key while clicking on each photo.
Click on the import icon on the top-right corner of the window.
Choose where you want your photos stored on your Mac and click on the ‘Import Selected’ button.
If you want to delete the photos from your iPhone after transferring them to your Mac, check the ‘Delete items’ checkbox.

For PC users, you need to use the Windows Photos app to transfer photos. Here are the steps:

Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable.
Unlock your iPhone and trust the computer on your device.
Open the Photos app on your PC.
Click ‘Import’ on the top-right corner of the window.
Select ‘From a USB device’ to import photos from your iPhone.
Select the photos you want to import and click the ‘Import Selected’ button.
You can also choose ‘Import All New Items’ to import all new photos from your device each time you plug it in.
If you want to delete the photos from your iPhone after importing them, check the ‘Always erase after importing’ checkbox.

Software Solutions

Third-party software solutions are another way to transfer photos from your iPhone to your computer. Here are some of the best software applications for transferring photos:

1. DearMob iPhone Manager

DearMob is a paid software that is regarded as one of the best for transferring files, especially photos. It can transfer photos, music, videos, and even whole playlists from iPhone to computer.

Features:

Encrypting files while transferring
Backing up files
Two-way transfer
Organizing files

Price: 1-year license starts at $29.95

2. iMazing

iMazing is a useful software that can transfer files between iPhone and computer, including photos. It can also backup important files and restore them on a new device.

Features:

iPhone Cleaner
Music Transfer
File Backup
Managing book

Price: 1-year license starts at $44.99

3. Tenorshare iCareFone

Tenorshare iCareFone is a versatile software that can transfer files between any device and computer. It can also help optimize your device’s performance.

Features:

File Backup and Restore
Clean Temporary files
Restore without iTunes
Indepth Diagnostics

Price: 1-year license starts at $49.95

Using iTunes

iTunes is another way to transfer photos from iPhone to computer, and it’s relatively simple for most users. Here are the steps:

Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone via lightning cable.
Trust the computer on your iPhone if it’s the first time you are using it.
Click on the iPhone icon that appears in iTunes.
Select ‘Photos’ from the left-hand side of the screen.
Check the ‘Sync Photos’ checkbox and select the folder where you want your photos transferred to.
Click on the sync button at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Wait for your photos to transfer to your computer.

It’s important to note that syncing your iPhone to iTunes will overwrite all previous photos stored on your computer.

Cloud Services

Cloud services provide a convenient and efficient method of storing and transferring photos. Here are some of the popular cloud services:

1. iCloud

iCloud is an Apple service that allows you to store your photos, contacts, and other files on the cloud. It is perfect for users who own multiple Apple devices and need to access their photos from different devices.

Features:

Automatic backups of files
Organize photos based on location or date
Share photos with friends and family
15 GB Free Storage

Limitations: If you exceed the free storage limit, you’ll need to pay for additional storage. Plus, it’s an Apple exclusive service; non-Apple devices cannot use iCloud.

2. Google Photos

Google Photos is an online picture and video storage platform that offers unlimited free storage for high-quality (not full resolution) photos

Features:

Automatically backs up photos and videos
Organizes pictures by event or people
Cleans up storage by removing any unwanted clutter
Unlimited Free Storage (for high quality)

Limitations: It uses high-quality compression, which results in reducing the resolution of the pictures. If you want full res photos, it’ll get stored in Google Drive and counts against the storage limit.

Wireless Transfer

Wireless transfer is the quickest and most convenient method of transferring photos from iPhone to PC. Apple’s Airdrop is the most common wireless transfer method. Here are the steps:

Open the Photos app on your iPhone and select the photos you want to transfer.
Tap on the ‘Share’ icon on the bottom-left corner of your iPhone screen.
Choose the Airdrop option and select your PC or Mac from the list.
On your computer, accept the incoming Airdrop request, and your photos will transfer wirelessly.

It’s important to note that Airdrop is only available on Apple devices and they should be near each other with Bluetooth and WiFi turned on for the transfer to work.

Conclusion

There are numerous ways to transfer photos from iPhone to computer. It’s important to choose the method that is most convenient for you. If you need to transfer a large number of photos, third-party software solutions like DearMob iPhone Manager, Tenorshare iCareFone and iMazing offer a quick and easy transfer process whereas if you want to maintain specific organisation, manual selection may suit you better. Wireless and Cloud transfer methods can be most convenient for users who want to transfer their photos almost instantaneously with minimum effort. With a step-by-step guide for each method, this should be easier for you to choose from the various transfer options.

We recommended that you backup your photos as frequently as possible. Use one or more of the above transfer options to ensure you always keep a backup copy of your important images.