Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn how to transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or PC. You can also make your photos available on all your devices with iCloud Photos.

iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos keeps your photos and videos safe, up to date, and available automatically on all of your Apple devices, on iCloud.com, and even your PC. When you use iCloud Photos, you don’t need to import photos from one iCloud device to another. iCloud Photos always uploads and stores your original, full-resolution photos. You can keep full-resolution originals on each of your devices, or save space with device-optimized versions instead. Either way, you can download your originals whenever you need them. Any organizational changes or edits you make are always kept up to date across all your Apple devices. Learn how to set up and use iCloud Photos.

The photos and videos that you keep in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage. Before you turn on iCloud Photos, make sure that you have enough space in iCloud to store your entire collection. You can see how much space you need and then upgrade your storage plan if necessary.

Import to your Mac

You can use the Photos app to import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac.

1. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Open the Photos app on your computer.
3. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn’t automatically appear, click the device’s name in the Photos sidebar.
4. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust to continue.
5. Choose where you want to import your photos. Next to «Import to,» you can choose an existing album or create a new one.
6. Select the photos you want to import and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Photos.
   
7. Wait for the process to finish, then disconnect your device from your Mac.

Import to your PC

You can import photos to your PC by connecting your device to your computer and using the Windows Photos app:

1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes on your PC. Importing photos to your PC requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later.
2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your PC with a USB cable.
3. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode.
4. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust or Allow to continue.

If you have iCloud Photos turned on, you need to download the original, full resolution versions of your photos to your iPhone before you import to your PC. Find out how.

When you import videos from your iOS or iPadOS device to your PC, some might be rotated incorrectly in the Windows Photos app. You can add these videos to iTunes to play them in the correct orientation.

If you’re having trouble importing photos from your iOS or iPadOS device to Windows 10, try these steps:

1. On your iOS or iPadOS device, open the Settings app. Tap Camera, then tap Formats.
2. Tap Most Compatible. From now on, your camera will create photos and videos in JPEG and H.264 formats.

Complete Guide to Importing Your Photos in Windows 10

Technical Level : Basic

The computer remains a central hub in our digital lives. We use it to manage a lot of things including finances, digital media such as photos, music, finding and storing information, creating content such as documents, presentations and all sorts of other productive tasks. Windows 10 as much as it may seem different, is still familiar and easy to use in many ways. A lot of persons have been asking about importing photos onto their Windows 10 device or PC. The procedure is exceptionally easy to do so I decided to prepare this article to show you how to import them, whether it’s a traditional point and shoot digital camera, a smartphone such as the iPhone, Windows Phone or even an Android device.

Digital Camera

You need to have a USB Cable if you want to import directly from the camera. The cable should have been included in the box that came with your digital camera. If you don’t have a USB cable, see instructions further down in this article for you can use the SD card in your camera.

Connect the cable to the micro-USB port then insert the USB male end into the USB port on your computer.

Make sure the camera is turned on.

If this is the first time you are connecting your digital camera to your computer, Windows 10 might need to initialize it and install appropriate drivers.

Importing Pictures and Videos wizard

If you are accustomed to importing photos using the Import Pictures and Videos wizard, you can still do so in Windows 10. Click Start > File Explorer > This PC. You should see the camera appear under Devices. Right click it then click Import pictures and videos.

This will start the Camera import wizard. Go with the default option then click Next.

If you want to customize where Photos and Videos are stored, click More options at the bottom left corner. Click Browse then choose where you want your photos and videos to be stored automatically.

The Camera wizard displays your photos in groups according to date and time. You can click Enter name field then enter an appropriate name. You can also uncheck groups and just keep the ones you want to import.

Once you have selected the groups you want to import, click Import

Wait while your pictures and videos are imported. You have the option to erase them from the camera the same time.

When the Import is complete, your photos will be presented to you in File Explorer.

Import Photos and Videos manually using File Explorer

You can import photos manually too. Launch File Explorer then open the Camera. Some cameras will have both fixed and removable storage. In most instances, yours will have removable, so open that.

Open DCIM folder

Browse and scroll through the photos. Select the photos you want, use the Control key + mouse click to select photos. Click Copy command under Home tab or press Control key + C

Go to your Pictures folder then click Paste, you can also create a folder then paste them there.

Importing using the Photos App

Windows 10 has a built in Photos app which you can also use to import your photos. Click Start > All Apps > Photos.

Again, make sure your camera is connected and turned on. Click the Import button on the command bar in Photos.

Select the photos you want to import.

The camera wizard will present your photos according to date they were take, you can click Clear under each group then select the ones you want to import.

When you are ready to import, click Continue

You have the option of changing where you would like to have your photos stored. Click Change where they’re imported browse and select the folder then click Add this folder to Pictures. Click Import

Your photos will now be imported.

To find your photos, click the date header

Click the date the photos were taken.

Smart Phone – Windows Phone, iPhone and Android

The Smart Phone has become the most popular way we captures photo and videos these days. Just about every phone has a built in digital camera. Windows 10 makes importing your photos just as easy too.

Importing photos from a iPhone

Importing from an Apple iPhone is just as easy. Connect your iPhone using the USB cable, click Start > File Explorer > This PC. Right click the iPhone then click Import pictures and videos. This will start the Import Pictures and Video wizard.

If you encounter an error, make sure your iPhone is unlocked, meaning you need to enter a passcode or slide to unlock. Also, you might need to trust the device. Learn more here about doing that.

Once you have done so, you should now be able to import your photos.

Just like a digital camera, you can select your groups, enter a name then click import.

Using the Photos app and iPhone

You can also use the Photos app in Windows to import photos and videos from your iPhone. Simply connect your iPhone using the USB cable, ensure it is unlocked and trusted. Click Import and your Photos should show ready to be imported.

Importing photos from a Windows Phone

Just like the iPhone, you can also use the Camera Wizard to import your photos and videos using either File Explorer or Photos app. Connect your Windows Phone using the USB cable, click Start > File Explorer > This PC. Right click the Windows Phone then click Import pictures and videos. This will start the Import Pictures and Video wizard.

Just like a digital camera, you can select your groups, enter a name then click import.

Using the Photos app and Windows Phone

You can also use the Photos app in Windows to import photos and videos from your Windows Phone. Simply connect your Windows Phone using the USB cable then click Import and your Photos will be ready to be imported.

You can also browse your Windows Phone and manually copy and paste your photos. Click Start > File Explorer > Windows Phone > open the Camera Roll folder on your Windows Phone then select and copy the photos you want. Some photos might be stored in designated folders from other apps such as WhatsApp.

Importing photos from an Android device

Just like the iPhone and Windows Phone, you can also use the Camera Wizard to import your photos and videos. You can also use File Explorer or Photos app to import them. Connect your Android Phone using the USB cable, click Start > File Explorer > This PC. Right click the Android Phone then click Import pictures and videos. This will start the Import Pictures and Video wizard.

I notice the wizard takes a bit longer to find your photos, so give it a little time.

Just like a digital camera, you can select your groups, enter a name then click import.

Using the Photos app and Android device

You can also use the Photos app in Windows to import photos and videos from your Android Phone. Simply connect your Android Phone using the USB cable then click Import and your Photos should show ready to be imported.

Troubleshooting

Now the instructions are straight forward, but problems can occur from time to time. Here are some things you can do to ensure your device works.

Make sure the USB cable you are using to connect the device to your computer is not loose. If the male end connecting to the female end on the device is shaky, it’s possible you might need to nudge the cable for the device to appear or you might need to change the cable.

Make sure the device is unlocked. If your device is locked using a passcode, you will need to unlock it so it will show up in Windows.

If the device does not show, restart Windows, launch File Explorer again and see if it appears.

If you more than one USB port, try connecting the USB cable to another USB port then see if it appears.

Sometimes unplugging and reconnecting will work. Check to make sure the Camera initialization wizard is working.

Some cameras might require a driver before they can work, it’s rare and in some cases apply only to high end professional cameras from brands such as Canon or Nikon. Check the manufacturer’s website for updated drivers normally available in the download section.

If your Digital camera is not appearing, again, change the cable or if your system unit has a memory card reader, remove the SD card from the camera insert it into the SD card port then click Start > File Explorer > browse the SD card and copy over your pictures.

If the SD card does not show up or you cannot browse or copy photos from it, make sure it is not locked.

Hopefully this guide will help get those photos onto your Windows 10 PC much easier.

How to Wirelessly Transfer Photos From Your Phone to Your PC

You can transfer photos from an Android phone to your Windows 10 PC with the Your Phone app. iPhone users have to rely on third-party options.

If you need to send photos from your phone to a computer, you can use email, Google Photos, or even a direct cable connection. However, you may find it quicker and more convenient to transfer them wirelessly from phone to PC.

Microsoft once offered an app called Photos Companion, which allowed iPhone and Android users alike to transfer photos to Windows 10 PCs, but it has been discontinued. In its place, Android users can use Microsoft’s Your Phone app, while iPhone users will need to find third-party options that can perform the task.

Your Phone

To get started with Your Phone, first open Settings > Phone and click the Add a phone button in Windows 10.

The Your Phone desktop app will open, and ask you to choose your phone type. Choose Android and click Continue. Your Phone will ask you to confirm your Microsoft Account. Click Continue.

Now install the Your Phone Companion app on your Android phone. Open the app and link your phone with your PC by either signing into your Microsoft Account or scanning the QR code. Scanning the code is quicker, so tap the Is there a QR code on your PC? link and tap Continue at the next screen.

Back at the Your Phone desktop app, check the box for Yes, I finished installing Your Phone companion. Click the Open QR Code button.

A QR code will display on your desktop. Use your smartphone camera to scan the QR code.

In the mobile app, tap Continue and then grant the necessary permissions for Your Phone to access your contacts, phone calls, media, and messages. Tap Continue.

Choose to allow the app to run in the background for now. You can always change this later. Tap Allow to let your phone connect to your Windows PC. At the next screen, tap Done. The next screen confirms that your phone and PC are linked.

On your PC, tap the Let’s Go button. You should then see your linked phone listed in the Your Phone app.

In the Your Phone app, click Settings > General and turn on the switch under Allow this app to show photos from my phone, if it’s not already enabled.

Your last 25 photos and screenshots should automatically appear on the main screen in the app. If not, click the entry for Photos and then select the See photos button. Click on any photo to open it. For more settings, right-click on an image to open a pop-up menu with options to copy, share, or save the photo to your computer.

Now, let’s look at a few third-party photo transfer apps for the iPhone, iPad, and in some cases, Android devices.

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Photo Transfer App

Photo Transfer (iOS, Android) allows you to move photos from your iPhone or Android device to your computer via Wi-Fi. If you’re using the free version of the mobile app, you can transfer up to 10 photos at a time. For $6.99, the paid version kicks in more features, such as no transfer limits and full-resolution transfers.

Install the app on your phone and use the dedicated web page to transfer photos onto your computer. Open the app on your phone and click the Send button. A variety of options are available for sending photos, but try the one to send photos over Wi-Fi. If you’re using a Windows PC, tap the Windows icon. The next screen tells you to run the Photo Transfer App on your computer or use your web browser.

If you plan to use the software on a regular basis, I suggest installing the free Windows or Mac version on your computer, as it’s easier to use than the web page. Open the app on your computer, click the Discover Devices button, then select your phone. You can select either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to run the transfer.

On your phone, authorize the connection. Your phone’s photo albums and libraries should appear in the app on your computer. You can now browse through your photos. Right-click a specific photo to download it to your computer, delete it from your phone, or download and delete it. You can also select multiple photos to download or delete in one shot.

PhotoSync

PhotoSync (iOS, Android) also uses mobile and desktop apps. You can transfer photos to a Windows or Mac computer, a network-attached storage device, or an online storage site such as OneDrive or Dropbox. The basic app is free but limits your photos to low-quality JPG images. For a one-time purchase of $13.99 or a subscription of 99 cents a month or $2.99 a year, you’ll get higher quality image transfers and other bonus features.

Download the app onto your phone and then install the free PhotoSync Companion for your Windows PC or Mac. Fire up the mobile app, and it automatically displays your camera roll. Select the photos you want to transfer. Tap the red transfer circle in the upper-right corner. You can now opt to transfer all the photos in your library or just the selected images.

Choose the destination, such as your computer, another phone or tablet, or a storage site. If you select your computer, make sure the companion app is running on your Windows PC or Mac. In the mobile app, tap the name of your computer. Your photos are then transferred, and PhotoSync creates a subfolder under your Pictures folder. That folder then opens automatically for you to view the transferred photos.

WiFi Photo Transfer‬

The free WiFi Photo Transfer‬ app (iOS only) generates a local web page on your network from which you can view and download photos from your phone. Fire up the app on your phone and enter the URL displayed on the screen into your desktop browser.

The page shows all the photo libraries from your phone with your most recent photos at the top. Click the Recents link to see all your latest photos. Click the Download in .zip button. Select one or more photos and click the download selected pictures button. The photos are downloaded in a single zip file that you can then unzip on your PC.