How to transfer photos and videos from iPhone to PC?

Question

Level 1

7 points

How to transfer photos and videos from iPhone to PC?

I want to connect my phone to my computer to view all the pictures and videos so that I can move them off the phone to an external drive. Accessing iCloud only gives me access to what's in the cloud and I keep getting notices such as "your're iCloud storage is almost full" or "you're iCloud storage is full." I had an Android phone previously, and all I had to do was connect the phone to the computer and navigate to what was the image folder. This same process does NOT work on the iPhone (16 Pro Max with 18.4). While I can connect my phone to the computer (Windows), all it does is show one folder called internal storage which claims to be empty.

How can I access all images and video that currently exists on the phone? I have a bunch of recent vacation pictures that are not showing in the cloud, so that means that they are only on the phone but somehow other pictures/screenshots since returning from vacation are in the cloud. This doesn't quite make sense to me.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Apr 4, 2025 2:47 PM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

269,847 points

Apr 5, 2025 1:00 PM in response to CB2367

CB2367 wrote:

I don't want to upload or sync photos from my computer, I want to view pictures and videos on my PC that are stored on my device.

Apparently you use iCloud Photos. If that is where your photos are housed, here's how to view them on your PC.

View your photos and videos on iCloud.com - Apple Support

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

269,847 points

Apr 5, 2025 2:03 PM in response to CB2367

CB2367 wrote:

Cloud backup was on by default.

Just to be certain you understand, there is a huge difference between iCloud backups ...

Backup methods for iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

... and iCloud Photos.

Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

Apple has its infrastructure. It is different than Android in many ways. If you prefer Android, by all means continue to use products associated with it. But it might be wise to attempt to learn Apple's infrastructure if you would like to use it without necessarily mapping it to Android's as they are vastly different. You have been good about telling us what you are trying to accomplish - let's just focus on mapping that into Apple's infrastructure to determine how to accomplish it.

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

269,847 points

Apr 4, 2025 6:22 PM in response to CB2367

See this article.

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support

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Answer 4

sberman

Level 10

269,847 points

Apr 5, 2025 1:22 PM in response to CB2367

CB2367 wrote:

Those pictures were then automatically uploaded to the cloud until there was no more room. I have pictures on my phone that are not in the cloud.

Exhausting iCloud storage presents a problem.

Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

Buy iCloud+ or upgrade your current storage plan - Apple Support

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Answer 5

Apr 5, 2025 1:43 PM in response to CB2367

there are two ways to do this.

download onedrive app and sign into it with the same account that you use for the one drive on your PC then go to photos click select and choose the photos and videos you want then click share botton and select one drive and put it in a folder to make them easier to find when you have to go onto your PC and try finding them again in your one drive.
Go to icloud.com and sign in to the same apple id as your Idevice (it may ask you for a verification code) then navigate the site to icloud photos and download them by clicking with two fingers the clicking and then click save as. idk if it works for videos but I am certain it works for photos.

good luck bro

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Answer 6

CB2367 Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 5, 2025 5:52 AM in response to sberman

I downloaded Apple Devices and connected my phone. I am not seeing any of my pictures or videos. I clicked the sync button and see a visual representation of what is taking up space. When I click on photos, I see a description stating the following: you can access every photo and video you take from any device. To sync photos from this computer, turn off iCloud photos.

I don't want to upload or sync photos from my computer, I want to view pictures and videos on my PC that are stored on my device. Apple Devices app is not doing that. Additionally, there is no video button to view videos.

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Answer 7

CB2367 Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 5, 2025 1:12 PM in response to sberman

Photos and videos were transferred from my Android phone to the iPhone and iCloud was on. Those pictures were then automatically uploaded to the cloud until there was no more room. I have pictures on my phone that are not in the cloud. What I’m trying to accomplish is connect my iPhone to my PC and view all pictures.

This was a very simple process on Android. On the iPhone, it seems it’s difficult or even impossible. I connect the phone and Windows sees just one folder which is empty.

i know how to go to iCloud.com, login, and view what’s in the cloud.

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Answer 8

CB2367 Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 5, 2025 1:39 PM in response to sberman

Cloud backup was on by default. Before coming to the iPhone, I had all my pictures on my phone. Each time I upgraded my Android phone I used a content switching app (Samsung smart switch). At anytime, I could simply connect my phone to my computer and it would function as a disk drive where I could see all the internal system folders. Navigate to the folder where pictures are and simply transfer.

With Apple, it’s impossible to do this. I should be able to do the same process regardless of whether I have a full cloud storage. I should not have to buy additional storage just to upload everything that’s pending to then download it to a disk drive.

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Answer 9

CB2367 Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 5, 2025 1:55 PM in response to Techy-smarts

The OneDrive method doesn’t make sense. I’m not trying to share anything. Besides, I already have OneDrive on my phone and on my PC. The pictures and videos I want are on my phone.

For iCloud, well I guess I’ll have to take a few at a time and download them, then delete from my phone. This method will take forever.

On OneDrive, I could add a new file right now then view it on my phone. Well, that’s what I want to accomplish here. Have my phone act as OneDrive when connected to the computer.

The original reply of download Apple devices doesn’t work. I don’t know what the purpose of this app is, but all it does is show me what’s taking up space on the phone and at the bottom it has a sync button. I click on sync, but it doesn’t do anything. No button to view pictures, no button to view videos.

Guess I have to go get iTunes and see if this does what I want.

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How to transfer photos and videos from iPhone to PC?