How I Easily Move Pictures from My iPhone to My Computer

I take a lot of pictures on my iPhone—family moments, random selfies, and everything in between. But my phone fills up fast, and I don’t want to lose anything. Moving my photos to my computer keeps them safe and gives me more storage.

I’ve tried different ways to do this, and some work better than others. Whether I’m using a USB cable or sending them wirelessly, I’ve figured out what’s easy and what’s frustrating.

In this guide, I’ll share the best methods I use to transfer photos from my iPhone to my computer, step by step.

Moving My Photos with a USB Cable: Quick and Easy

A wired connection is the fastest way to transfer my photos. It works smoothly, and I don’t need Wi-Fi. Here’s how I do it.

Sending Photos to My Windows PC

• Connect Devices – I plug my iPhone into my PC using a USB cable.
• Trust Computer – A message pops up on my iPhone. I tap “Trust” so my PC can access my photos.
• Open Photos App – On my computer, I open the Photos app.
• Import Photos – I click “Import” and then “From a connected device.” The app guides me through selecting and transferring my pictures.

Sending Photos to My Mac

• Connect Devices – I use my iPhone’s USB cable to connect it to my Mac.
• Open Photos App – The Photos app usually opens automatically. If not, I open it myself.
• Select Photos – I pick the images I want to transfer from my iPhone.
• Import – I click “Import Selected” or “Import All New Photos” to save them on my Mac.

Sending My Photos Wirelessly: No Cables, No Hassle

Sometimes, I don’t feel like dealing with cables. Wireless transfers make moving photos easy. I can use iCloud or AirDrop, depending on my device.

Using iCloud Photos

ICloud automatically syncs my pictures, so I can access them on any device. Here’s how I set it up.

• Enable iCloud Photos on iPhone – I go to Settings > [My Name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on “iCloud Photos.”
• Access Photos on Windows PC
  • I download and install iCloud for Windows.
  • I sign in with my Apple ID and open iCloud.
  • I select “Photos” and click “Apply.”
  • I open File Explorer > iCloud Photos to view and download my images.
• Access Photos on Mac
  • I make sure I’m signed in with my Apple ID.
  • I open the Photos app, and my iCloud pictures show up automatically.

Using AirDrop (Mac Only)

AirDrop lets me send pictures instantly between my iPhone and Mac.

• Enable AirDrop on Mac – I open Finder > AirDrop and set it to receive files from “Contacts Only” or “Everyone.”
• Share Photos from iPhone – I open the Photos app, select my pictures, tap Share, and choose my Mac from the AirDrop list.
• Accept Transfer on Mac – A message pops up on my Mac. I click “Accept,” and the pictures arrive instantly.

Fixing Transfer Problems: When My Photos Won’t Move

Sometimes, my computer refuses to take my photos. When that happens, I check a few things to get it working again.

• Update Software – I make sure my iPhone and computer have the latest updates.
• Check Connections – I inspect my USB cable and ports to see if anything is loose or faulty.
• Trust This Computer – If the “Trust This Computer” prompt doesn’t appear, I restart both devices and try again.
• Install Necessary Drivers – On my Windows PC, I install the latest Apple drivers to make sure it recognizes my iPhone.

Sending Large Videos Without Headaches

Videos take up a lot of space and don’t always fit in regular email attachments. I use cloud services to move them easily.

Using iCloud’s Mail Drop

Mail Drop lets me send large videos without worrying about file size limits.

• Compose Email – I open the Mail app on my iPhone, start a new email, and attach my video.
• Use Mail Drop – If my video is too big, a message pops up. I tap Use Mail Drop, and my video gets uploaded to iCloud. The recipient gets a link to download it.

Using Third-Party Cloud Services

Sometimes, I prefer other cloud storage options to move videos.

• Google Drive – I upload my video to Google Drive. Then, I open Drive on my computer, sign in, and download the file.
• Dropbox – I save my video to Dropbox. Later, I log into Dropbox from my computer and download it without any hassle.

Moving My Photos Between iPhones Instantly

Sharing pictures between my iPhones is quick when I use AirDrop. It’s simple and doesn’t need the internet.

• Enable AirDrop on Both iPhones – I swipe down to open Control Center, press and hold the network settings card, and tap AirDrop. I choose Contacts Only or Everyone.
• Share Photos – On my first iPhone, I open Photos, pick the images, tap Share, and select the second iPhone.
• Accept Transfer – On the receiving iPhone, I tap Accept, and the photos arrive in seconds.