How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Laptop PC

If you want to transfer photos directly from iPhone to computer, or can’t transfer photos due to some reasons, read this post to get 5 solutions to send photos from iPhone to Windows or Mac. Besides, you can try to transfer photos from an iPhone to a hard drive for extra storage.

Import Photos and Videos from iPhone to Laptop with a USB

On Windows or Mac laptop, there is a built-in Photos app that allows you to transfer photos from iPhone to laptop using USB. Follow the steps to download photos from iPhone with Photos app:

1. Import to Windows Laptop

Connect your iPhone with USB cable > Open Photos app from the Start menu if it doesn’t pop up > Click on the Import option > Choose From a USB cable > Then select photos you want to transfer > Click on Import and Continue.

2. Move iPhone Photos to a Mac

Connect your iPhone with a USB cable > Open Photos app from the Launchpad if it doesn’t pop up > Click on the Import tab > Select the photos > Click Import XX Selected or Import All Items to transfer photos to Mac.

Here are more ways to get iPhone photos to a Mac laptop like using Image Capture, Preview, AirDrop, etc. Please read our guide on Full Ways to Transfer iPhone Photos to a Mac >

Transfer Photos Directly from iPhone to Laptop via AnyTrans

AnyTrans is a comprehensive iPhone data management tool that works on Windows and Mac computer. With it, you can easily manage all your iPhone photos and videos. When you change a new phone, you can transfer photos from iPhone to computer or hard drive with a USB cable. Besides, if you enabled iCloud sync, you can move photos to computer without cable. Because AnyTrans allows you to move photos from iCloud to anywhere. Check its main features on iPhone photo transferring:

Now download AnyTrans free trial and follow the steps below to import your photos from your iPhone to a laptop.

Step 1: Run AnyTrans on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable > Click on Device Manager mode, and then choose the Photos option.

Step 2: Select photos you’d like to transfer from iPhone to laptop > Click on the send To PC button at the top-right top corner to transfer the selected photos to your laptop.

Besides, with AnyTrans, you can transfer other files from iPhone to laptop (Mac & Windows PC) like videos, music, messages, contacts, etc.

How Do I Transfer Photos from iPhone to Laptop without Cable?

If you want to share photos without cable, AnyTrans provides you with iCloud Manager. You can view iPhone photos that you previously synced to iCloud and download them to your computer. So you can move photos to PC without cable.

Transfer Photos from iPhone to Laptop with Windows Explorer

On a Windows laptop, you can use Windows Explorer to download iPhone pictures, here is how to import iPhone photos to a windows laptop via Explorer:

1. Connect your iPhone to the laptop and open This PC, here you will find Windows File Explorer.
2. Click on your iPhone > Click on Internal Storage.
3. Go to the DICM folder, you will see many folders named 100APPLE or 101 APPLE, etc.
4. Open the folder and copy the pictures you want to transfer to a folder on the laptop.

If your iPhone not appearing on your PC or your computer can’t recognize your iPhone, you can refer to this guide: How to Fix iPhone Photos Not Showing Up on Computer >

Upload iPhone Photos to Laptop with iCloud Photos

You can enable iCloud Photos on your iPhone and your laptop so that iPhone photos will automatically be uploaded to your iCloud Photo Library. Then photos will be synced to your laptop on the Photos app (on a Mac), or under This PC (on Windows). Or you can access and download the photos by going to icloud.com on your laptop.

• On your iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos > Toggle iCloud Photos on.
• On a Windows laptop: Download Windows for iCloud to your PC > Install iCloud for Windows and sign in with your Apple ID > Enable the “Photos” > The iCloud software will make a copy of the photos to your computer. You can check the photos under This PC > iCloud Photos > Downloads.

• On a Mac: Update your Mac to the latest version > Go to Apple menu > Go to System Preferences  > iCloud > Sign in with your account > Check Photos option and enable iCloud Photo Library. After that, your iPhone photos will upload to the Photos app on your Mac.

Sync iPhone Photos to Mac Wirelessly

For Mac users, you can use AirDrop to receive photos, documents, and more from an Apple device. Airdrop allows you to transfer iPhone photos to Mac wirelessly, bypassing the USB cable. And here are some notes before using and the detailed steps that you can follow:

Before Using Airdrop

• You need to make sure your iPhone and Mac are within Bluetooth and the same Wi-Fi range.
• Also, turn on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Set the AirDrop receiving setting to Everyone in order to receive the file seamlessly.

Further Reading: How to Fix iPhone Bluetooth Not Working in iOS 14 >

The Steps to Sync Photos from iPhone to Mac via Airdrop

Step 1: Enable AirDrop on iPhone and Mac.

• On your Mac: Open Finder window > Tap on the AirDrop > Choose Everyone after Allow me to be discovered by.
• On your iPhone: Go to Settings > General > AirDrop. Make sure Everyone is selected. Or open Control Centre on your iPhone and enable the AirDrop feature and Everyone.

Step 2: Choose Photos from iPhone and Send

• Go to the Photos app > View and select the photos you want to sync. The more photos you choose, the longer the transferring process will take.
• Tap on the share option and choose AirDrop to wait for the airdrop message pops up on Mac.

Step 3: Receive the Photos from Mac Computer

• Once your Mac computer is on, tap on an approving message to receive. Or it will automatically get sent to your device if both iPhone and Mac are signed in with the same Apple ID.
• Then the photos are stored in your Mac’s Downloads folder by default.

Further Reading:Fix Wi-Fi Not Working on iPhone iPad >

The Bottom Line

Transferring iPhone photos to a laptop is a good way to backup iPhone photos, you can choose the way you like. If you have any idea about this post, please leave us a comment. Also, you can download AnyTrans now to try its photo transfer features, and if you have any questions about it you can contact us by Email.