How to Transfer Photos and Videos from iPhone to Windows PC in 2026
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Quick answer: Apple’s current Windows workflow is to install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store, connect the iPhone with a USB cable, unlock it, tap Trust or Allow if prompted, then import through Microsoft Photos. If iCloud Photos is enabled and your iPhone is storing optimized copies, Apple says the original full-resolution files must be downloaded to the iPhone before USB import to the PC.
Method 1: Import with USB and Microsoft Photos
- On the Windows PC, install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.
- Connect the iPhone to the PC with a USB cable that supports data.
- Unlock the iPhone with its passcode.
- If the iPhone asks whether to trust or allow the computer, tap Trust or Allow.
- Open Microsoft Photos on Windows and use its import-from-connected-device workflow to select the photos and videos you want.
- Keep the iPhone unlocked and connected until the import finishes.
Apple documents this Windows process in its current photo and video transfer guide. The older advice to rely on iTunes or “Apple Mobile Device Support” as the default photo-import setup is no longer the clearest current workflow; Apple now explicitly directs Windows users to the Apple Devices app.
If iCloud Photos is turned on, check where the originals are
This is the step that explains many incomplete USB imports. Apple says that when iCloud Photos is enabled, you must download the original, full-resolution versions to the iPhone or iPad before importing those files to a Windows PC over USB. An optimized copy that is visible in Photos is not the same thing as having the full original stored locally and ready for USB import.
If you prefer not to stage originals on the phone, iCloud Photos can instead keep the library available through iCloud on a PC. That is often a better fit for continuous synchronization; USB import is more useful when you want a deliberate local copy of selected media.
HEIC and HEVC: do not assume Windows Photos converts everything
Modern iPhones can capture photos and video in High Efficiency formats. Apple’s current compatibility advice is Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. After you select Most Compatible, future photos and videos are captured as JPEG and H.264 for broader Windows compatibility.
That setting applies to future captures. It does not retroactively convert every HEIC or HEVC file already in your library, and Apple’s current Windows transfer instructions do not promise that Microsoft Photos will automatically turn every imported HEIC photo into JPEG. If you need older files in another format, use a trusted conversion workflow after transfer or make sure the Windows PC has appropriate format support.
USB or iCloud Photos?
| Method | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| USB + Microsoft Photos | Selected imports and local PC copies | Requires a data-capable cable, an unlocked/trusted iPhone and locally available originals when iCloud Photos is used |
| iCloud Photos | Keeping a library available across devices and PC | Uses iCloud storage and internet connectivity; originals remain stored in iCloud |
If the iPhone does not appear on the PC
Work through the basic connection chain before changing unrelated iPhone settings:
- Unlock the iPhone and reconnect it.
- Respond to the Trust/Allow prompt if it appears.
- Try another USB port or a known data-capable cable; some cables provide power but not reliable data transfer.
- Confirm the Apple Devices app is installed and current.
- If iCloud Photos is on and only some media is available, confirm the full-resolution originals have been downloaded to the iPhone before USB import.
Avoid changing Auto-Lock to Never as a blanket “fix” unless you have a specific reason; keeping the phone unlocked during the active import is enough for the normal workflow.
What about manually copying the DCIM folder?
File Explorer can expose camera media on many Windows setups, but Apple’s current documented path for importing is Apple Devices plus Microsoft Photos. The Photos workflow is the safer default for most users because it is the path Apple currently points Windows users toward. Manual DCIM copying can still be useful for users who understand the file layout, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed format-conversion method.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some photos show on my iPhone but not import over USB?
If iCloud Photos is enabled, the phone may be showing optimized device copies while the full-resolution originals remain in iCloud. Apple says the originals need to be downloaded to the iPhone before USB import to Windows.
Does Most Compatible convert my existing HEIC photos?
No. Apple says that after you choose Most Compatible, the camera captures future photos as JPEG and future videos as H.264. It is not a retroactive library conversion.
Do I need iTunes to import photos in 2026?
Apple’s current Windows instructions direct you to install the Apple Devices app and then use Microsoft Photos for import. iTunes is not the required default photo-import path in Apple’s current guide.