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Dukeka's avatar
Dukeka
Brass Contributor
May 11, 2026

Can I transfer Photos from PC to iPhone without iTunes?

I have a lot of photos on my Windows 11 PC that I want to move to my iPhone, mostly family pictures and some videos. I tried iTunes before, but the sync process was confusing and some photos didn’t s...
JacquelineSom's avatar
JacquelineSom
Steel Contributor
May 12, 2026

This method uses SMB (Server Message Block) , a native Windows file-sharing protocol that has been built into Windows for decades. It requires no additional software on your PC — everything you need is already there. On your iPhone, you will use the pre- installed Files app.

Step-by-Step Process

Part 1: Create and Share a Folder on Your Windows 11 PC

1. Create a new folder anywhere on your PC. For example, create a folder called iPhone_Transfer on your Desktop.

2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.

3. Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced Sharing..."

4. Check the box that says "Share this folder"

5. Click "Permissions" and make sure "Everyone" or your specific user account has "Read" and "Write" permissions enabled (Write allows you to copy photos from your iPhone back to PC later, though for your purpose, you only need Read from the PC side).

6. Click "OK" to close both windows.

7. Note the network path shown in the Sharing tab. It will look something like \\DESKTOP-XXXXXX\iPhone_Transfer or just the folder name.

 

Part 2: Connect from Your iPhone to Transfer photos from PC to iPhone

1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.

2. Tap the three dots (•••) in the top-right corner of the screen, then tap "Connect to Server"

3. Enter the server address using your PC's computer name or IP address:

  • Format: smb/DESKTOP-XXXXXX or smb /192.168.1.XXX
  • To find your PC's name: On your PC, go to Settings > System > About and look for "Device name"
  • To find your PC's IP address: Open Command Prompt, type ipconfig, and look for "IPv4 Address"

4. Tap "Connect" and select "Registered User" or "Guest"

  • For "Registered User," enter your Windows login username and password (the same one you use to sign into your PC)
  • If your Windows account uses a Microsoft account (email), you may need to use that email and its password

5. After connecting, you will see the shared folder you created. Tap into it, and you will see all the photos you placed inside.

6. To transfer photos from PC to iPhone: Tap and hold the photo (or tap "Select" in the top-right corner), choose photos, then tap the share icon (square with arrow) and select "Save Image" . The photo will be saved directly to your iPhone's Photos app.