How to transfer iPhone photos to external hard drive with Windows 11?

If you prefer to transfer photos directly from iPhone to an external hard drive without using a computer, you can use the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Note that this method is generally slower compared to using a computer, especially for very large transfers, but it can be convenient.

Step 1: Get the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter or a high-quality third-party equivalent.

Step 2: Plug the adapter into the Lightning port of your iPhone.

Step 3: Use a compatible cable to connect your external hard drive to the USB port on the adapter.

Step 4: Open the Files app on your iPhone. Navigate to your iPhone's photos (usually under "On My iPhone" or "Photos").

Step 5: Select the photos you want to transfer, tap the "Share" icon, and choose "Save to Files." Select your external hard drive as the destination.

Tip: This method may be limited by the external drive's compatibility and the iPhone's file management capabilities. Transferring large amounts of iPhone photos directly may also be slower compared to using a computer. If this does not work in your case, then use some third-party apps to help you transfer iPhone photos to external drive on a PC instead!