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Abdielop's avatar
Abdielop
Brass Contributor
May 27, 2026

How to transfer photos from ipad to pc on Windows 11 with usb

Hi everyone, I have a lot of photos and videos on my iPad and need to move them to my Windows 11 PC. I tried plugging the iPad in with a USB cable, but the device sometimes doesn't show up correctly...
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AbigailYoung's avatar
AbigailYoung
Iron Contributor
May 27, 2026

Use the Photos app for bulk transfer photos from iPad to Windows 11 PC. Unlike manually browsing through File Explorer, the Photos app provides a clean, visual interface that displays all your iPad photos as thumbnails, making it easy to preview and select exactly what you want to import before anything is copied to your computer. It's a great option for casual users who want a guided, straightforward experience without dealing with folder structures or drivers manually.

The Photos app is built directly into Windows 11, meaning there's nothing extra to download or install beyond the Apple Devices app for drivers. It also automatically organizes imported photos by date, which helps keep your PC photo library neat and easy to navigate. 

Pros:

  • Built into Windows 11 — no extra software needed
  • Visual thumbnail preview before importing
  • Automatically organizes photos by date
  • Simple and beginner-friendly interface
  • Can selectively import only the photos you want

 

Cons:

  • Can be slow when scanning a large photo library
  • Doesn't support importing videos as reliably as photos
  • Requires the Apple Devices app or iTunes installed for drivers
  • Less control over folder organization compared to File Explorer
  • Occasionally fails to detect the iPad and requires reconnecting