Forum Discussion
How to transfer photos from iphone to pc on Windows 11 without itunes
The Phone Link app does not work and the bluetooth transfer is too slow. I want to backup my iPhone photos and there are more than 1000 photos. What is the best way to transfer photos from iPhone to PC on Windows 11? I don't want to use iTunes as the backup files are not visible. I need to view the photos from time to time as individual files.
I tried a few free iPhone file transfer apps on Windows 11 but they failed to detect my phone. The USB cable is functioning and well connected. If you know how to do this, pls kindly let me know.
11 Replies
- DavdIron Contributor
The best way is to using a USB cable. It is much faster and more stable when it comes to bulk transferring photos from iPhone to PC.
- Michael77Iron Contributor
PairDrop is a browser-based tool to transfer photos from iPhone to PC without cable, designed for quick, temporary transfers when you don’t want to install any software.
It allows you to send photos directly between your iPhone and PC using only a web browser, but it works best for small to medium-sized batches rather than large-scale backups.
First, make sure both your iPhone and PC are connected to the same Wi‑Fi network. On your iPhone, open the Safari browser; on your PC, open Edge or Chrome.
Open the official website on both devices. The two devices will automatically detect each other over the network. On your iPhone, tap the computer’s icon, select the photos you want to send, and then tap Send. On your computer, click Download to save the photos to your computer.
This is a simple, no-install way to transfer photos from iPhone to PC without cable, but it cannot handle extremely large batches as reliably as dedicated apps, so it is only suitable for users who want quick transfers without extra software.
If you don’t want to use cloud storage or USB cables, you can try this method. It is a convenient, no-setup option, but you should be aware of its limitations with large file transfers.
- MaxThunderIron Contributor
SMB Shared Folder is a method to transfer photos from iphone to pc wirelessly without using third-party software, by setting up a local network shared folder on Windows 11.
Instructions: Create a new folder on your Windows 11 PC, right-click it, go to Properties → Sharing → Advanced Sharing, check "Share this folder" and set permissions to "Read/Write". Press Win+R, type cmd, then enter ipconfig to note down your computer's IPv4 address. On your iPhone, open the Files app, tap the "..." icon in the top-right corner, select "Connect to Server", enter smb://[your PC's IPv4 address], input your Windows account username and password to connect, then directly drag and drop photos into the shared folder.
Its advantages include being completely local without going through the cloud, unlimited traffic and storage space, photos saved directly to the PC's hard drive for easy viewing at any time, and wireless transfer without needing a USB cable.
Its drawbacks include being slightly more complicated to set up for the first time, requiring your PC's account username and password, and requiring both devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
This allows you to transfer photos from iphone to pc wirelessly in a fast and stable way. It is suitable for long-term photo backups and bulk transfers, as well as for users who need to keep their photo files stored locally on the PC.
- JacksonRobinsonCopper Contributor
Google Photos is a free cross-platform cloud service developed by Google, which supports automatic backup, sync and management of photos and videos. It is a convenient wireless solution to transfer photos from iphone to pc wirelessly, no USB cable or extra software required, and suitable for transferring 1000+ photos.
How to transfer photos from iphone to pc wirelessly
- Install the app on your iPhone and sign in with your Google account.
- Open the app, go to Settings, enable Backup & Sync, and start uploading your photos to the cloud.
- On your Windows 11 computer, open a web browser and visit the official website.
- Sign in with the same Google account you used on your iPhone.
- Select all the photos you want to transfer.
- Click the Download button; the photos will be downloaded as a ZIP file. Once unzipped, you can view the individual photo files.
If you want to transfer photos wirelessly from your iPhone to your computer, this is a free and practical option, especially for users who need to back up and view photos across different devices.
Cons
- Transfer speeds depend on your internet connection; transferring more than 1,000 photos may slow down the process
- Free storage is limited to 15 GB; to get more space, you’ll need to upgrade your plan
- Space-Saving Mode compresses photos to 16 MP and videos to 1080p
- euincyCopper Contributor
If you're comfortable with a bit of technical setup and willing to install something on your PC (but free and open-source), ezshare is another option.
What it is: ezshare is a simple file server that runs on your Windows 11 PC. When you start it, it creates a local website that only your iPhone can connect to over your Wi-Fi network. Your iPhone then uses Safari (no app needed) to upload photos directly to your PC.
Step-by-Step Instructions of how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC:
Step 1: Install ezshare
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell (search for "cmd" in Windows)
- Type this command and press Enter:
text
npm install -g ezshare- Wait for the installation to finish (about 30 seconds)
Step 2: Choose a destination folder on your PC
In the terminal, navigate to where you want your photos saved. For example:
text
cd C:\Users\YourName\Pictures\iPhoneBackup- Create the folder first if it doesn't exist
Step 3: Start the ezshare server
- In that same folder, type:
text
ezshare- You'll see a URL printed in the terminal
- A QR code may also appear for convenience
Step 4: how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC
- On your iPhone, open Safari
- Type the exact URL shown in your terminal
- You'll see a simple webpage showing your PC folder's contents
Step 5: Upload your photos
- On the iPhone webpage, look for an "Upload" button or file selector
- Tap "Choose Files" and select your photos from your iPhone's library
- You can select multiple photos at once (though Safari may limit batch size)
- Tap "Upload" – the photos transfer directly to the folder on your PC
Step 6: Stop the server when done
- In the terminal window on your PC, press Ctrl + C to stop ezshare
- NerfftCopper Contributor
Using Facebook is an unconventional but technically possible method. However, it's important to understand exactly what this process does and doesn't do.
This is not a real-time transfer. Instead, Facebook offers a built-in tool called "Download Your Information" that allows you to request a complete archive of everything you've ever uploaded to Facebook, including your photos and videos.
Here's how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC:
Open the Facebook app on your iPhone
2. Tap your profile icon (bottom right corner)
3. Tap the Settings gear icon (top right)
4. Scroll down to "Your Information" and select "Download Your Information"
5. Select what you want to download — make sure "Posts" is checked because that's where your photos are stored
6. Choose your settings:
Date Range: Select "All time" or a specific range
Format: HTML is fine for viewing on a computer
Media Quality: Select "High" for the best resolution
7. Tap "Create File"If you're trying to understand how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC, you need to know that Facebook transfers only photos you have already uploaded to Facebook. It cannot access photos that exist only on your iPhone's camera roll.
- wuaylenCopper Contributor
Email transfer is exactly what it sounds like: you attach photos to an email on your iPhone, send it to yourself, then open that email on your Windows 11 PC and download the attachments.
How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC:
1. On your iPhone, open the Mail app (or any email app like Gmail, Outlook)Compose a new email to your own email address
2. Tap and hold in the email body, select "Insert Photo or Video" (or use the attachment icon)
3. Select the photos you want to transfer (usually limited to 5–20 at a time depending on file sizes)
4. Send the email
5. On your PC, open a web browser, go to your email provider (Gmail, Outlook.com, etc.)
6. Open the email, download each attached photo, and save it to a folderEmail gets recommended because it's completely free and requires no additional software. For someone who refuses to use iTunes, USB cables, File Explorer, cloud services, or third-party tools, email is one of the very few options left.
However, when someone genuinely wants to know how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC efficiently, email is almost never the right answer for large libraries. It's the "technically works but practically terrible" solution.
- WaestleyCopper Contributor
When people ask how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC, one of the most straightforward built-in Windows methods is the Photos App Import feature. This tool is already installed on Windows 11 and requires no additional software purchases or downloads.
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your PC
Use your iPhone's charging cable (Lightning to USB or USB-C) to connect the phone to your Windows 11 computer. Make sure you're using a cable that supports data transfer, not just charging.Step 2: Unlock your iPhone and grant access
Unlock your iPhone with your passcode. A popup will appear asking "Trust This Computer?" - tap "Trust" and enter your passcode again. This is essential because Windows cannot access your photos without this permission.Step 3: Open the Photos app
Click the Start button on your Windows 11 PC, type "Photos" in the search bar, and open the Photos app from the results.Step 4: Start the import
In the Photos app, look for the "Import" button in the top-right corner. Click it and select "From a USB device" from the dropdown menu.Step 5: Select your photos
The Photos app will scan your iPhone and display all the photos and videos it finds. You can then:
Select individual photos by clicking on then:
Select all photos at once
Choose only new items that haven't been imported beforeStep 6: Choose where to save them
Select a destination folder on your PC where you want the photos to be saved. The default is usually your Pictures folder, but you can change this to any location you prefer.Step 7: Click Import
Click the "Import Selected" or "Import All New Items" button. The app will copy your photos from the iPhone to your PC. The time this takes depends on how many photos you're transferring.I hope this method will work When someone asks how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC.
- bonirlBronze Contributor
By 2026, Apple had largely replaced iTunes on Windows 11 with a dedicated app called Apple Devices.”It is much more stable than iTunes when handling USB connections and, by updating the relevant device drivers, helps users transfer photos from their iPhone to their computer without needing a cable.
How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC without cable
- Download the software from the Microsoft Store.
- Open the app and connect your iPhone to your computer.
- The app will launch automatically and update the Windows drivers needed to recognize your iPhone.
- Once the app has successfully detected your phone, please try your preferred method of transferring photos again.
Pros
- Official Apple app for Windows 11, safer and more reliable than third-party tools.
- More stable than iTunes in managing iPhone connection drivers.
- Automatically repairs driver issues that prevent iPhone from being recognized.
Cons
- Only available for Windows 11, not compatible with older Windows versions.
- Cannot directly transfer photos, only fixes connection and driver problems.
This driver refresh operation greatly improves device compatibility, letting users smoothly transfer photos from iPhone to PC without cable on Windows 11.
- Nobel_BaynesSteel Contributor
Using File Explorer is one of the easiest and fastest ways to bulk transfer photos from an iPhone to a Windows 11 PC without installing additional software. The iPhone appears like a digital camera in Windows, allowing direct access to the DCIM photo folders. This method is popular for large transfers because it keeps original image quality and works well for backing up thousands of photos and videos to a local drive or external SSD.
How to transfer photos from iphone to pc on windows 11
1. Unlock the iPhone and connect it to the Windows 11 PC using a USB cable.
2. Tap Trust This Computer on the iPhone screen if prompted.
3. Open File Explorer on Windows 11 and click:
This PC > Apple iPhone > Internal Storage > DCIM
4. Open the folders that contain your photos and videos.
5. Select the files or folders you want to transfer.
6. Copy and paste them to a folder on the PC or external drive.
7. Wait for the transfer to complete before disconnecting the iPhone.
File Explorer is a reliable solution for users who want a direct local backup of iPhone photos on Windows 11. It does not require cloud storage or extra apps, and it usually transfers iPhone photos to Windows 11 PC faster than wireless methods. For very large libraries, copying photos in smaller batches can help avoid transfer interruptions or connection errors.