Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support (2024)

With the Photos app and a USB cable, you can transfer photos and videos to your computer. You can also make your photos available on all your devices with iCloud Photos.

Use iCloud Photos

Import to your Mac

Import to your Windows PC

Use iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos keeps your photos and videos safe, up to date, and available automatically on all of your Apple devices, on iCloud.com, and even your PC. When you use iCloud Photos, you don't need to import photos from one iCloud device to another. iCloud Photos always uploads and stores your original, full-resolution photos. You can keep full-resolution originals on each of your devices, or save space with device-optimized versions instead. Either way, you can download your originals whenever you need them, as long as you have enough space on your device. Any organizational changes or edits you make are always kept up to date across all your Apple devices. Learn how to set up and use iCloud Photos.

The photos and videos that you keep in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage. Before you turn on iCloud Photos, make sure that you have enough space in iCloud to store your entire collection. You can see how much space you need and then upgrade your storage plan if necessary.

Import to your Mac

You can import photos and videos to your Mac by connecting your device to your Mac. However, if you use iCloud Photos, then you don't need to import.

To import to your Mac:

  1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable.

  2. Open the Photos app on your computer.

  3. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

  4. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust to continue.

  5. Choose where you want to import your photos. Next to "Import to," you can choose an existing album or create a new one.

  6. Select the photos you want to import and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Photos.

    Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support (1)
  7. Wait for the process to finish, then disconnect your device from your Mac.

Import to your Windows PC

You can import photos to your PC by connecting your device to your computer and using the Apple Devices app:

  1. Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.

  2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC with a USB cable.

  3. If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode.

  4. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust or Allow to continue.

Then, visit Microsoft's website to learn how to import photos to the Microsoft Photos app in Windows.

If you have iCloud Photos turned on, you need to download the original, full resolution versions of your photos to your iPhone or iPad before you import to your PC.

When you import videos from your iOS or iPadOS device to your PC, some might be rotated incorrectly in the Microsoft Photos app. You can add these videos to iTunes to play them in the correct orientation.

If you want to ensure photos from your iOS or iPadOS device have the best compatibility with Windows, try these steps:

  1. On your iOS or iPadOS device, open the Settings app.

  2. Tap Camera, then tap Formats.

  3. Tap Most Compatible. From now on, your camera will create photos and videos in JPEG and H.264 formats.

More ways to transfer photos and videos to your computer

  • Use AirDrop to quickly send photos and videos to your Mac.

  • Import photos and video from storage media, like a hard disk or SD card, to Photos for macOS.

  • Use a scanner and Image Capture to import photos that were taken with a film camera.

  • Import your images directly to a folder on your Mac with Image Capture.

  • Sync music, movies, and more from your iOS devices using your computer.

  • Use Time Machine to back up all of your files, including your photos and videos, to an external hard drive.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsem*nt. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Published Date:

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC - Apple Support? ›

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable. Open the Photos app on your computer. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

How do you transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC? ›

Connect the iPhone to the Mac with the cable and unlock the iPhone when prompted. Select the device in the Devices or Shared list in the Image Capture app on your Mac. Select the images you want to transfer to the Mac. Open the Import To pop-up menu at the bottom of the window, then choose where to save the images.

How can I transfer my photos and videos from iPhone to PC? ›

First, connect your iPhone to a PC with a USB cable that can transfer files.
  1. Turn your phone on and unlock it. Your PC can't find the device if the device is locked.
  2. On your PC, select the Start button and then select Photos to open the Photos app.
  3. Select Import > From a USB device, then follow the instructions.

Are iPhone photos automatically transferred to Mac or PC? ›

You switch between JPEG and HEIC on your iPhone in Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC. Under this heading you'll find 'Automatic' and 'Keep Originals' options. The former uses JPEG when connected to a PC, the latter HEIC.

How to transfer photos from iPhone and iPad to your Windows 10 PC? ›

See the Apple Support article Set up and use iCloud Photos on your Windows PC.
  1. Connect your device to your computer. ...
  2. In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
  3. Click Photos.
  4. Select Sync Photos, then choose an album or folder from the pop-up menu.

Can I delete photos on my iPhone and keep them in iCloud? ›

Turn off iCloud Photo Sharing

If you turn it off, you can delete photos from your iPhone, and they will still be available on iCloud.com or other devices that have iCloud Photo Sharing turned on. Here's how to do it: Open Settings. Then tap your Apple ID.

Why can't I import photos from iPhone to Mac? ›

Check your Mac's available storage

Another reason your MacBook is not importing photos from your iPhone could be that you've simply run out of available storage space. Here's a quick reminder how to check: From the main Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage.

Why can't I import photos and videos from iPhone to PC? ›

If you can't import photos from iPhone to Windows 10, then check if “iCloud Photos” is turned on. To check, open “Settings” and tap “Photos. If “iCloud Photos” is turned on, go to icloud.com to find and download the photos you need. Or use CopyTrans Cloudly to download all your iCloud photos in one go.

What is the easiest way to transfer photos from PC to iPhone? ›

To transfer files, you need a USB cable for connection.
  1. Connect our laptop and your iPhone via USB cable.
  2. Wait for the laptop to detect your phone for accessibility.
  3. Then locate the photos that you wish to transfer from your computer.
  4. Right-click on the photos folder then move the cursor to the “Send to” option.

Do photos from iPhone automatically go to Mac? ›

If you use iCloud Photos, you can keep all your photos and videos stored in iCloud. They sync seamlessly across all of your devices so you can access your library from your Mac, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and even your PC. Your newest shots and edits upload automatically when you're connected to the internet.

Can you move photos from iPhone to PC without iCloud or iTunes? ›

With the Photos app and a USB cable, you can transfer photos and videos to your computer.

Does Mac Migration transfer photos? ›

Data that is stored in iCloud: Migration Assistant does not transfer data that is stored in iCloud. This includes things like photos, documents, and contacts. You will need to sign in to iCloud on your new Mac and download your data from the cloud.

What is the easiest way to transfer photos from iPad to computer? ›

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac with a USB cable. Open the Photos app on your computer. The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

How to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac using cable? ›

Follow these steps to import pics from your iPhone:
  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
  2. On your Mac, open Image Capture.
  3. In the sidebar, select your iPhone under the Devices category.
  4. At the bottom of the window, click the Import To menu to choose where to save your pictures.
May 23, 2024

How do I transfer photos between Apple devices? ›

TRANSFER Photos FROM iPhone or iPod touch to another iDevice

Make sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. 1 Open 'Photo Transfer' app and touch "SEND" button. 2 Tap on the "OTHER Device" button. 3 Select the photos/videos you want to transfer using the "SELECT" button.

How do I transfer photos and videos from my old iPad? ›

Export photos and videos to an external storage device
  1. Connect your iPad to the storage device using the Lightning or USB-C connector, or connect the device directly to your iPad.
  2. Open the Photos app, then select the photos and videos you want to export.
  3. Tap. ...
  4. Tap your storage device (below Locations), then tap Save.

How do I AirDrop photos and videos from iPhone to Mac? ›

Here's how to transfer files using AirDrop:
  1. Make sure you've turned on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for both your Mac and iPhone.
  2. Open the 'Photos' app and choose the pictures that you wish to send.
  3. Click the 'Share' button and select 'AirDrop' from the drop-down menu.
Apr 20, 2023

Why can't I transfer photos from iPhone to PC? ›

One possible reason why you are unable to import photos from your iPhone to your computer is that your computer's software or operating system may be outdated. Ensure that both your computer and iPhone are running on the latest software versions to maintain compatibility.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6043

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.