katsinthebag

Q: Importing photos from an iPhone 5s to a PC

Hi!

 

I have an iPhone 5s which is now at capacity. It's got around 600 photos that I need to back up to my PC in order to have enough space to have any new ones (I leave for a holiday tomorrow and I was trying to import them for the millionth time). I have been able to import photos before, by simple copying the files from the device onto my PC but that no longer works because when I open the device it has one single DCIM folder with only the most recent 12 photos.

 

I have tried to import them with the Photo Gallery app, but it only allows me to choose from the most recent 12 photos. Same with right-clicking on the device and selecting 'import photos and videos' from the drop down menu. I do have iCloud turned on my phone, and the photos are synchronised with my photo stream onto my laptop, but I cannot for the life of me get them on my laptop.  I have made sure that the iPhone is unlocked, and clicked to trust this laptop, and I've also tried restarting both devices. My iPhone has the most recent iOS update too. The so called instruction page on Apple's official website leads me to an empty Windows 10 page with no clear instructions at all.

 

Help?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.3

Posted on Aug 5, 2016 11:43 AM

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Q: Importing photos from an iPhone 5s to a PC

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  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Aug 5, 2016 1:59 PM in response to katsinthebag
    Level 6 (16,265 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 5, 2016 1:59 PM in response to katsinthebag

    Great....    So the photos are now safe I take it, correct?

    Is File Explorer still showing just 12 photos?

    And would you like instructions on resetting the Import cache?

    There is no guarantee that resetting the cache will make all photos show up in F.E. However once you import photos to a PC (which you may not have done) the cache keeps a record. Windows should have a simple button to reset in case you want to import them again but they do not have it now. I can show you how and will hang around....

  • by katsinthebag,

    katsinthebag katsinthebag Aug 5, 2016 2:05 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 5, 2016 2:05 PM in response to elcpu

    Yes, the photos are safe! I would like instructions on resetting the cache. Hopefully that might fix it for the future!

  • by elcpu,Helpful

    elcpu elcpu Aug 5, 2016 2:58 PM in response to katsinthebag
    Level 6 (16,265 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 5, 2016 2:58 PM in response to katsinthebag

    No guarantees but I have had to do it and it works. Just be extra careful that you do not delete anything else, only the one file I will show you below.

     

    To reset the Import Photos cache in Windows:

    Delete the "PreviouslyAcquired.db" file which is at this location on a W10 computer:

     

    C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Photo Acquisition\PreviouslyAcquired.db

     

    This location is hidden as it is a system file. There are various ways to get there and I can show you but the easiest by far is to open Cortana, then in Cortana at the bottom where it says "Ask me anything" type exactly:        %appdata%   

    Once you do that, at the top you should see a file folder by that name. Click it once.

    By default it will take you to a hidden folder by the name of "Roaming".

    Move the cursor two folders above to "Local", click on Local and then continue clicking to the location above, i.e, under Local, click on Microsoft, then on Photo Acquisition.

    You should then see the PreviouslyAcquired file on the right side of File Manager. Select this file and delete it. It will recreate next time you do an import. This deletes the cache if you have imported photos before. It may help or maybe not. Nothing to lose if you do exactly as above. If this does not let you see all photos on File Manager Import something else is wrong but we will see...

     

    Let me know if the above is not clear.

  • by katsinthebag,

    katsinthebag katsinthebag Aug 5, 2016 2:58 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 5, 2016 2:58 PM in response to elcpu

    The folder is empty! Thank you for explaining it to me and all your help, though. iCloud seems to be the solution for now.

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Aug 5, 2016 3:03 PM in response to katsinthebag
    Level 6 (16,265 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 5, 2016 3:03 PM in response to katsinthebag

    You are welcome....  That means you have not imported photos to your PC before.

    I can't explain why are only able to see 12 photos on File Manager. Maybe once you delete them and restart, the new photos will show up. Good luck.  

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