Almost impossible to get files off iPhone onto pc

Question

Almost impossible to get files off iPhone onto pc

I have had new Apple iPhones regularly over the past 10+ years.

I currently have an iPhone X with 266gb memory.

I have a new dell pc.

I downloaded the latest iTunes.

I updated the iOS on my iPhone to the latest.

I bought a new Apple authentic cable

I did a back up of my iPhone to my pc. (That worked)

However I have been trying for the past 3 weeks for about 3 hours per night to copy the photo and video content from my iPhone to my pc - into a regular folder so I can do other things with it.

But It keeps telling me my connected device has disconnected itself.

————-below this line are steps I took to get what I have got so far off my iPhone onto my pc.

I have been able to copy off some of the content I bits and pieces but in order to do this I have had to do the following steps:

Turn off my passcode (so no code to unlock phone)

And set it so the screen never locks -no screen saver

Start computer fresh.

Turn on iTunes.

In iPhone settings reset locations and privacy.

Turn the phone off .

Plug the phone into the pc. It turns the iPhone on.

iTunes asks to try to communicate with the iPhone and I press continue.

(On previous attempts I had to do these bits

On the iPhone I enter my digit code.

Then trust comes up .

I select trust and the my digit code.)

On my pc I go to device manger.

And into portable device I select iPhone and ask to update drivers (ie it keeps updating to the same driver already there ) mtp USB device.

And then I hope and pray the folders will show up in windows explorer window. Most of the time they do NOT show up.

Then I do a back up.

Then I leave it plugged in half an hour.

And then sometimes the folders appear and I start to copy them off.

This is an awful experience and puts me off ever recommending this brand of phone. And makes me wonder if I should buy a different brand next time.

It would also be good if you could fix the drivers that go on the pc so they keep talking to the iPhone and don’t fail.

But best if I could transfer wirelessly- I can do it with strangers. Please let me do it for myself.

+++++++

I was only able to get some content off.

Some videos failed continually

So I had to use

VLC app

Put vid files on VLC app

Then use house wifi within the VLC app to move vid files to my pc.

So time consuming

—— —— —— —— ——

Apple needs to make an app that makes it easy for users to transfer their content from their iPhone to a pc or hard drive WIRELESSLY.

(I also tried using the VLC app , but it kept getting stuck and took a long time. )

It is frustrating to know I can airdrop my content to a stranger on the street, but it has taken me weeks to get my own content onto a drive so I can look at it and do things with it on my pc.

You need to make an app to make it easy to transfer files to myself & you need to do this quickly. *****

Please.

Thank you.

iPhone X, iOS 12

Posted on Jul 22, 2019 4:01 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

Jul 22, 2019 6:47 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

Good afternoon Perplexedqwerty,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

I understand you are trying to copy your photos and videos from your iPhone to your Windows computer. The resources below explain how to do this, including the wireless option which is iCloud for Windows.

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Download iCloud for Windows

Set up and use iCloud for Windows

"When you turn on Photos, iCloud for Windows creates a Photos folder in File Explorer called iCloud Photos. New photos and videos you take automatically download from iCloud Photos and you can choose to download your entire collection by year.

Take care.

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Answer 2

TheLittles

Level 10

203,019 points

Jul 22, 2019 7:50 PM in response to deggie

Perplexedqwerty Said:

“...into a regular folder so I can do other things with it.”

———

Consider Syncing with iCloud Storage:

The iCloud Storage Limit goes up to 1TB($9.99 USD/month). So, if an available option, consider upgrading your iCloud Storage Capacity.

Through use of synchronization, you would upload Documents, Videos, and Photos and else to iCloud from your iPhone, then Download them to your PC from iCloud.

So, Find Out More Here: iCloud storage Plans and Pricing - Apple Support

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,291 points

Jul 22, 2019 7:52 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

Be willing to bet you are using Windows 10 on the Dell. Windows 10 is a piece of crud when it comes to transferring photos. Before you connect the iPhone to the computer, open Photos in Windows 10. Then unlock the iPhone and plug it into the computer. Photos should recognize a USB device. You can start to import photos and pray that they import. I am usually successful in importing about 10-20 at a time with mine, and I usually only have around 50-60 photos on the iPhone before I import. I've gotten to where I use my Windows 7 laptop to import and delete the photos from the phone and then I transfer them to my Windows 10 desktop with a flash drive. PITA.

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Answer 4

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jul 22, 2019 7:32 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

If these are photos/videos that you took on your iPhone, and your computer is a trusted computer, they should transfer via iTunes and whatever photo software you are using to your computer. If they are not you will have to find a different means to transfer them since the iPhone does not have a user accessible filing system. I've used TouchCopy for some time now whenever I need to transfer information (not just pictures and videos) from an iDevice to a PC.

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jul 23, 2019 2:45 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

You won't get any response for Apple based on that feedback. As Chris and I have both pointed out you should be able to move photos taken on the iPhone to a Windows machine, I did it often with both Windows 7 and 8 with no issues. Windows 10 is an entirely different issue. I still prefer to use TouchCopy as it has only minor issues with Windows 10 and can move much more than photos and videos.

Apple is not going to loosen their security for your request, perhaps you should go with an Android device.

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Answer 6

TheLittles

Level 10

203,019 points

Jul 22, 2019 11:01 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

FWIW, one last thought is to provide this feedback and your recommendations you provided (in your three prior replies) to Apple: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

—TheLittles

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Answer 7

Jul 22, 2019 7:28 PM in response to CarlAVII

The response was to use iCloud.

I do not have my content in iCloud.

I have a large memory on my phone & the iCloud limit is very low .

i don’t think I should have to use iCloud to get access to my own content on my own phone

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Answer 8

Jul 22, 2019 10:49 PM in response to deggie

Thank you for your reply.

My point is iTunes doesn’t do it.

I believe it is apple who should make an app or a wifi solution (that does NOT involve iCloud) for the customers who spend a fortune to buy these phones.

It is the locked down nature of the iPhone that is likely limiting the throughput.

I really think Apple needs to fix this problem-particularly given their sales pitch that it is supposed to be easy to use and they solve problems.

Lets wait and see if they ever do.

As per my notes above, icloud is not an acceptable solution - I don’t want to spend any more money on this. And I don’t want my photos in the cloud.

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Answer 9

TheLittles

Level 10

203,019 points

Jul 23, 2019 2:21 AM in response to Perplexedqwerty

Perplexedqwerty Said:

"that would be mean sitting on hold forever."

-------

There's no reason to call Apple. Just use the link, and leave comments about the iPhone's performance.

So, all I can say is, use this info (if correct):

Feedback Type: Performance

iOSVersion: iOS12.0

OS Used: Windows 10

As for comments, just make it brief, and summarize it in a few sentences. Perhaps, this would work?:

"My iPhone is a bit up there, yet it just keeps disconnecting itself from my PC. I've tried transferring my data from my iPhone to my Window 10 PC, and it just restricts itself. Its data is transferring slow, making it have become a tough. Thanks, Perplexedqwerty"

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Answer 10

Jul 22, 2019 10:50 PM in response to deggie

Thank you for your reply.

My point is iTunes doesn’t do it.

I believe it is apple who should make an app or a wifi solution (that does NOT involve iCloud) for the customers who spend a fortune to buy these phones.

I will I’ll also look into the software you mention

It is the locked down nature of the iPhone that is likely limiting the throughput.

I really think Apple needs to fix this problem-particularly given their sales pitch that it is supposed to be easy to use and they solve problems.

Lets wait and see if they ever do.

As per my notes above, icloud is not an acceptable solution - I don’t want to spend any more money on this. And I don’t want my photos in the cloud.

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Answer 11

Jul 22, 2019 10:53 PM in response to TheLittles

Thank you for your reply.

My point is iTunes doesn’t do it.

I believe it is apple who should make an app or a wifi solution (that does NOT involve iCloud) for the customers who spend a fortune to buy these phones.

It is the locked down nature of the iPhone that is likely limiting the throughput.

I really think Apple needs to fix this problem-particularly given their sales pitch that it is supposed to be easy to use and they solve problems.

Lets wait and see if they ever do.

As per my notes above, icloud is not an acceptable solution - I don’t want to spend any more money on this. And I don’t want my photos in the cloud.

Reply

Answer 12

Jul 22, 2019 10:55 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thank you for your reply.

I did break it up into smaller amounts, sometimes just one file and it would still fail. Very frustrating.

I believe it is apple who should make an app or a wifi solution (that does NOT involve iCloud) for the customers who spend a fortune to buy these phones.

It is the locked down nature of the iPhone that is likely limiting the throughput.

I really think Apple needs to fix this problem-particularly given their sales pitch that it is supposed to be easy to use and they solve problems.

Lets wait and see if they ever do.

As per my notes above, icloud is not an acceptable solution - I don’t want to spend any more money on this. And I don’t want my photos in the cloud.

Reply

Answer 13

Jul 23, 2019 3:22 AM in response to TheLittles

Thanks.

I already replied and I pasted the link as I have already done all the official steps and wasted 3 weeks. I don’t want this to lead to 50 emails back and forth.

And iCloud is not an acceptable solution

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Answer 14

Jul 23, 2019 3:06 PM in response to deggie

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I do not expect Apple to loosen security.

i expect Apple to build functionality to allow users to get content off their iPhone onto their pc wirelessly.

You mentioned touchcopy - thank you, i will look into it,

but this is a paid app.

i should not have to pay any extra to do something that should already have been built.

Perhaps it could be added to iTunes as an option.

or built as a stand-alone app

or built into airdrop where the pc has something on it that makes it another user to share with

all the underlying infrastructure would be there- wifi, etc

(another perspective is that I have to do these things because if I backup my iPhone to my pc none of my content from my phone appears in the iTunes screens & never has. That is just stupid)

i dont know how apple can claim to be easy to use.

It is more of an obstacle game where if something I want to happen does happen it is a miracle

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Answer 15

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jul 23, 2019 3:09 PM in response to Perplexedqwerty

You are using a sample of one (yourself) to claim that the iPhone can't easily transfer photos and videos. It can. Have you contacted Microsoft about the problems you are having?

In case you haven't noticed iTunes is going away.

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Almost impossible to get files off iPhone onto pc

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