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User profile for user: neevasD
neevasD Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

ipadOS 13.3 dcim folder - why so many sub folders?

hi all,


I am having an issue with multiple duplicates and there isn't a way to isolate and manage them through the Photos or Files app. So, i plugged my ipad Pro 2018 into my PC to find and manage duplicates, which is a breeze.


Unfortunately, i wasn't able to find any online documentation explaining the file structure within DCIM folder so i am concerned about the effects of deleting files from different folders.


For example, these are the folders within my ipad: 100APPLE, 100CLOUD, 101CLOUD, 102CLOUD. If one copy of a particular photo is in 100CLOUD and the clone is in 100APPLE, what would happen if i deleted one of either copy?


I would greatly appreciate any information/ explanation you could provide. If someone from Apple who is involved with the iOS/icloud team, please create some method of managing duplicate files.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch, 3rd Gen, Wi-Fi

Posted on Jan 4, 2020 7:37 AM

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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level 10
231,218 points

Posted on Jan 4, 2020 4:54 PM

The file system for photos on the iPad/iPhone is not really designed to be managed by File Explorer in Windows. It is automatically generated by iOS when photos are taken, as well as when additional albums are created. The best way to handle those photos is to use the Photos app in Windows to import them to the computer. Messing around with the file and folder structure of the Photos on the iPhone with File Explorer can result in corruption of the file structure and can make the iPhone unable to access photos. It also would appear that you may have been using, or are currently using iCloud photos, which is a sync service for your photos, and messing with that can make the ability to sync photos across all your device corrupt as well.

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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level 10
231,218 points

Jan 4, 2020 4:54 PM in response to neevasD

The file system for photos on the iPad/iPhone is not really designed to be managed by File Explorer in Windows. It is automatically generated by iOS when photos are taken, as well as when additional albums are created. The best way to handle those photos is to use the Photos app in Windows to import them to the computer. Messing around with the file and folder structure of the Photos on the iPhone with File Explorer can result in corruption of the file structure and can make the iPhone unable to access photos. It also would appear that you may have been using, or are currently using iCloud photos, which is a sync service for your photos, and messing with that can make the ability to sync photos across all your device corrupt as well.

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ipadOS 13.3 dcim folder - why so many sub folders?

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