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File transfer from iPhone to PC is super complicated.

Hi there. I am a Windows PC user and have been trying my best to transfer my pictures and videos to my PC from my iPhone XR since January. If i directly copy the files from the "DCIM" folders like "101APPLE" or any of that, it'll start copying a few and then would show an error message like "the device is not accessible". I then tried to "import pictures and videos" by right-clicking on the iPhone device displayed in the computer drives' screen and was able to successfully get everything into my PC (I guess I got all of it) but the images were in HEIC format so it wasn't of any use to me as they weren't readable. I uninstalled iTunes and removed the drivers thinking when I plug in the iPhone next time, it'll reinstall all the drivers on its own and I could start fresh. Sadly, when I tried to "import pictures and videos" for the second time, after changing the setting in "Photos" about keeping the option of picture format as "automatic" so that i can get everything in JPG ; I received the error message again . iTunes is practically of no use as there's no option for retrieving pictures or videos. I've also tried uploading it all into the iCloud and downloading it on my pc via the web browser and I noticed that some files were missing and MOV files that have slo-mo show lesser time (if its a 1 minute video in iCloud photos, the downloaded one would be of 15 seconds) . I also noticed that the data size of pictures I download from iCloud are significantly lower than the original file in the phone ( if original file is 2 MB, the downloaded file from iCloud would be 800 KB). Please tell me what to do about this as its very frustrating. Should I re-install iTunes hoping some driver gets installed along with it that'll help with the importing? Or isn't there another way to transfer files?

iPhone XR, iOS 13

Posted on Apr 6, 2020 10:58 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 6, 2020 11:28 PM

Import to your PC

You can import photos to your PC by connecting your device to your computer and using Windows Photos app:

  1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes on your PC. Importing photos to your PC requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later.
  2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your PC with a USB cable.
  3. You might need to unlock your iOS device using your passcode.
  4. You might also see a prompt on the iOS device asking you to Trust This Computer. Tap Trust or Allow to continue.


Then, follow the steps in these Microsoft knowledge base articles to learn how to import photos to Windows Photos app:


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


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


Photos and videos that you sync from your computer to your iOS device using iTunes can't be imported back to your computer. 


Learn what to do if you can't import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer.

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 6, 2020 11:28 PM in response to rachreb2020

Import to your PC

You can import photos to your PC by connecting your device to your computer and using Windows Photos app:

  1. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes on your PC. Importing photos to your PC requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later.
  2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your PC with a USB cable.
  3. You might need to unlock your iOS device using your passcode.
  4. You might also see a prompt on the iOS device asking you to Trust This Computer. Tap Trust or Allow to continue.


Then, follow the steps in these Microsoft knowledge base articles to learn how to import photos to Windows Photos app:


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


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


Photos and videos that you sync from your computer to your iOS device using iTunes can't be imported back to your computer. 


Learn what to do if you can't import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer.

File transfer from iPhone to PC is super complicated.

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