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kosmas0 Author

Level 1

55 points

iOS 14 ruined Photo Transferring (Windows 10)

I am an iPhone user for 10 years. I have been moving my photos from my iphone to pc with same "transfer images and photos" windows' function. But not anymore, after iOS, my photos are locked for every way I try to access them. My iPhone connects normally, I can see the DCIM folder and everything inside. But, the photos have no thumbnails and if I try to show or copy something I get "file is locked" or "no privileges" depending on the software I try to use (windows explorer's copy-paste or windows photos). Specifically as soon as the iPhone connects, I can see the images and thumbnails for 10-15 seconds and then, boom, everythin is locked. I backed up everything before iOS 14 installation so I can assure it happens after it. We have two iphones , 11 Pro Max and 11 and the same happens to both in two different PCs. I also tried to rollback the iPhone 11.It worked normally and it didnt work after iOS 14 reinstallation. Anyone else with the same problem?

iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 21, 2020 4:39 AM

Top-ranking reply

Drewdyman

Level 1

22 points

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 7:16 AM

I spent FOUR HOURS on the phone with Apple tech support regarding this issue, about two weeks ago. I have an iPhone 11 with the latest iOS update. I did everything he suggested. In the end, he gave up and admitted that there is no actual fix or workaround at this time. The things tried:

All the basics - cables, USB ports, drivers, etc.

Updating my version of Windows on 3 different machines.

Rebooting the phone and PC at the same time while connected.

Changing photo settings, file types, iCloud settings, and so on.

Installing the latest version of iTunes on all 3 machines.

...and several other things.

My issue is the same as listed by others. Windows Photo will occasionally see the phone via usb, and may transfer up to 3 random pictures, but then errors out. This is after several YEARS of successfully transferring photos in this way. The ONLY change was the iOS 14 update. If I take photos on my old iPhone 6Plus, running iOS 11-ish, it still works like a champ - Every. Single. Time.

Of course, iTunes is useless for photos: you can upload them from the PC to the phone, but not from the phone to the PC. I didn’t even know this until the support guy told me.

The tech support guy’s admission was very concerning - Apple knows it’s an issue and has no intention of fixing it. Considering that I use my phone for taking tons of pictures at work that have to be transferred to my work PC, this is a huge deal for me. For the first time ever, I’m considering a switch to Android - which I hate - but if Apple is going so far as to lock down even photos, then I guess I’m done.

This is almost as disappointing to me as all the canned responses on using Windows Photo and downloading photos from iCloud and checking your USB port and cable and so on. Linking/copying this same thing over and over does not fix the issue. It just shows that you’re not paying attention to the problem.

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Similar questions

52 replies

Jul 27, 2021 9:29 PM in response to Heather4444

That didnt work for me. What I found out was it was EDITED photos. Not all edited photos tho. I transferred like 12,000 photos And less than 20 caused an error. So I put pics in order of file type. Did each file type at a time until i came across a group that wouldn't transfer Then I did that group one at a time. It was still annoying but sped up the process somewhat. It also helps if you have a computer with USB 3.0. (Macrooki said on July 10 it was Live photos. I never thought about that. I never use Live Photos but sometimes I do by accident. I'm going to test this theory. I will reply back when I find out

mikes108

Level 1

9 points

Jul 28, 2021 5:06 AM in response to mikes108

After posting above that using the windows photos app worked for me, I found that the mov files still have problems. Some of them will play but most will either not play at all or will open, start and then stop playing & it says 'not responding'. I have vlc player with the necessary codecs otherwise none of the vids would work. So no idea now whats the problem. Hundreds of videos I made over 2 months and most will not play on Windows.

Aug 1, 2021 3:51 AM in response to kosmas0

Late to the question I know.

It's iTunes that is the problem. Not iOS.

On Android and every other phone, you can simply USB your phone in to your PC, and drag drop files like a flash drive.

Apple needs to ditch the synching with iTunes nonsense.

arkeis

Level 1

4 points

Aug 3, 2021 1:23 PM in response to kosmas0

This just happened to me, I'm so sad that I lost all of my recordings.

Let my pain be a warning for others. FYI: By default, iOS records videos using hevc (format compression). When you move or copy the .mov files to your Windows PC using the lightning cable and Windows Explorer, iOS automatically converts the videos to h.264 (more compatible format compression). This conversion is time consuming, lossy, less efficient (requires more storage than hevc) and worst of all BUGGY! Since I "moved" and not "copied" the videos from my iPhone, all of my videos are now ruined (video and audio compression artifacts and missing frames). The only way for me to have avoided this issue is if I enabled iCloud photos and then downloaded the videos from there (screenshot below). Using lightning cable on Windows forces a conversion. Losing all these videos sucks. I am surprised Apple has a bug with hevc to h264 conversion.

Sep 25, 2021 7:47 PM in response to kosmas0

That's a nice work around Sravan. Apple care to spend any of those trillions to fix this issue? I mean really get in there and resolve this issue. Oh that's right spend money on R&D to serialized batteries for iphone13. Cant have customers changing their batteries.

lmz-10

Level 1

4 points

Sep 28, 2021 9:36 PM in response to kosmas0

This problem or bug has more than 3 years. I have too these issues trying to transfer photos and videos. Now it is Septermber 2021 and with new iOS 15 release the problem still persist. It seems Apple want to force users to buy iCloud and that this is made on purpose. Really annoys a lot.

kosmas0 Author

Level 1

55 points

Sep 21, 2020 5:02 AM in response to SravanKrA

I had 13.7 before. And I dont think that something changed to my setup in a couple of hours except the iOS. Thanks for the help but I tried every kind of "canned" suggestions on the internet.

Sep 25, 2020 6:25 PM in response to kosmas0

I have the same isue

Nov 25, 2020 2:08 PM in response to Drewdyman

I am having this exact issue. I agree - I am seriously now considering an Android device. This is so infuriating. What's wrong with Apple developers????