Did Apple change the directory structure for their photos?

I digress. Copying the files is a lot easier, even if it requires more manual work than having to use iTunes and then trying to figure out how to import the files into the native Windows application.

Drag and drop beats trusting iTunes for Windows and then the Windows photo app every time. And it’s not an oversight by Apple, too. To have access to your photos you just connect the device and click twice. The fact that they „redesigned“ the structure and still have it available wide open confirms, in my opinion, that dragging and dropping the files is easier than doing whatever else and then trying to figure out how to get the raw files from a Windows app. The article you mentioned basically says „Use iTunes, and then try to figure out whatever it is Windows wants to do with your photos, I’m out at that point.“.

I'm not sure how to make it sort that way permanently, if it is even possible; especially since this is an external device whose settings seem to get lost after it is disconnected. If anyone else can find a way, I'd be interested to know how they did it.

However, another simple option is to first select the Details view at the top (instead of List), and then click on the Name column to sort ascending or descending, as you desire. You can then switch back to List view if that is what you desire, and it will retain the sort, at least for now. Not automatic, but you can get what you want in under a second with a couple clicks.

You can also do the same within a picture folder to see the latest pics listed first; sort them under Details view, then switch back to Large icons, Extra Large, etc.

I tested this on my local C:\DCIM folder, which I have as a backup copy of my phone's DCIM folder. I closed Windows Explorer completely, reopened it and went back to the C:\DCIM folder; it retained the "newest to oldest" sort. So, it will remember for some time, but I can't guarantee that it's permanent. For the phone DCIM folder, however, the sort was lost when I disconnected.

Thanks Gents. Yes I agree that Windows seems to forget external device settings when disconnected.

At least the monthly folders give you a clue now where pics might be.

I don't go near iTunes. I find it hopelessly confusing and illogical.

There is no substitute for direct copying from one folder to another.

I entirely agree that copying the files directly is the simplest, most dependable method; even if, according to Mr. Finch, you "should never have done that". Recommending iTunes can only be done by someone who has never actually used iTunes; it is positively worthless in any application I have tried. Even if iTunes worked smoothly, it would still not be any easier, because it would not put my files where I want them; it would still take just as much effort on my part (and substantially more time since iTunes is so darn slow.)

Copying the DCIM folders locally is exactly the same process I do with any other camera's pictures; this is really no different. Apple's folder structure, until recently, was essentially the same as any other camera; they didn't invent anything new.

I also noticed this a week ago. And I loved it! However, when I updated to iOS 14.7 last night, it reverted to the previous format 118APPLE, 119APPLE, 120APPLE, and so on!!!! Why?? I haven't finished backing it up with the date format folder. It was easier. Have you noticed this too when you updated to iOS 14.7?

How do you expect to copy 29,000+ photos to PC? Drag & Drop will be the easiest. All these 118APPLE, 119APPLE, folders are not even arranged chronologically. Each folder contains photos from 2016, 2019, and etc.

I read the link. Under the Windows section, the first directive is to install the most recent version of iTunes. Which IMO is about the worst way to attack this issue. iTunes has never ever behaved the way I want, assuming it even bothers to recognize my device; even then, it's extremely slow and quirky.

It's much easier to simply treat the phone like any other camera and copy the DCIM folders (or desired photos) from the phone to your local hard drive. Once you've got a full backup, you only need to backup the most recent month (with the new monthly folder format). Easy as could be.

Maybe on some other earth in a parallel dimension, or on a Mac, iTunes is a great thing; but not on Windows.

The reason to install iTunes is because it also installs the latest iPhone drivers for Windows. You don’t use iTunes, only the drivers.

But it clearly isn’t easier to work with the ever-changing folder structure, as you are discovering. There have been 3 changes just since the release of iOS 14.

And the easiest way is still iCloud for Windows. You don’t need to ever back up, and can never lose images if a disaster happens between your monthly backups as all new images will appear on your PC seconds after they are taken. And it doesn’t use iTunes, or even the iPhone drivers.

Same case, I was so happy with the new way to organize that I started to back them up immediately and get rid-off the previous ones, I even stayed until early in the morning…the very next day I updated de IOS version, and found the previous folders 101APPLE again. I’m so so frustrated

Yep, I noticed this. With iOS 14.6, Apple changed the photo folder structure to names based on the date. I liked that change since it made it easier to identify which folders contained which photos. But I understand it may have caused hiccups for some people. But then with iOS 14.7, the folder structure went back to the older name format. I don't know what Apple is doing here. I don't think they know what they're doing either.

You mean it's unsupported for me to simply want to look at the photos on my iPhone in File Explorer or Finder? Am I committing some kind of crime by doing so in Apple's mind? Come on, that's ridiculous. What if I simply don't want to use the Photos app in Windows or the Mac? This is the kind of nonsense that gives these companies a bad rep when it comes to lack of user choice.

If Apple didn’t want you to access photo folders they could block access, just as the have to other content in iOS. But it is an undocumented use, and they have no obligation to organize it for your convenience rather than their need to optimize access to the photo database.

So...why do you have a partial backup? You either backed up all your folders, or you didn't; the structure is irrelevant. (Unless it was a bug on Apple's part, you were using iTunes, and that is why they rolled it back. But they'd never admit that in a million years.)

The lack of clarity in the original (and returning) folder structure is no different than the storage folders of any other camera. (And certainly not invented by Apple.) I copy my folders manually so that I know exactly what is backed up (everything) and where it is backed up (wherever I desire).

Copying and pasting the monthly folder is the most simple and efficient way to have photo backup!

Honestly, the so call “official ways” suggested by Apple are all user unfriendly and need relatively additional steps to do the same thing as copy and paste.

Even by simply “import” the photo through the suggested official way, the prolonged loading time and frequent error really make user annoying……

Having folder displaying monthly is really a wonderful improvement …… but eventually Apple does make me disappointed as Apple changed it back. To cope with users who like the old folder style, why don’t let user to choose both of them?

if we must use camera like a camera, why don’t we just use iPhone like a phone?? For dial in and out only ??

JoJo_Kwok wrote:

Honestly, the so call “official ways” suggested by Apple are all user unfriendly and need relatively additional steps to do the same thing as copy and paste.

What is unfriendly about turning on iCloud Photos and having the photos appear magically and almost instantaneously in iCloud on the web and on your computer?