Q: Windows explorer see's multiple "Local Disk" files in the iphone DCIM folders

This issue was an annoyance for me, as I wanted to be sure I had downloaded all my pictures from my iPhone.  After some experimentation, I found at least one cause for this problem.

Any photos that are altered (cropped, photo filters applied, etc.) result in one of these phantom "local disk" files appearing under the camera folder.  I'd guess that the iPhone is saving off some sort of config file describing the edits that were made.  I verified that either reverting the edit or deleting the edited photo entirely causes the corresponding "local disk" file to disappear.

Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to determine which photos each of these "edit" files applies to.  In addition, they seem to cause major problems for Windows Explorer if you try to copy the entire folders; under Windows 7, it caused Explorer to crash every time for me.

Seems like a bug that was apparently introduced in iOS 8 that affects the way photo files are exposed via the DCIM shared folder.

Also note that the image files that are exposed under the DCIM folder are the original files, not the edited versions.  When you view your photo gallery on the iPhone, you see the edited version, but if you copy it from DCIM, you get the original version instead.

Fortunately, this was what I wanted anyways, but it may not be for most people.

I have this problem as well tried the above and hasn't worked for me at all has anyone else resolved this issue in a different way at all?

@Jim2784: What do you mean "tried the above"?  Did you undo all the edits on your pictures and the "local disk" files were still there?  Or were you referring to the workarounds suggested earlier in the thread?

I reported this as a bug via Apple's feedback page and I'd like to update that info if my understanding of the problem isn't completely accurate.

I did try the work around that has been suggested likewise habe sent in to apple and heard nothing at all

                                     LOTS OF STEPS AS I WAS ONLY TROUBLE SHOOTING AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING!!!!!!

First time posting. I am running iOS 8.1.1. I was looking online if there was a fix and only found other people that have the same problem so I just started trouble shooting. The way I removed the "Local Disk" files

1) Make a back-up of your photos. I downloaded the free app called Photo Vault from the App Store. Then imported my photos into the Photo Vault app.

2) Disconnect the iPhone device from computer.

3) Delete all the photos in the stock app, "Photos"

4) Restart the phone

5) Take a picture of anything using the camera app.

6) Restart phone.

7) Connect the iPhone to the computer

8) Using Photo Vault export the photos back into the stock app "Photos"

The "Local Disk" files should be gone now. If this did not work for you then I don't know how to fix your problem.

I did the Safari Web content thing, and now when I reconnect the iPhone to my laptop running Windows 7, I don't even see the phone under Network??

Sorry, I mean under Computer.

Don't delete all of your photos!

It's a combination of things, mostly related to editing and some of the new camera formats in iOS 8.  The "local disk" files contain metadata about some of the special formats.

1.  Go in to Settings, Safari, Advanced, Website Data, Remove All (many of the "local disk" files will go away)

2.  Browse the DCIM subfolders and identify the folders that have "local disk" files in them.  The folders with one or more "local disk" files have one or more of the following:

1. Edited photos
2. Time Lapse or Slo-Mo videos
3. Burst photos

For Edited Photos, you need to find them in the folders (you can compare edited date to created date), then edit the photo on the iPhone and REVERT to the original photo.  Note that you must unplug the iPhone (haven't tried an iPad) from the computer and plug it back in before the "local disk" files actually disappear - refreshing the folder with F5 doesn't get rid of them.

For Time Lapse or Slo-Mo videos, the only solution I've found is to manually copy them off of the iPhone and then delete the .MOV file(s), then unplug/re-plug.

For Burst photos, open the Burst package and select all of the photos in the Burst (or delete the ones you don't want, selecting the rest).  And, unplug/re-plug.

After doing these 4 things, all of my "local disk" files were gone.

(PS - I managed to look inside of some of the "local disk" files and they seem to contain a modified XML structure.  Why Apple doesn't just put an XML file in the folder that is standard and able to be recognized by Windows, I have no idea. . .)

Good luck!

CrazyRoadBiker wrote:

 

(PS - I managed to look inside of some of the "local disk" files and they seem to contain a modified XML structure.  Why Apple doesn't just put an XML file in the folder that is standard and able to be recognized by Windows, I have no idea. . .)

 

The metatdata files are a standard image metadata format (.AAE), and Windows understands it. But you have to use the Camera and Scanner wizard to import the images. It understands those files, but Windows Explorer does not.

Thank you PuffinMoose!  Your solution worked for me.

Thanks PuffinMoose - worked for me, too!

Settings > Safari!?  I do not have safari installed.  Is that a requirement!?

It's Safari on your iPhone, not on your computer/laptop.

On IOS 8 I have found these files to be the "recently deleted" images usually. Go into the photo album Recently Deleted, tap Select, then hit "Delete All" in the lower left. Next time you connect they will likely not show up for you in the DCIM folders any longer.