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lisalisabol Author

Level 1

21 points

Why SO many random DCIM Folders? I want ONE!

I have an ipone 4s. I have had an iPhone for over 5 years now. Before the DCIM folder would hold 1000 pictures. As soon as I would take another picture (ei 1001) then it would start another folder for those thousand pictures. So by time I got into the 5000+ I had over 5 folders. They are random (ei 851PKYZB, 851XTGOR, 914ELZYG, etc.) Last month or so when I plugged my phone into the computer to copy my photos onto my desktop I had ONE folder. It was glorious not to have to open every folder to figure out where the newest pictures were.

Then today I plug my phone into my computer to copy pictures over and I now have a folder for every 100 pictures. YES TONS and TONS of folders (55 folders to be exact) and no rhythm or reason to the numbering system. Some with only 1 picture in them, as I delete a lot of pictures after transferring to my computer. So when I wanted to find todays pictures I had to open over half of them to find my pictures.

HOW do I get it back to ONE folder? I understand the reason there is a DCIM folder to begin with, but I really think I should be able to have 1 folder or at least have them numbered 100APPLE, 101APPLE, or something that is numeric and I know that the very last folder are the new pictures. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (I have the newest iOS 8.1.2) Thanks in advance.

iOS 7.1

Posted on Dec 13, 2014 6:24 AM

Top-ranking reply

lisalisabol Author

Level 1

21 points

Posted on Dec 13, 2014 7:03 AM

It does matter, as when I got to upload new photos I have over 50 folders to look in, to find the newest pictures. I was ok with 5 or 6 folders but 55 is a bit much and I take lots of photos and then delete them, so I will end up with many many more folders. If the folders were in order and the first folders the oldest pictures and the bottom folders the newest pictures, I wouldn't care how many folders I have, but they are RANDOM....

View in context

366 replies

Apr 13, 2016 9:57 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

How about Apple's iCloud for Windows software? Doesn't that link one's iCloud Photo Library to the PC? I seem to remember My Photo Stream automatically syncing full resolution photos to my PC (use a Mac now).

Apr 23, 2016 5:40 PM in response to lisalisabol

ONE folder per photo is extremely annoying.... Once i download the photos from my phone i want to sort/integrate them with my other photos (from camera and other family members) to view as slide shows, etc. I have to remove every photo from every folder to put them in my collection 😕 .... Unless someone can tell me an easier way to extract the photos from folders??

Dec 16, 2016 6:59 AM in response to dudz1978

So, importing your photos does not involve iTunes in any way. iTunes is only used to specify what photos you want to sync back to your iOS device.

When you import your photos to your photos to Windows, it does not appear that you have the option to select what to import. However, the second article you cited above does indicate that there is a fairly easy way to delete what you really don't want in your photos library:

You can also review your imported pictures in Windows Photo Viewer, where the large preview format makes it easier to decide which newly imported pictures to delete from your computer.

Since I don't use a Windows computer for my photos, I don't know how easy that actually is to do, but it looks like your only option is an after the fact one.

Cheers,

Mar 7, 2016 1:56 PM in response to Gregoriusmax64

Apparently you missed this link that has been posted more than once in this thread:

IMPORTING PHOTOS - WINDOWS/MAC

Aug 18, 2017 5:42 AM in response to lisalisabol

Supposedly it's for better security. See here:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8611

Dec 13, 2014 6:38 AM in response to lisalisabol

Why does it matter? Just import the photos to your computer, and you can designate that they all go into one folder if you want.

lisalisabol Author

Level 1

21 points

Dec 13, 2014 7:26 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

Will that delete the pictures off my phone? I don't want to end up accidently deleting all of them? thanks

Dec 13, 2014 7:33 AM in response to lisalisabol

That's why I said to import them first so you don't lose them.

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Dec 17, 2014 10:04 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

Photostream is limited to 1000 photographs, I would imagine that is why there is a similar limit on the folders that contain them

olivtt

Level 1

0 points

Dec 26, 2014 3:29 AM in response to lisalisabol

Same problem for me. Since last update (8.1.2) I guess.

Dec 27, 2014 6:40 AM in response to rechenmeister

Rechenmeister, check out my last post on this . Should help with finding your most recent photos.

olivtt

Level 1

0 points

Dec 27, 2014 7:47 AM in response to T-Minator

Yes ! Good tip !

Dec 27, 2014 8:11 AM in response to Desmadona

How do you know it's creating ghost files within the folders if you cannot see the folders?

lisalisabol Author

Level 1

21 points

Dec 28, 2014 1:07 AM in response to T-Minator

Thanks @T-Minator for your suggestion. It helps big time. I was able to find my most recent photos quickly and easily. Until Apple fixes this "problem" I now can find my photos. Thanks again!

Dec 29, 2014 1:11 PM in response to T-Minator

Excellent - good work-around! Thank you!

Why SO many random DCIM Folders? I want ONE!