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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

Best 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....

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366 replies

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Apr 15, 2016 2:25 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul

Yes it does, and has for a while

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??

Apr 23, 2016 5:43 PM in response to flow3rbell

Yes. Don't extract the photos from folders. Use the photo import utility in whatever operating system you have on your computer.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,416 points

Apr 23, 2016 7:40 PM in response to flow3rbell

flow3rbell wrote:

ONE folder per photo is extremely annoying....

It's annoying because it's not the advocated way to do it.

dudz1978

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 5:17 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi.

I agree that using Windows Explorer is not the correct way to copy images.

I've read

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201302

and it redirected me to

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-pictures-camera-computer

You said that it is not necessary copy all files, but I could not find any way to copy only the last photos. The link above has following text:

Why can't I choose which pictures or videos to import?

Windows detects your newest pictures and videos and doesn't import duplicate versions of older pictures or videos that you've already copied to your computer, so you can import your pictures and videos in a single step. You can then review and organize your pictures in the Pictures library.

I'm using Windows 7. Do you know how to copy a single image? When I use import wizard it copy all files. What am I doing wrong? I know that if it is not possible without using Itunes, it is Microsoft's fault, not Apple. I'm not complaining.

Thanks in advance.

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,

Why SO many random DCIM Folders? I want ONE!