How do you download pictures from an iPhone to your PC?  

If you own an iPhone, particularly if you have any recent model of the iPhone, you also have a professional-quality camera that allows you to take catch great pics wherever you are.  

However, storage for photos is limited on any device (unless you store everything in the cloud), so there might always arise a need to offload the pictures in your storage from time to time.  

Thankfully, this article will show you how to transfer photos from your iPhone to your computer.  

How to Transfer Pictures from an iPhone to a Mac?  

To prepare for your photo upload, you must ensure the software is up to date. You will need the most recent version of iTunes (or at least version 12.5.1 or beyond). You will also require a USB cord to connect your iPhone to your Mac.  

• First, connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB (or you could use a USB-C cord for newer models of the MacBook).  
• Check your phone, as you would be prompted to unlock it with the passcode (your iPhone will not accept a touch ID for this verification).  
• If a screen appears on your iPhone, tap on the option that says “Trust This Computer.” Your iPhone will then be connected to your Mac computer.  
• The Photos app on your computer will pop open, if it does not, you can open it manually.  

• You will be able to spot an import screen in Photos that show the photos you have on your iPhone. If you are not automatically placed on this screen, click on the icon for your iPhone in the menu on the left of the Photos window. Or you can navigate to File – Import to open the import window.  
• Select where you wish to store the imported photos. At the top of the import window in the center, you will find a drop-down menu that allows you to add new images to one of your albums. Or, it lets you create a new album for your import. If you select nothing, then the transferred photos will automatically be saved to your Photos app library. Your photos will automatically appear in the Import/Last Import album. The name of the album will depend on whether you have High Sierra or an earlier macOS.  
• You will be able to see two buttons on the upper left of the import window. The option that says “Import All New Items” will transfer every photo you have taken since your last import. If you wish to upload only certain photos, you have to click on each photo you wish to copy onto your computer, then click on the option that says “Import Selected.”  

Your import will then be complete. Navigate to iTunes, then click the eject icon before you disconnect your iPhone from your Mac.  

The same steps given above can be followed to import from your iPad, iPod Touch, or even your camera’s SD card.  

How to Transfer Photos from your iPhone to a PC?  

Make sure the photos you wish to import are saved on the device rather than in the cloud. Then, follow the steps provided for your type of device. First, you need to follow the instructions above to connect your iPhone, unlock it, and tell it to trust your computer.  

After you have successfully connected, the steps you will have to follow depend on which version of Windows you have on your PC. Here are both the steps for Windows 10 as well as Windows 11.  

Windows 11  

• Turn your iPhone on, then unlock it, as your PC cannot find the device if the device is locked.  

• On your PC, select the Start button (the Windows button), then click on Photos to open the Photos app.  
• Click on Import > From a connected device, then follow the instructions.  
• You will have the ability to pick the items you want to import as well as select where to save them. Allow a few moments for detection as well as completion of the transfer.  

Windows 10  

• Click the Start button.  

• Click on Photos from the menu that appears. This will open the Photos app on your PC.  
• In Photos, click on Import – From a USB device, then follow the instructions to complete the transfer.  
• You will have the ability to pick the items you want to import as well as select where to save them. Allow a few moments for detection as well as completion of the transfer.  

What image formats does iPhone capture?  

iPhone captures images in the format HEIC, it is Apple’s proprietary version of the HEIF or High-Efficiency Image File format. This file format is intended to be a better way to save your pictures, making your images smaller in terms of data all the while retaining the high quality.  

If you have been using iOS 11 or later, you would have noticed that photos taken with your iPhone camera are saved as HEIC files. The problem with the HEIC format is that it is not widely compatible with other apps or devices. You may not be able to open a HEIC photo after you move it to your computer.  

Can I share my iPhone photos with anyone?  

The iCloud service includes iCloud Photos, a free service Apple offers for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, as well as PC. It allows you to create shared albums that your friends and family can access, comment upon, and even add their images as well as video. By default, iCloud Photos uses iCloud accounts, however, you have the ability to also create a private iCloud.com website for non-iCloud users to view your photos as well as videos.  

• In Albums, tap on a shared album that you created.  
• Navigate to the People tab.  

• Tap on Invite People.  
• Enter the names of people you wish to share the album with.  
• Tap on Add.  

You even have the ability to share albums with friends as well as family who do not use iCloud. Just open a shared album that you created, navigate to the People tab, then turn on Public Website. Your photos publish to a website that anyone can see in an up-to-date web browser.  

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