There are multiple ways to access iPhone photos from a Windows 10/11 PC. You can use iTunes, iCloud for Windows, the Windows Photos app, one of the third-party programs, or File Explorer.
If you are looking for a quick way to access photos stored on your iPhone, File Explorer is your best bet. You can access, view, and back up iPhone photos via File Explorer.
This guide will show you how to access iPhone photos from Windows 10/11 File Explorer and backup pictures if required.
Access iPhone photos from Windows 10/11 File Explorer
Step 1: Make sure your iPhone is turned on and connect it to your Windows 10/11 PC using the charging cable. In addition to the standard USB to lightning cable, you can also use USB-C (if your PC has one) to lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.
Step 2: If you are connecting your iPhone to this PC for the first time, unlock your iPhone to see the following ‘Allow this device to access photos and videos?’ message. Tap on the Allow button.
Step 3: Once the iPhone is connected, open up File Explorer and navigate to This PC.
Step 4: The iPhone should appear under this PC’s Devices and drives section. Double-click on the Apple iPhone.
NOTE: If the iPhone does not show up there, reconnect the iPhone and then try again. You can also go to the Windows Update page of the Settings app and then check for updates to download and install iPhone drivers. Refer to our Windows 10/11 not detecting iPhone guide for directions.
Step 5: Double-clicking on the iPhone icon will show the iPhone’s Internal Storage drive. Double-click on Internal Storage.
Step 6: You will see the DCIM folder upon double-clicking the Internal Storage. Now, it’s time to double-click on the DCIM folder.
NOTE: If you are getting the ‘This folder is empty’ message instead of the DCIM folder, it’s likely because you have not trusted your computer on your iPhone. Repeat the instructions in Step 2 and then try again.
Step 7: As you can see in the picture below, the DCIM folder contains all photos on your iPhone sorted by years and months.
Your iPhone automatically sorts all photos by year and month. For example, all images captured in December 2022 are saved in a folder called 202212. So, finding the images you are looking for is not tedious.
To back up photos, you can either individually copy specific photos or the entire DCIM folder. The choice is yours!
Our how-to view iPhone live photos in Windows 10/11 guide might also interest you.
RH Kaye says
having done all of the above, all I see is an icon of some sort – the same on every photo
I used to be able to see the actual photos, but none of the “view” options in windows 10 show anything but this annoying thing.
unfortunately, the snipping tool wont copy it
suggestions would be appreciated