How to transfer iPhone or iPad pictures to a Windows 10 computer
using File Explorer
1. Install iTunes, If you haven't already. This will ensure your computer can communicate with your
iPhone or iPad.
2. Plug in your iPhone or iPad with your Lightning to USB or 30-pin Dock to USB cable.
3. Open Windows File Explorer. It's the little yellow folder icon on the bottom taskbar. You can also
press the Start key on your keyboard and "E" at the same time to open File Explorer.
4. On the left pane, look under Desktop. If there's nothing below it, the file tree may be collapsed. Click
the right-pointing arrow next to the Desktop icon to see everything contained inside.
5. Under This PC, you should see your iPhone as a drive. Again, This PC may need to be expanded to see
everything inside.
6. Double-click the icon for your iPhone here. You will also need to open Internal Storage, then DCIM,
then another folder inside to get access to your photos.
7. Photos and videos take on your iPhone or iPad should now be visible. Select the items you want to copy
to your computer. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and left-click each item you want to
include. Previously selected items can be unselected in this way as well. You can also select multiple
items by left-clicking and dragging your mouse to form a box over photos, or hit Ctrl and "A" on your
keyboard to select everything.
8. The top bar in the window should have a menu that says Copy To. Click it, and click the destination
where you want your selected files to be copied to. The Desktop is a nice, easily accessible spot,
provided you aren't copying too many photos. If your preferred location isn't listed, click Choose
Location… at the end of the list. Try not to use the Move To option unless your iPhone or iPad is
running out of storage space and you want the photos removed altogether from the device.
How to transfer photos from your iPhone or iPad using the Windows
10 Photos app
If you're feeling adventurous, there's also the new Windows Photos app. It isn't quite as precise as manually
picking your pictures to copy over, but it does a fine job of doing it in bulk, and the app is very nice for looking
at your pictures.
1. Plug your iPhone or iPad into your computer over the Lightning cable.
2. Open Photos. Again, this can be found by typing "Photos" into the search bar at the bottom of the screen
in Windows 10.
3. Click the button at the top-right of the Photos app to import. It's just to the left of the three dots.
4. Select your iPhone from the options that appear.
Remember, having an automatic sync over iCloud or iTunes is leagues easier than these options, though you
enjoy less fine-tuned control over what transfers and when. If you're having any trouble at all getting photos off
your iPhone and onto your Windows computer, let us know in the comments and we'll do our best to help.