How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to a Windows PC: 5 Ways

In short

AirDrop only works between Apple devices. For a Windows PC there are five ways: a USB cable with the Windows Photos app, iCloud for Windows, cloud storage, email or messaging, and transfer by QR code in the browser over your shared Wi-Fi. For many photos at full quality, cable and Wi-Fi are fastest. To let Windows open the pictures without add-ons, switch your iPhone to JPEG.

The five ways compared

Way	Needs	Full quality	Good for
USB cable	the right cable, Windows Photos app	yes	backing up the whole library
iCloud for Windows	Apple Account, enough iCloud storage	yes	ongoing sync
Cloud storage	account and app, e.g. OneDrive or Google Photos	usually	photos that belong in the cloud anyway
Email, messaging	internet	often not	a few pictures
Browser via QR code	shared Wi-Fi or iPhone hotspot, app on the iPhone	yes	handing over a selection fast, even to other people's devices

1. By USB cable

Connect the iPhone to the PC and unlock it.
When the iPhone asks "Trust This Computer?", tap Trust.
On Windows, open the Photos app and choose Import. Or open "Apple iPhone" in File Explorer and copy the picture folders.

The cable is the most reliable way for large amounts. You do need the right cable, and importing a big library takes a while.

2. With iCloud for Windows

If you use iCloud Photos, install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store and turn on Photos. Your pictures then appear on the PC and new ones arrive on their own. Convenient, but it needs enough iCloud storage and is more of a sync than a hand-off to someone else.

3. Through cloud storage

OneDrive, Google Photos or Dropbox apps can upload pictures from the iPhone; on the PC you download them again. Handy if the photos should live there anyway. For a quick hand-off it's a detour: everything goes up to the internet and back.

4. By email or messaging

Fine for one or two pictures, not for more: email attachments have size limits, and many messaging apps shrink photos and videos unless you explicitly choose original quality.

5. In the browser via QR code

This way needs nothing on the PC but a browser. An app on the iPhone makes the selected photos available on your local network and shows a QR code and an address. On the PC you type the address into the browser (or scan the code with a phone) and download the pictures at full resolution.

Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi. Without Wi-Fi, the PC can join the iPhone's Personal Hotspot.
Works the same with Android phones, Macs and Linux computers: a browser is all it takes.
The local connection is not encrypted. On public networks (hotel, café), use your own hotspot instead.

HEIC or JPEG?

By default the iPhone saves photos as HEIC. It saves space, but not every Windows program opens it without an extension. Two fixes:

Under Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic. The iPhone then converts pictures to a compatible format when transferring by cable.
Or set Settings › Camera › Formats to Most Compatible. New photos are then saved as JPEG but take more space.

And back: from PC to iPhone

The other direction is usually harder. By cable it only works in roundabout ways, by iCloud or cloud storage via the internet. The browser way works both ways: on the same page where you download the photos, you can drag and drop files from the PC back to the iPhone.

Common problems

The PC doesn't see the iPhone: unlock it, confirm "Trust", try another cable or USB port.
The import stops: with iCloud Photos and Optimize iPhone Storage, many originals live only in iCloud and have to download first.
Videos stutter on the PC: HEVC videos may need an extension or a different player on Windows.

As of October 23, 2026, iOS 26 and Windows 11. Menu names may differ slightly between versions.

The matching app

To any browser by QR code: HyperDrop

HyperDrop is the app for the browser way: pick photos, tap Start Sharing, and the PC downloads them at full resolution via a QR code or an address. Between two iPhones with the app it works directly, even with no network at all. Completely free, for iPhone and iPad.

To Windows, Android, Mac and Linux: a browser is enough
Photos, videos, any files, text, links and contact cards
The way back from PC to iPhone by drag and drop
Also works over the iPhone's Personal Hotspot

More about HyperDrop

Frequently asked questions

How do I get photos from my iPhone to a Windows PC?

By USB cable with the Windows Photos app (Import), with iCloud for Windows, through cloud storage such as OneDrive or Google Photos, by email or messaging, or by QR code in the browser over your shared Wi-Fi.

Does AirDrop work between iPhone and Windows?

No, AirDrop only works between Apple devices. For Windows there's a cable, iCloud, cloud storage or an app that makes the photos available to a browser on the local network.

How do I transfer iPhone photos to a PC without a cable?

With iCloud for Windows, cloud storage, or over the local network in a browser: an app like HyperDrop shows a QR code and an address, and the PC downloads the photos on the same Wi-Fi at full resolution.

Why can't Windows open my iPhone photos?

The iPhone saves photos as HEIC. Under Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic, the iPhone converts them when transferring by cable, or set Settings › Camera › Formats to Most Compatible.

Do photos lose quality over WhatsApp or email?

Often, yes. Many messaging apps shrink pictures and videos unless you explicitly choose original quality, and email attachments have size limits. For many pictures at full quality, cable or Wi-Fi is better.

iPhone photos to your PC