I have roughly 450 GB of videos and photos on my iPhone that I'm trying to copy to a Windows computer. Over USB, the Windows Photos import tool only transfers around ten items, while File Explorer shows more files but still misses many of the larger videos. I also tried iCloud, but the Windows app won't load properly even though I have a 200 GB subscription. Are there any dependable ways to transfer everything locally without getting pulled into a bunch of third-party freemium apps or trials?
5 Answers
If you want to keep using iCloud, let iCloud Photos finish syncing to the PC before attempting to move anything. After confirming the files are fully downloaded, you can disable the sync service and keep the downloaded folder as your local copy. A separate transfer tool such as Syncios is another option that some people find reliable.
PhotoSync has worked reasonably well for transferring photos and videos between an iPhone and a computer. It’s another app-based option, but it is designed specifically for moving media and may be more dependable than the standard Windows Photos importer.
Google Photos or Google Drive can be a straightforward workaround because they work on both platforms. Uploading 450 GB will take time and may require additional storage, but it can avoid the problems caused by the iPhone-to-Windows cable connection.
A dedicated transfer utility such as iMazing can handle iPhone photos and videos more reliably than the built-in Windows import tools. It’s paid, but it may be less frustrating than repeatedly retrying incomplete transfers.
LocalSend is worth trying. It’s free, works between iPhone and Windows, and avoids relying on Apple’s sometimes unreliable USB transfer process. For a library this large, transfer in smaller batches and keep both devices connected to power.
That’s what I’m trying to avoid if possible. It’s frustrating to need another cloud subscription just to move files onto local storage.