I need to transfer all the photos from my iPhone to a Windows computer, but every method I've tried fails. The Windows Photos app usually errors after copying only a few images, and copying through File Explorer or PowerShell also produces errors. Sometimes the photo folder appears incomplete or corrupted, and the iPhone disappears from the connected devices list. I'm looking for a straightforward method that works reliably without a long troubleshooting process. Cloud storage, Wi-Fi transfer, or another simple approach would be fine.
4 Answers
A Wi-Fi transfer may be easier than dealing with the USB connection. LocalSend can be installed on both devices, connected over the same network, and used to send batches of photos to the computer. Another option is to share a folder on the computer and connect to it through the iPhone’s Files app.
If the photos are already syncing to iCloud, the least frustrating option is to sign in to iCloud from the computer and download them there. Google Photos or OneDrive can work similarly, and enabling automatic backup means you won’t have to repeat this manually in the future.
For a direct transfer, connect the iPhone with a good USB cable, unlock it, and approve the computer when the trust prompt appears. Then open File Explorer, go to This PC, select the iPhone, open Internal Storage and the photo folders, and copy them to a folder on the computer. If the transfer stops, the cable, phone port, or USB connection is a likely cause. A damaged or loose connection can make the phone disappear and leave an incomplete copy.
You can also use the Apple Devices app on Windows, Phone Link, or a similar official syncing tool. These can be more dependable than repeatedly dragging files from the phone, especially if the goal is to keep future photos backed up automatically.

Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload