iPhone Files To/From Windows 10 PC?

[SideCharlie]

I’ve been a longtime Android user and just recently splurged and got an iPhone 14 Pro Max. When I plug it into the Windows 10 PC and allow it to access photos and videos, I can see the Apple iPhone icon in the Windows file explorer. When I double-click on it, I see the Internal Storage icon, then double-clicking into that, I see a folder called “DCIM”.

Going into “DCIM”, it won’t let me paste a photo off my C:\ drive. The word “Paste” is greyed when I right-click. It was much easier with Android. Android would let you see all the folders and you could just do what you want.

How do I make the iPhone let me see it’s other folders and copy-and-paste files? Thanks.

 

[iStorm]

You can't copy/paste files directly to iPhones. For photos, you would have to add them through iTunes, but even that can be a little clunky since it's more of a sync than a transfer.

Sync photos in iTunes on PC with devices

In iTunes on PC, sync photos to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with color display. If you already use iCloud Photos, you don’t need to sync.

support.apple.com

If you turned on iCloud Photos, then you would have to go to iCloud.com and upload them there instead.

Upload and download photos using iCloud.com

On iCloud.com, upload JPEG photos to iCloud Photos and download photos and videos stored in iCloud to your computer.

support.apple.com

Also, if the end goal is transferring photos you had on your old phone (and you still have it), you can use the 'Move to iOS' app to transfer them over.

Move to iOS - Apps on Google Play

Transfer your data securely from Android to iPhone and iPad.

play.google.com

Finally, there's an app called iMazing. I don't have experience with it, but it is recommended often and should let you do what you want.

iMazing | iPhone, iPad & iPod Manager for Mac & PC

iMazing lets you transfer music, files, messages, apps and more from any iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer, Mac or PC. Manage and backup your iOS device simply without iTunes. (was DiskAid)

imazing.com

 

[klasma]

Seconding to take a look at iMazing.

 

[SideCharlie]

I have iCloud syncing turned off for photos. If I take a photo, it's (supposedly) saving the picture on the phone's internal storage. But if you open the Files app, it's nowhere to be found.

 

[iStorm]

I have iCloud syncing turned off for photos. If I take a photo, it's (supposedly) saving the picture on the phone's internal storage. But if you open the Files app, it's nowhere to be found.

It'll be in the Photos app.

Files can be a bit confusing. It's not necessarily a file browser, but more Apple's version of OneDrive or DropBox.

 

[clueless88]

I have iCloud syncing turned off for photos. If I take a photo, it's (supposedly) saving the picture on the phone's internal storage. But if you open the Files app, it's nowhere to be found.

How do I make the iPhone let me see it’s other folders and copy-and-paste files? Thanks.

When you connect your iphone to your Windows computer and go through the drop downs like you did in the first post, then click on DCIM you should see a bunch of folders with strange names. Click on each of the folders and you can see the photos that you have taken on your iPhone. You can copy the photos from the folders and drop them into a folder/location on your Windows PC. You can then manipulate the photos with the editor of your choosing. The more photos you take with your iPhone, the more folders are created within the DCIM folder.

I have not tried to move photos from my computer onto my iPhone.