How do I transfer photos from my iPhone to my PC without iTunes?

Use the Windows Photos app or File Explorer with a cable, iCloud for Windows, or a QR code with no cable at all. None of them need iTunes.

How can I transfer photos from iPhone to PC wirelessly?

Either turn on iCloud Photos and install iCloud for Windows, or open uploadqr.com/transfer on the PC and scan its code with the iPhone to send photos directly.

Why are my iPhone photos HEIC files on Windows?

HEIC is the iPhone's default photo format. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store to open them, or set the iPhone to convert to JPEG when transferring by cable.

How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC

There are four practical ways to move photos from an iPhone to a Windows 10 or 11 PC. A cable is best for a whole camera roll, iCloud for keeping them in sync, and a QR code for a handful of photos right now, with no cable or app.

1. With a cable and the Windows Photos app

Connect the iPhone to the PC with its USB cable and unlock it. If the iPhone asks whether to trust this computer, tap Trust and enter your passcode.

Open the Photos app on the PC, choose Import, then pick your iPhone as the connected device. Select the photos you want and import them. This is the best way to copy a whole camera roll at once.

2. With a cable and File Explorer

With the iPhone connected, unlocked and trusted, open File Explorer, then This PC, then your iPhone. Open Internal Storage, then DCIM: the photos are in the folders inside. Copy them to any folder on the PC.

This works without any app, but the folders are sorted by date code rather than by album.

3. With iCloud for Windows

If iCloud Photos is on for your iPhone, install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store, sign in with your Apple Account and turn on Photos. Your iCloud photos then appear in File Explorer and keep syncing.

It's the most hands-off option, but it depends on iCloud storage and can take a while to sync a large library.

4. Wirelessly, with a QR code

Open uploadqr.com/transfer on the PC. Scan the code it shows with the iPhone's camera, tap the link, and pick the photos and videos. They appear on the PC within seconds, in full quality, and you can save them one by one or as a zip.

No cable, no app and no Apple Account needed, which makes it the quickest way to move a few photos, or to get photos onto someone else's computer. Each transfer takes up to 100 files and is deleted after 24 hours.

HEIC photos on Windows

iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. Windows opens them once Microsoft's free HEIF Image Extensions is installed from the Microsoft Store. If you'd rather get JPEGs over a cable, set the iPhone's Settings, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic, and it converts them as they copy.

If the iPhone doesn't show up on the PC

Unlock the iPhone and keep it on the home screen while it connects, and tap Trust if asked. Try a different cable or USB port, ideally one on the PC itself rather than a hub. Installing Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store adds the drivers Windows uses to recognise an iPhone. If it still won't appear, the wireless QR method avoids the cable entirely.

Send photos to your computer now

Open the transfer page on your computer and scan its code with your phone. Free, no app.

Open the transfer page

Questions

How do I transfer photos from my iPhone to my PC without iTunes?: Use the Windows Photos app or File Explorer with a cable, iCloud for Windows, or a QR code with no cable at all. None of them need iTunes.
How can I transfer photos from iPhone to PC wirelessly?: Either turn on iCloud Photos and install iCloud for Windows, or open uploadqr.com/transfer on the PC and scan its code with the iPhone to send photos directly.
Why are my iPhone photos HEIC files on Windows?: HEIC is the iPhone's default photo format. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store to open them, or set the iPhone to convert to JPEG when transferring by cable.