How to Transfer Photos from iPhone or iPad to a Mac or Windows Computer
Moving photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to a computer shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.
Whether you’re using a Mac, a Windows PC, or both, Apple gives you multiple ways to transfer photos — wirelessly through cloud syncing or directly using a USB cable. The trick is knowing which method works best for your situation.
In this guide, we’ll walk through every reliable option so you can choose the method that fits your workflow — fast, simple, and frustration-free.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
• How to transfer photos wirelessly using iCloud Photos
• How to use AirDrop to send photos quickly to a Mac
• How to transfer photos using a USB cable (Mac + Windows)
• How to import photos using Apple Photos and Image Capture
• How to use Preview to import photos and scan documents from iPhone
• How photo importing works on Windows, including AutoPlay settings
📡 Wireless Transfers: iCloud Photos vs AirDrop
iCloud Photos is best when you want everything to sync automatically in the background — take a photo on your iPhone, and it appears on your Mac (and even Windows with iCloud for Windows).
AirDrop is best when you want to send a few items fast without paying for more cloud storage — but it only works between Apple devices.
🔌 Plug-In Transfers on Mac
If you don’t want cloud syncing (or don’t have reliable internet), plugging in with a cable is still a great option.
✅ Best built-in tools on Mac
• Apple Photos: easiest way to import directly into your Photos library
• Image Capture: best if you want to import to a specific folder and stay organized
• Finder: useful for device management and backups, but not the most direct photo-import method
• Preview: great for quick imports and document scanning
🧠 Important Note About Optimized Storage
If your iPhone is set to Optimize iPhone Storage, some originals may not be fully stored on the device — which can affect cable imports. In that case, iCloud syncing (or downloading originals before importing) can solve the “missing photos” problem.
🪟 Transferring Photos to Windows
On Windows, you can transfer photos by:
• Installing iCloud for Windows to sync photos wirelessly
• Plugging in your iPhone/iPad and importing through the Windows Photos app
• Adjusting AutoPlay so your PC does the right thing when you connect your device
