Learn 5 ways to transfer photos from iPhone 16/17 to PC - wired & wireless options compared. Fastest method takes just minutes!
The arrival of the iPhone 17 has brought excitement to Apple fans, with significant camera upgrades particularly appealing to photography enthusiasts. As users increasingly document their lives using iPhones, these devices accumulate substantial photo collections that often need transferring to computers for viewing, editing, or storage.
This guide presents five efficient methods for transferring photos from iPhone 17/16 to your Windows PC.
Comparison: 5 Photo Transfer Methods for iPhone 17/16
| Method | Connection | Transfer Speed | Effectiveness | Large File Transfer |
| FoneTool🔥 | USB | Super-Fast | High - 3 Steps | Convenient |
| Photos App | USB | Moderate | Medium - Tedious Operation | Slow |
| File Explorer | USB | Moderate | Medium - Manually Find Data | Slow |
| iCloud | Wireless | Slow | Low - Unknown Errors may Occur | Unstable |
| Google Photos | Wireless | Slow | Low - Manually Upload/Download | Unstable |
For rapid, reliable photo transfers from iPhone 16/17 to PC, FoneTool provides the optimal solution with superior speed and flexibility.
Easily transfer data from iPhone to PC and vice versa as you like.
100% Secure
Follow the steps below to try the best way to transfer pictures from iPhone to PC.
Step 1. Connect iPhone to PC via USB > Tap Trust when prompted.
Step 2. Open FoneTool > Phone Transfer > iPhone to PC > Get Started.
Step 3. Click + icon > Select photos/videos > OK.
Step 4. Change photo storage location in Transfer Settings > Click Start Transfer to copy iPhone photos to PC without iTunes.
Windows' built-in Photos app provides a native solution for iPhone photo transfers without third-party software. You can set it to automatically put newly-taken iPhone pictures to computer.
Step 1. Connect iPhone to computer > Open Photos app.
Step 2. Click Import > From A USB device.
Step 3. Wait for file detection > Deselect unwanted photos.
Step 4. Click Import to add iPhone 16/17 pictures to PC.
Windows File Explorer offers direct access to iPhone storage for manual photo management. Les't move photos/videos stored in the iPhone DCIM folder.
Step 1. Connect iPhone via USB > Open File Explorer.
Step 2. Navigate to This PC > Select your iPhone under Portable Devices.
Step 3. Open Internal Storage > DCIM folder.
Step 4. Drag and drop photos to PC destination.
For people who don’t need to move a large number of pictures, downloading photos from iCloud to PC will be a good way.
Enable iCloud Photos: Settings > Profile > iCloud > Photos > Enable sync.
Step 1. Go to iCloud.com on your PC > Login Apple ID.
Step 2. Click the Photos icon > Select images > Tap Download icon to download photos to your PC.
Step 3. Save to computer (max 1000 photos per session).
FoneTool will be a fast and safe way to download iCloud data from PC.
Download FoneTool on your PC and choose your iCloud photos/videos to download as you like.
Step 1. Open FoneTool > My iCloud > Login > Manage iCloud.
Step 2. Select Photos > Choose files > Click the Downlod button.
Step 3. Change the download settings > Click Download to confirm.
If you need another wireless way to upload photos from iPhone 16/17 to computer, Google Photos offers 15GB free storage for cloud-based photo transfers.
Step 1. On iPhone: Access photos.google.comm or Google Photos app > Login > Upload photos.
Step 2. On PC: Visit photos.google.com > Login same account.
Step 3. Select photos > Three-dots menu > Click Download to download pictures from iPhone 16/17 to laptop/desktop.
· Incompatible File Format: Your PC might not recognize your pictures on iPhone, like HEIC. FoneTool can recognize various common image files, you can use it to avoid the trouble. · Enabled iCloud Photos: If iCloud Photos is turned on, you might need to download the original, full-resolution versions of your photos to your device before moving them to your PC. · Some Device Errors: Your computer may not have correctly recognized your device, your iPhone is unlocked or your computer has not yet been trusted by your iPhone.
Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable > Go to the Photos app on your computer and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process. Or you can transfer photos wirelessly using AirDrop or iCloud.
For iPhone 15, 16 and 17 models, you can change the camera resolution from 12 MP to 24 MP or 48 MP. To do this, go to Settings > Camera > Formats > Photo Mode. Or use some third-party apps to enhance your photo quality.
This guide presents five effective methods for transferring photos from iPhone 17/16 to PC:
For large-scale transfers: Use wired methods like FoneTool (fastest), Photos app, or File Explorer
For wireless convenience: iCloud or Google Photos provide cloud-based solutions
FoneTool stands out as the optimal solution with its superior speed, selective transfer capability, you can also go to Phone Backup and use it to backup iPhone 16/17 to PC without iCloud.