In this article we will share with you different methods on how to connect iPhone to laptop or PC for file transfer. You can connect iPhone to laptop using traditional wired method with USB cable or wireless methods like Wi-Fi based apps.

We will discuss here all the possible options to transfer files from iPhone to Laptop or PC. Using these methods, you can easily transfer your phone’s photos, videos, documents to PC or laptop or vice versa.

If you are looking for how to screen mirror iPhone to Laptop or PC, please visit out previous post.

How to connect iPhone to laptop for file transfer with USB cable

Here we will tell you various options to transfer files from iPhone to Laptop using USB cable. You can transfer by connecting iPhone to PC directly by traditional method, using Windows photo app or using apple iTunes app.

Nowadays, iPhone and iPad come with type C to type C USB cable or lightening to type C cable. If your laptop has type C USB port, you are good to go, otherwise you need to buy a USB type C female to Type A male adapter to connect with laptop or PC.

How to connect iPhone to Windows 10 Laptop using File Explorer

Steps for connecting iPhone to Laptop

1. Plug the USB cable to your iPhone and Laptop
2. Wait for any driver installation, if requires by Windows
3. Unlock the phone using pin for accessing data by PC
4. In phone when prompted “allow this device to access photos or videos”, tap on allow
5. Now open this PC, you can copy photos and videos using Windows file explorer

Transfer photos and videos using Windows photo app

Follow the following Steps for copying photos and videos using Windows Photos app

1. Connect iPhone to PC using above mentioned steps
2. Now open Photos app by searching in search box in task bar
3. In photos app, click on the import tab
4. Now click on import from connected devices
5. In phone when prompted “allow this device to access photos or videos”, tap on allow
6. In the shown list of photos and videos select the file you want to import
7. Now choose the destination folder and click import

Using Windows photo method importing photos are faster than compares to native USB drive method.

The difference between Android and iPhone is that using USB connection in iPhone you can only transfer photos and videos and not all the files of the iPhone. However in Android mobile you can transfer all files from Android to Laptop using USB cable, OTG adpater or over Wifi using Airdroid like apps.

To transfer all files from iPhone to laptop you need to install iTunes in your PC and have to follow some steps.

How to connect iPhone to laptop using iTunes app

Now we will tell you how to connect iPhone to laptop or PC using iTunes app. Install iTunes in your Laptop or PC from Microsoft Store.

Steps for connecting iPhone to Laptop using iTunes

1. Open iTunes app in your Windows laptop
2. Now connect iPhone to laptop using USB cable
3. Unlock your iPhone using pin
4. If prompted “trust this Computer?”, Then tap over trust
5. In iTunes app also click on continue when prompted
6. On Summary screen you will see lot of option like backup this device, iPhone Sr no., update options etc.
7. Now on left side you will see file sharing tab, click over it
8. If this option is not shown click on the iPhone or iPad icon on top near music icon to get these options
9. You will see in this section, apps that supported over iTunes to transfer files from iPhone to PC
10. Now select the desired app example Adobe Acrobat
11. In the list of document, select the document you want to copy in PC
12. Now using Save button, copy file into the PC
13. By using add file option you can copy files from PC to iPhone
14. You will be only able to transfer files in the respective app itself and not all the files those shown on file manage app of iPhone

How to copy all type of files from iPhone to PC using iTunes

For this you need to install some third party file manager apps like Documents, Ex File explorer, Xender etc that support iTunes file sharing feature.

Open these file managers for example Documents in iphone or iPad. Now copy the files or photos from other apps to “iTunes Files folder” then copy these files there from iPhone to PC or vice versa by save and adding file icons.

 

 

 

See the video on how to transfer file iPhone or iPad to PC using iTunes

How to transfer files from iPhone to Mac PC

Steps for transferring files from iPhone to Mac PC are given below:

1. Connect iPhone to Mac PC or laptop using lightning to type C cable
2. Open Photos app on Mac PC
3. Click on import icon option on photo app to import photos
4. Enter pin on the phone to unlock
5. When prompted on iPhone Trust this computer tap over trust
6. Now select the photos you want to import and continue
7. Wait for process to complete and you are done

How to connect iPhone to Laptop PC for file transfer using USB storage devices

This method is faster than traditional USB cable file transfer to MaC or Windows PC.

As you no need to open iTunes app, photo app in Windows or Mac etc. For using File transferring with USB OTG method you need to buy USB type C to Type A OTG adapter or lightning to USB Type A OTG adapter.

One important thing to mention here that you need to format your USB drive or disk with FAT 32 file format and not in NTFS, otherwise you will not be able to view USB drive on iPhone to iPad.

Now connect USB drive to iPhone with OTG adapter. You will see the USB device name in native File app of the iPhone or iPad. Here you can copy paste file from iPhone storage to USB drive.

Here not all the files shown on the file manager app of iPhone to copy to USB drive, you need to first import your required files e.g. photos, document, pdf into the file manager app or directly to USB drive if supported by respective app.

Now connect USB drive to PC and copy files.

How to connect iPhone to PC for file transfer using wireless options

Now we will tell you different options on how to connect iPhone to Laptop wirelessly for file transfer.

You can connect iPhone to PC wirelessly using file transfer apps such as  Xender, Zapya, Documents etc. These apps transfer files over local Wi-Fi network with the use of browser.

You can access iPhone files on PC using browser by typing the IP address shown on the app. In this method you do not need internet access for file transfer.

How to transfer Files using Xender app

Install xender app in your iPhone, given permission to files and photos now open IP address in browser as shown on the app in PC section to connect with laptop.

If any permission required “accept” in iPhone. Now browse files or photos inside the browser and download them.

How to transfer Files using Zapya app

Download and install Zapya in PC and iPhone from apple store.

Open Zpaya app in PC, now on the app click on create hotspot group. Now one QR code will be generated on the app. Scan this QR code from the Zapya app in iPhone to establish connection. Also provide permission to files and photos, local network to get files on the Laptop.

How to transfer apps using Documents app

Install Documents app in the iPhone, give permission to local network and files/ photos.

Now in the app choose Computer in left side, one four-digit pin will be shown.

Open https://docstransfer.com/ in browser in PC, enter the 4 digit pin. It will take some time to establish connection and your iPhone files now can be seen on browser to download.

How to transfer files using Airdrop feature

You can transfer files between Apple devices using Airdrop feature. This feature use local Wi-Fi and device Bluetooth network to transfer files.

On the Control Centre of iPhone tap over airdrop icon, here you can also select some options like receive files from everyone, off, from the contact. The same can also be set in iPhone settings -> General-> Airdrop.

Now in Mac PC Choose Go – AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder, and then check the “Allow me to be discovered by”.

Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in the Mac and iPhone. Now in iPhone open the file you want to airdrop. Tap over share icon than choose airdrop. From the list select your Mac or iPad name to transfer files using airdrop.

On the Mac or iPad when prompted receiving file tap over accept to receive.

How to transfer files using Cloud services

Using Cloud services like iCloud, Goggle Drive and OneDrive you can transfer files easily from iPhone to anywhere like in Window, Mac or Linux PC or Android devices too.

Install Google Drive or One drive in the iPhone. Also link in File manager app for easy navigation and access of the files.

Now copy your desired files to these cloud services. Open the same in the Windows or Mac using browser or their apps on PC if available for PC.

Microsoft Your Phone app

Microsoft is also working to add support of iOS devices in the Your Phone app. So that you can also transfer photos, view notifications on windows PC using Your phone app.

Right now, it is available for Android devices. On Android phone like Samsung and Oneplus phones you can also make calls using your Laptop over Bluetooth.

For iPhone this feature is under development stage and soon may be released.

Final Words

We have demonstrated various options on how to connect iPhone to Laptop or PC wired and wirelessly.

We have found in our testing that Windows Photo app import method and using iTunes app data transfer is faster. Further using USB drive with OTG adapter and Cloud services like iCloud, One drive, Google drive is works well and faster.

Data transfer over Wi-Fi using File manager apps is found some sluggish and slower is speed, that may be due to some security restriction of iOS file system.

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