[Solved] iPhone Photos Not Showing Up on PC? Quick Solutions Here!

"iPhone photos not showing on PC. When transferring photos from my iPhone 6 Plus (using iOS 8.3) to my PC, only some of the photos are showing up in the DCIM folder. The rest of the photos are missing. For example, I have 540 photos on my phone that I wanted to copy over. Only ~140 of them show up in Windows Explorer to be transferred. Where are the rest of the files and how can I make sure I'm not missing any?"

- from Apple Community

In daily life, many users are accustomed to transferring photos from their iPhone to a PC for backup or editing. However, sometimes, after connecting the iPhone to the PC, the photos on the iPhone fail to show up on the PC, preventing users from completing the desired tasks. This article will explain why this issue occurs and introduce several common methods to fix the problem of iPhone photos not showing on the PC.

Part 1. Why Are iPhone Photos Not Showing Up on PC?

Here is a list of factors for the iPhone not showing all photos on computer:

• USB cable is damaged or you are not using a genuine USB cord.
• The Camera Roll folder on the iPhone is empty.
• You have ever moved the Photos folder to somewhere else, and iTunes cannot find it.
• You have enabled the security lock since disabling the security lock did solve "iPhone photos not showing up on PC".
• The USB port on your computer is not working well or malfunctioning.
• The iOS version on your iPhone needs updating.
• You do not trust this computer on your iPhone, which has prevented the computer from recognizing your iPhone successfully.
• Other possible reasons like software problems, viruses, malware, and incompatibility.

Part 2. How to Fix iPhone Photos Not Showing Up on PC

However, this is not the end of the world when you can't view iPhone photos on PC. The following tips have proved to be useful for showing iPhone photos on a PC. Simply check these fixes out:

Fix 1. Unlock the iPhone

To protect the information of iOS users, the DCIM folders containing your photos are not accessible to the computer when your iPhone is locked. Please check if your iPhone is locked.

If it is, unlock your iPhone and reconnect it to the computer. You should then be able to access the DCIM folder under Apple iPhone to view your photos.

Fix 2. Change the USB Cable

Believe it or not, the USB cable might be the reason you can't access photos on iPhone from PC. A frayed or loose cable can result in poor connectivity. Try using a different USB cable, tap "Trust" in the pop-up window, and then open your PC to import photos from your iPhone.

Fix 3. Authorize the Computer

iPhone pictures not showing up on PC may indicate that your computer doesn't have the necessary permissions to access them. When you connect your device, a pop-up window will prompt you for authorization. If you don't grant permission, you can't see iPhone photos on PC. To resolve this issue, simply follow the guide below:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

Step 2. Open iTunes > Click on "Menu" > Go to "Account" > Select "Authorizations" > Choose "Authorize This Computer" > Enter your username and password.

Step 3. Once you've done that, you should be able to access the DCIM folder and view the pictures on your device.

Fix 4. Restart the iPhone and PC

Minor system glitches can sometimes cause connection issues, and restarting the device may help resolve them.

To Restart the iPhone:

For iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later:

• Press and hold both the "Volume" button and the "Side" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your device, then wait about 30 seconds for it to fully power down.
• To turn your device back on, press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd or 3rd generation):

• Press and hold the "Side" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your device, then wait about 30 seconds for it to shut down.
• To power your device back on, press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier:

• Press and hold the "Top" button until the power-off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your device, then wait about 30 seconds for it to shut down.
• To turn your device back on, press and hold the "Top" button until the Apple logo appears.

To Restart the PC:

Step 1. Start by pressing the "Windows" button, followed by the "Power" button.

Step 2. Click "Restart" to reboot the PC.

Fix 5. Update the iPhone and Computer

Older versions of the system may have compatibility issues, leading to connection failures between the iPhone and PC. If you find not all iPhone photos showing up on PC, you can update your iPhone and computer with the steps shown below:

Update your iPhone: Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Software Update" > Click "Download and Install" if there is a new iOS update after it automatically checks for updates. (iPhone software update failed?)

Update your Windows PC: Select the "Start" button > Go to "Settings" > Click on "Update & Security" > Choose "Windows Update", then click "Check for updates".

Fix 6. Check iCloud Settings

If your iCloud Photos is enabled, all your photos are automatically saved to iCloud, meaning you can only access photos through iCloud, not on your PC or Mac. To ensure your iPhone photos show up on your computer, make sure to disable iCloud Photos. Here's how:

Step 1. Open "Settings" on your iPhone > Tap on your name and select "iCloud" > Then tap on "Photos" > Turn off "iCloud Photos".

Step 2. If some of your photos are stored in iCloud, you'll need to download them to your device first. Click on "Download Photos & Videos" to retrieve your iCloud photos. (How to download iCloud photos on PC?)

Fix 7. Enable Windows AutoPlay

AutoPlay is a convenient feature in Windows 10 that allows you to select a program to display photos, music, and videos when you connect a media device. When you plug in your iPhone, the AutoPlay window will appear, prompting you to choose software for importing your photos.

To ensure your iPhone photos show up on Windows, you should manually enable AutoPlay. Here's how:

Step 1. Open "Settings", click on "Devices" in the sidebar, and navigate to "AutoPlay".

Step 2. Then, select "Use AutoPlay for all media and devices". Below this option, you can choose the default AutoPlay settings for when you connect your iPhone.

Fix 8. Reinstall and Update USB Drivers

The connection between your iPhone and computer relies on the Apple USB driver. If you can't view iPhone photos on PC, the issue may be with the Apple USB driver. Follow these steps to fix it:

Step 1. Press the "Windows" key and the "R" key to open the Run dialog, then type "devmgmt.msc" and press "Enter".

Step 2. In "Device Manager", expand the "Portable Devices" section.

Step 3. Click "Uninstall device" to remove the Apple driver. Reconnect your iPhone, and the driver will install automatically. If you see "Update driver", click it to update the driver.

Fix 9. Restore the iPhone to Factory Settings Using iTunes

If other methods don't work and your iPhone is not showing all photos on your PC, restoring your iPhone to factory settings may be the last resort. Before restoring, make sure you have backed up all your data from the iPhone.

To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer.

Step 2. In iTunes, click the device icon and select the "Restore iPhone" option.

Step 3. Wait for the restore process to complete, then set up your iPhone again and try connecting it to the computer once more.

Part 3. The Ultimate Way to Access iPhone Photos on Computer

iPhone photos not showing up on computer, and want the easiest and safest way to import photos from iPhone to PC? Coolmuster iOS Assistant is the ultimate solution for you. It enables you to sync, view, and manage iOS data on a computer without using iTunes. You can easily preview and export all files or select a single item from iPhone/iPad/iPod to a computer or iTunes default location for backup.

Key features of Coolmuster iOS Assistant:

• Transfer a variety of data from your iPhone to PC/Mac, including photos, music, videos, contacts, text messages, notes, voice memos, and more.
• Import contacts, bookmarks, calendars, books, iTunes backups, and more from your computer to your iDevice.
• Automatically scan all files on your device and display them on the main interface.
• Back up and restore everything on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with a single click.
• Easily edit, add, or delete data on your iOS device directly from your PC or Mac.
• Support most iPhone models, including the latest iPhone 16/15/14 series, etc (the latest iOS 18 supported).

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

Here is how to transfer photos from iPhone to PC using iOS Assistant:

Video Tutorial:

Wrapping Up

iPhone photos not showing up on PC is a very common issue when connecting an iPhone to a computer. If you run into this snag, you can adopt the above approaches to fix this problem. You can also utilize Coolmuster iOS Assistant to view and import photos from iPhone to PC directly. This useful software is extremely easy, secure, fast, and user-friendly.

If you have better ways regarding this issue, you are welcome to share your opinions with us. Or, if you get into difficulties when using it, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment below.

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