The fastest way to move photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC is a USB cable and the Photos app, and it works without uploading anything. If you use iCloud Photos, iCloud for Windows can do the same job over the internet instead.
Method 1: USB cable and the Photos app
Connect the iPhone to the PC with a USB cable, Lightning or USB-C, whichever the phone uses.
Unlock the iPhone. If it asks "Trust This Computer?", tap Trust and enter the passcode.
On the PC, open the Photos app from the Start menu.
Select Import at the top of the Photos window, then choose the connected iPhone.
Tick the photos and videos you want, or choose Select all, then select Import.
Wait for the transfer to finish before unplugging the cable. Imported photos land in the Pictures folder by default.
Method 2: File Explorer
Connect and unlock the iPhone, and tap Trust if the phone asks.
Open File Explorer and select the iPhone under This PC.
Open Internal Storage, then the DCIM folder. Photos are grouped in folders inside DCIM.
Select the photos you want, copy them with Ctrl+C, and paste them with Ctrl+V into a folder on the PC.
Method 3: iCloud for Windows
On the iPhone, turn on iCloud Photos in Settings, then your Apple ID name at the top, then iCloud, then Photos.
On the PC, install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store and sign in with the same Apple ID.
Tick Photos, then select Apply. Photos download to the iCloud Photos folder in File Explorer.
Give it time on first setup. A large photo library can take a while to download.
iPhone photos may arrive as .HEIC files. The iPhone saves photos in HEIC format by default. Windows 11 Photos can open HEIC files, and the free HEIF Image Extensions app from the Microsoft Store adds support everywhere else. To get JPEG files instead, on the iPhone go to Settings, then Photos, then Transfer to Mac or PC, and select Automatic.
If the iPhone does not show up
Try a different USB cable and a different USB port, and make sure the phone is unlocked when you plug it in. If you dismissed the Trust prompt, unplug the cable and plug it in again so the prompt comes back. A cable that only charges, such as some cheap third-party cables, cannot transfer data.
Common questions
Do I need iTunes to transfer photos from an iPhone to a PC? No. The Photos app and File Explorer both work without it, using a plain USB cable.
Why are my iPhone photos HEIC files on my PC? The iPhone saves photos in HEIC format by default to save space. Change the transfer setting on the iPhone to Automatic to receive JPEG files, or install the free HEIF Image Extensions app from the Microsoft Store to open HEIC files on Windows.
Can I transfer photos without a cable? Yes, with iCloud for Windows or by downloading from iCloud.com. Both need the same Apple ID as the phone and an internet connection, and the first download of a large library can take a while.