22/05/2024
Nicole Newton

How to backup photos from iPhone to computer

For most people, their phone holds hundreds of photos and videos, from everyday moments to special occasions. If you don’t want to risk accidentally losing these precious memories, you’ll want to back them up… but how do you backup photos and where should you start? We’re here to teach you how to backup photos from your iPhone to your computer, so if your phone is ever broken, lost or stolen, you’ll still have all your photos and videos ready to transfer onto a new device!

In this blog:

Why you should backup iPhone photos

Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about why backing up your iPhone photos to your computer is a smart move:

  • Security – Computers are generally more secure and less prone to loss or theft compared to mobile devices, so it makes sense to backup your photos onto your computer or laptop.
  • Storage space – It’s surprisingly easy to fill up your phone’s storage, especially if your device has a lower capacity compared to other models. Transferring your photos onto a computer gives you the option to free up space on your iPhone.
  • Peace of mind – Most people carry their phones with them every day and accidents can happen. Backing up your photos onto a computer will give you extra peace of mind in case you break or lose your iPhone.

How to backup photos from iPhone to computer

There are several methods to backup photos from your iPhone to your computer, whether you’re using a Mac or a PC. Select the best method for you down below to get started!

Using Mac

Here’s how to backup photos from iPhone to computer if you’re using a Mac:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
  2. Unlock your iPhone and, if prompted, trust the computer.
  3. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
  4. Your photos and videos will appear on the import screen. If the import screen doesn’t appear automatically, click the device name in the Photos sidebar.
  5. Choose where you want to import your photos to by selecting an album or creating a new one.
  6. Click Import all or select the photos and videos you want to import.
  7. Your photos will begin to transfer to your Mac!

Using Windows

Here’s how to backup your photos to a Windows laptop or computer:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable.
  2. Unlock your iPhone and, if prompted, trust the computer.
  3. Go to the Start menu and launch Photos.
  4. Select Import present in the top-right corner.
  5. Select Continue for further process.
  6. Your photo backup will begin!

Using iCloud

If you don’t want to use storage on your computer but still want an easy way to access your photos on your computer, try using iCloud. Here’s how to turn on iCloud Photos on your iPhone:

  1. Go to settings > [your name].
  2. Tap iCloud.
  3. Select Photos, then tap the switch next to Synic this [device].

Once iCloud Photos is turned on, your photos and videos will automatically sync to your iCloud, where you can view and download them on any device with internet access.

Tips for backing up your photos from iPhone

If you want each time you backup your photos from iPhone to be a smooth and simple process, then you’ll want to check out these tips:

  • Keep your software updated – To make sure you don’t run into issues mid-way through your backup, ensure both your iPhone and computer are running the latest software versions.
  • Backup your iPhone regularly – Make it a habit to backup your photos regularly to avoid losing any new memories.
  • Clean up your iPhone – Before you backup your iPhone, go through your photos and videos and delete any you no longer want. This will reduce the amount of storage used on your iPhone, computer or iCloud account and will make the backup process quicker.

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