iPhone is developed with great cameras to create high-quality and clear images for you. Nevertheless, such photos and videos in large sizes take up lots of device storage. Since iCloud only offers 5GB free space, backing up iPhone photos to external hard drives (Samsung, Seagate, Westdata, etc.) to free up iPhone storage is a great choice.
In the following, this article will introduce all the available solutions to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive. Just read on to explore!
How to Move iPhone Photos to External Hard Drive (Universal Way)
To transfer iPhone photos to external hard drive effortlessly with speedy performance, a professional file transfer program is needed.
Here we recommend you FonePaw DoTrans, which offers two optimal modes to transfer photos from iPhone to flash drive, external hard drive, or more devices. You can preview to transfer those favorite ones to move selectively, or simply tap one button to synchronize all photos to the hard drive once for all. With cutting-edge acceleration techniques, the transferring speed will be raised higher than you can imagine.
- Batch transfer of photos
- Manage your galleries, import/export photos
- Well preserve the metadata of photos
- Built-in HEIC image converter
- Compatible with the latest iPhone 15 models and iOS 17
Attention: FonePaw DoTrans is oriented for Windows systems. If your computers are running on macOS, please turn to FonePaw iOS Transfer to help.
In the following, you can follow the manipulation guide and transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive by clicks with this sparking Windows transfer program. Please check.
Step 1. Connect iPhone and Hard Drive to Computer
Prepare two USB cables and connect both your iPhone 15/14/13/12/11 and external hard drive to the Windows computer.
Step 2. Scan iPhone and Load Photos
Run FonePaw DoTrans. When the program has detected your iPhone and revealed the device information on the main feed, you can click on the Photos option on the left navigation menu to load all photos stored on your iPhone. Select those you prefer to transfer and back up on the external hard drive. To transfer all photos at once, click on the Transfer Photos option in the bottom functions menu to proceed with the iPhone photos to external hard drive transfer in no time.
Step 3. Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive
Eventually, select the detected external hard drive as the exporting destination. Then confirm the transfer and wait for only a short period till FonePaw DoTrans completes photo moving for you.
As you can see, the easy process makes FonePaw DoTrans the best iTunes alternative. Just try it right now!
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive on Windows
Except for installing a third-party program, you can also transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive with some built-in apps or features on Windows/Mac computers. Continue reading and master them!
1. Use Photos App
Photos app is a default multimedia managing and editing program preset on Windows systems. And it can be used to transfer iPhone photos to the external hard drive.
Attention: Please note that the manipulation will be slightly different between Windows 8/10 and Windows 11 systems.
On Windows 8/10
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Windows computer.
Step 2. Run Photos app >> Import >> From a USB Device to select photos you wish to transfer to the external hard drive from iPhone.
Step 3. Now, plug the external hard drive to your computer. Meanwhile, in the Photos app, go to Import settings >> Change the Import Destination to select the hard drive as the folder to save the iPhone photos.
Step 4. Tap Done to confirm the photos transfer in no time.
On Windows 11
Step 1. Similarly, connect the iPhone to the Windows 11 computer and also plug the hard drive to the device.
Step 2. Run Photos app and tune to Import >> From a connected device. Meanwhile, you can select the destination folder as the external hard drive.
Step 3. When the app has loaded all photos on your iPhone, subsequently, please select those you wish to transfer and back up to the hard drive.
Step 4. Confirm proceeding with the photo transfer by clicking on the "Import [number] items". Then you only need to wait for its completion!
Troubleshooting:Can't Import Photos from iPhone to Windows 10/8/7 - 10 Solutions
2. Use File Explorer
Compared with the Photos app, another more effortless way to move photos from iPhone to external hard drive on Windows is by utilizing File Explorer. The steps are as follows:
Step 1. Please use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer (remember to authorize access on your iPhone by tapping Allow).
Step 2. In File Explorer, turn to This PC >> Apple iPhone >> Internal Storage >> DCIM >> 100APPLE to access all photos stored on the device.
Step 3. Simply highlight all those you like and copy to paste to the external hard drive in no time!
Troubleshooting:iPhone Internal Storage is Empty on Windows 10/8/7, How to Fix?
3. Use iCloud
If you have uploaded your photos from your iPhone to iCloud, it can be easy to transfer iPhone photos to external hard drive even if you are using a Windows computer.
Step 1. Please go to Settings >> [your name] >> iCloud >> Photos to toggle on the iCloud Photos option for uploading all photos to iCloud.
Step 2. On a Windows computer, turn to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
Step 3. Direct to Photos and toggle on both the iCloud Photo Library and Download new photos and videos to my PC options.
Step 4. Tap Apply and the photos will be downloaded to your computer in no time.
Step 5.. When the photos are downloaded, move them to your external hard drive.
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive on Mac
After walking through the solutions to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive on Windows, the methods oriented for Mac are coming now. If you are a Mac user and finding a way to move iPhone photos to external hard drive, the following methods are also recommended.
1. Use Image Capture
An application for Mac, Image Capture, offers an easy-to-use function to help you upload photos from iPhone to Mac in one shot. When you get Image Capture prepared, follow the procedures below to easily transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive.
Step 1. First, connect the hard drive as well as iPhone with your Mac with a USB cable.
Step 2. Open Image Capture and tap the Devices option to open your iPhone.
Step 3. Click on the Import to menu and select all photos you wish to transfer to the external hard drive in this step.
Step 4. Tap Import or Import All to back up all photos to the hard drive in no time.
2. Use Photos App
The default Photos app on Mac offers another effortless path for you to efficiently transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive just by clicks. You can follow the procedures below.
Step 1. Connect both your iPhone and the external hard drive to Mac through USB cables.
Step 2. Open Photos app and scroll down to Devices. Tap your iPhone.
Step 3. Please select Import to and alter the destination folder to be the external drive.
Step 4. Select certain photos or highlight them all to transfer photos to the drive at lightning speed!
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive without Computer
With a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, you can directly transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive, without computers.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone and the external hard drive with the adapter.
Step 2. Open Photos app and choose the photos.
Step 3. Tap the share button and then Save to "Files".
Step 4. Select the external hard drive as the destination.
Conclusion
Overall, there are multiple solutions functioning to transfer photos from iPhone to external hard drive on Windows or Mac. There is also a bonus tip to process the photo transfer without computer, but to use a lightning adapter. Among all these solutions, if you wish for a stable and the fast way, FonePaw DoTrans for Windows and FonePaw iOS Transfer for Mac are definitely the best recommendations.