Tech Desk 
May 10, 2024
Managing photos on an iPhone has become a necessity due to limited storage capacity (5GB free on iCloud) and the costs associated with expanding iCloud storage.
It is crucial to find efficient methods to handle photos and protect cherished memories by creating backups, especially to avoid losing them. This limitation can be particularly frustrating when there is a need to add more apps or capture additional pictures and videos.
Therefore, many people consider transferring photos from their iPhones to an external hard drive, and there are several compelling reasons to do so.
Firstly, it allows users to free up valuable storage space on their iPhones, enabling them to utilise their devices without worrying about storage limitations. Secondly, by creating backups on an external hard drive, users establish a safety net to preserve and access those precious moments in case of device damage, loss, or accidental deletion.
Ways to transfer iPhone photos to external devices
1. DearMob iPhone manager
DearMob iPhone Manager currently supports only Windows and macOS operating systems. This limitation may hinder users of other operating systems from fully utilising its functionalities. Although DearMob iPhone Manager offers a free trial version, a license is required to access all of its features. Now, let's explore the detailed steps to transfer photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive using DearMob iPhone Manager.
Start by downloading DearMob iPhone Manager to your computer and launching the application. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a lightning cable. Ensure your iPhone is awake. DearMob iPhone Manager will automatically detect your device and provide information such as battery life, available storage space, iOS and Firmware versions, Unique Chip ID, serial number, and more.
- On the main user interface, click the gear wheel icon to access the drop-down menu and select 'Settings.'
- Under the "Path" tab, locate the path for photos and select "edit." This is where you can adjust the destination path for exporting photos to external hard drives, NAS, flash drives, and other devices.
- On the main user interface, navigate to the "Photo Transfer" tab to access the album interface. Choose the desired images either from an album or by selecting them based on date (day, month, or year). After making your selection, click the Export icon.
2. Photos app on Windows
To transfer photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive using the Photos app on Windows, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your Windows computer using a USB cable. Open the Photos app. Plug in the external hard drive where you want to transfer the photos.
- Click on the Start button located at the lower-left corner of your computer screen. Then, select "Photos" from the menu. Click on 'Import' and choose 'From a USB device.' A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to select the desired photos to transfer. Alternatively, you can access the Photos app from the Windows Start menu.
- Customise the import settings by clicking on "Import settings" and then 'Change the Import Destination.' Select the folder on your external hard drive where you want to save the imported photos. Once done, click 'Done' and then "Import Selected" to start transferring the photos from your iPhone to the external hard drive.
3. File explorer
To transfer photos from an iPhone to an external hard drive using File Explorer on Windows, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone and external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable.
- When prompted on your iPhone, click 'Allow' to grant permission.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to "This PC." Find your connected iPhone under "Devices and drives."
- Open the iPhone folder and navigate to 'Internal Storage' > 'DCIM' > '100APPLE.' Here, you'll find all the photos in your iPhone's Camera Roll.
- Copy and paste the desired photos from your iPhone to the external hard drive. This method gives you full control over the file transfer process and allows you to organise the files as you see fit.
