iTunes 12: How to Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone, iPod or iPad

Mitch Bartlett Comments (15)

Apple iTunes 12 is different than what most users are used to. Learning how to transfer photos to the iPhone, iPod or iPad can be a daunting task for those who are used to the old way of doing things. Here’s how it’s done.

Method 1 – Using iCloud

  1. From the PC where your photos are stored, open a web browser and visit iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in with the credentials for the account that is linked to your Apple device.
  3. Select “Photos“.
  4. Select the “Upload”  icon, located at the upper right portion of the screen.
  5. Navigate to and select the photos you wish to upload. Hold the “CTRL” key to select multiple files.
  6. Select “Open” to upload the selected photo files.

You should now be able to view the pictures in the “Photo” app on your iPhone or iPad.

Method 2 – Using iTunes

  1. Connect the device to your computer using a USB cable.
  2. A button will appear toward the upper-left part of the screen. Select it to access the settings on the device.
    Device-button
  3. Select the “Photos” option on the left sidebar.
  4. Check the “Sync Photos from” option, then choose to sync “All folders” or “Selected folders“. You can also select the “Include videos” check box to sync your personal videos. If you choose the “Selected folders” option, you will be give the option to check the folders you want to sync to the device.
    iTunes Device Photos
  5. Click the “Done” button, then click “Apply“. iTunes will then transfer your photos over to your Apple device.

Author Mitch Bartlett

My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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Comments

  1. would be great for people to date their blog posts…
    as this info in not correct now anyway…. don’t know if it ever was cause I don’t know when it was written…
    sigh

  2. Better off using cassette like freestyler!
    Knew exactly what you wanted and recorded it to a cassette then played it .!!!!!!!
    This Rubbish is a Labyrinth with such designer stupidity that is only good for a circus attraction and in particular the famous Horror House maze!!! . Apples circus designers have made the simplest task of placing a song onto a device so outrageously complex for users that it’s not worth the time to achieve. God help you if you also want to and a photo on your device!!.. All I want to know is who do i send the bill to for my precious time.. I’m dead serious iTunes garbage absolute bunch of AHOLES..

  3. why do you not simplify iTunes? its near impossible to understand and not bloody user friendly at all , I’m considering going back to an android , iTunes is a nightmare to say the least and from all the comments obviously im not the only one

  4. I try to follow Method 2: After I plugged my iPhone 7 Plus and selected the PHOTO option on the left sidebar then the message I got was “iCloud Photos is On……User’s iPhone can access photos in iCloud.Photos can be downloaded via WiFi or cellular network”. And the wall is plain nothing else is showing, I can’t seem to find “Sync photos from” option. Pls guide me

  5. For later versions , firstly go to icloud settings on your phone> photos> turn off icloud photos then retry these steps and you will see the choose folder option as shown in the image above.

  6. I try to follow Method 2: After I plugged my iPhone 7 Plus and selected the PHOTO option on the left sidebar then the message I got was “iCloud Photos is On……User’s iPhone can access photos in iCloud.Photos can be downloaded via WiFi or cellular network”. And the wall is plain nothing else is showing, I can’t seem to find “Sync photos from” option. Pls guide me

  8. i want to transfer ONE photo only. I most definitely do not want t0 sync all of my photos onto my IOS device.

    How do I do that???

  9. If your using the latest iTunes app, and it shows “User’s iPhone can access photos in iCloud.Photos can be downloaded via WiFi or cellular network” on the photos tab, just turn off the iCloud photo on your iPhone. Just go to Settings>Your name>iCloud>Photos>then turn off.. after that the Sync tab on your iTunes app will be shown..

  10. Hi Mitch, with iTunes 12.9 and iOS 9..3.6 the photos panel does not look like the one you show. There is no checkbox option just a notice that iCloud Photos is on (even when it is not actually on!). iCloud route is not a option as photo library is above 5GB. Seems impossible to put Photos from Mac onto iPhone 4S using latest available OS for these devices, under iTunes 12.9.2.5

  11. I try to follow Method 2: After I plugged my iPhone 7 Plus and selected the PHOTO option on the left sidebar then the message I got was “iCloud Photos is On……User’s iPhone can access photos in iCloud.Photos can be downloaded via WiFi or cellular network”. And the wall is plain nothing else is showing, I can’t seem to find “Sync photos from” option. Pls guide me

  12. No – as stated, you transfer photos from one album and then when you transfer from the next album, the previous ones are gone. Also can’t get riid of “From My Mac” album. What gives?

  13. when I sync the second folder of photos, the photos in the previous folder gone, only one folder is allowed to sync

    IOS 12.1, IPHONE XS MAX

  14. after connecting my iPhone 5 to my Mac and there is no Photo icon shown under the phone device icon. It used to be there before but not these 2 years.

  15. I have had sleepless nights after purchasing a new iphone to transfer contents from the old iphone.
    I even considered formatting the phone before seeing this straight to the point steps.
    This and the “windows PC not recognising my iphone” have made my day.

    Thank you Mitch

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