[Sovled] Device is Unreachable When Transfer from iPhone to PC

When you need to view iPhone photos on computer or backup them, you need to copy and paste the DCIM folder. Sometimes you see Error 0x80070141: The Device Is Unreachable. Why you can’t export photos to computer? This guide will help you solve the problem.

Dylan

By Dylan / Updated on September 5, 2024

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Can't export iPhone photos

I need to copy photos from iPhone 15 camera roll, but things are not going well. When I connect iPhone to computer and copy the DCIM folder from iPhone 8 to PC, there is a pop-up that says Error 0x80070141: The device is unreachable. How can I fix this issue?

- Question from Apple Community

iPhone camera is the most attractive feature for some Apple fans. Indeed, iPhone pictures are famous for high quality. You would find that the camera will be put into the second place (the first is the chip) when Apple introduces their new products.

Using iPhone to take pictures might be a pleasure for the shutterbug. When the pictures on iPhone are needed post-processing, or they take too much iPhone storage, users need to copy photos to computer.

▲ Tips: To make sure your photos won’t disappear for iOS update or system glitches, you’d better regularly backup iPhone photos to PC.

However, exporting iPhone photos are not always smooth. Something might go wrong with the connection between iPhone and compute. If iPhone is unreachable, you need to follow the next section to change settings on the device or try other solutions.

Device Is Unreachable

Solution 1. Select Keep Original on iPhone

Settings on iPhone might let you see this error. If computer can’t get the right files off iPhone, the system will say it is unreachable. You just need to simply change the setting below:

Go to iPhone Settings > Photos > find Transfer to Mac or PC at the bottom > select Keep Original.

This is the simplest way to fix the unreachable device issue. If it is still not fixed yet, you need to check the accessories or driver.

Solution 2. Check USB cable and port

Hardware often cause connection problem, especially when you use iTunes. If something goes wrong with your USB cable or port, you might find iTunes could not backup iPhone because the iPhone is disconnected.

Using broken cables, old cables, or non-Apple cables might be the reason. There is MFi certification in every standard iPhone cable. To protect user’s privacy, the non-standard USB cable usually could only be used to charge iPhone.

Therefore, try a new USB cable could solve iPhone disconnecting problem.

Solution 3. Update the Apple driver

When you got the "The device is unreachable" problem while copying photos from iPhone to PC, an out-dated driver can be the cause. To fix it, you can follow the steps below to update your Apple driver.

1. Right-click the Start button on the desktop

2. Select Device Manager

3. Expand the Portable Devices Section

4. Right-click on the device name

5. Click Update Driver

6. Select "Search automatically for updated driver software."

Update Apple Driver

How to easily export iPhone photos to PC

If you can't fix the problem after trying all the above solutions, you can use another way to transfer files between iPhone and PC. AOMEI FoneBackup is a professional and easy-to-use software to transfer data between iPhone and PC. 

With just a few clicks, you can easily transfer photos, videos, contacts, messages, music, and other data from your iPhone to your Windows computer. And it also owns some advantages in making your transfer data a professional way.

  • Fast Software: AOMEI FoneBackup gives you a fast speed to transfer your data. If you have a large number of files to transfer, it can be completed in a very short time.

  • Select Photos: You could preview and select the iPhone photos which you need to transfer.

  • Widely Compatible: AOMEI FoneBackup supports all iOS devices, including the newest iPhone, as well as iPad, iPod touch.

Download AOMEI FoneBackup to computer for free and follow the steps to transfer iPhone photos to PC.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Connect iPhone to AOMEI FoneBackup with USB cable. Click the "Phone Backup" option on the interface. Choose "Selective Backup".

Custom Backup iPhone

Step 2. Click Photos icon to preview and select photos on iPhone. Click "OK" to return.

Select iPhone Data

Step 3. Click "Backup Storage Path" to choose a location to save the selected files. Then click "Start Backup" to quickly export all the photos.

Click Start Backup

How to download iCloud photos to PC?

iCloud is very convenient for iPhone users to store pictures. Sometimes you might want to view iCloud photos or download iCloud backup to PC. This could be easily completed by iCloud client on Windows PC.

1. Download iCloud for Windows on computer and sign in your Apple ID.

2. Check Photos and enable Download photos, Upload photos, or Create new folders in Options.

3. Click This PC on the desktop and find iCloud Photos.

4. Click Download Photos and videos in the upper-left corner.

iCloud Photos

Another Tip: Download original photos on iPhone

Sometimes you would find that there are no photos in DCIM folder and even if you use a very professional tool to scan iPhone, your photos could only be viewed on iPhone.

Except for connection issues, the reason could be that all of your photos are stored in iCloud and the pictures in Photos app are just thumbnail photos. It’s good for optimizing iPhone storage but you need to download them to iPhone if you want to transfer them to computer.

Go to iPhone Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos > select Download and Keep Originals.

Conclusion

iPhone photos are very precious so it is worth saving them to computer. If the PC tells you that the device is unreachable when you copy photos to computer, you need to follow this passage to fix this issue.

Besides directly copying the DCIM folder, you could also use AOMEI FoneBackup to quickly export unlimited iPhone photos for free.

Is this guide helpful? You could share it to help more people.

Dylan
Dylan · Editor
Dylan is an editor of mobile backup software. He likes to share the latest news about iPhone and iOS, write useful tips, and give solutions to help people solve all kinds of issues.