Transfer Data from iPhone to Computer with or without Cable

What’s the best way to transfer data from iPhone to computer?

In some cases, you need to transfer files from iPhone to your computer. Maybe you want to export photos to computer for further editing, or you want to transfer music to computer as backup and then delete them from iPhone to free up space.

However, when you open your iPhone on your computer, you can't find any other data except photos. Well, you are not allowed to copy and paste files from iPhone to computer. If you want to export iPhone data, you need to use transfer tools. Here in this guide, I will introduce 5 tools that can help you transfer data from iPhone to computer. You can read first and then choose the best one according to your needs.

• Part 1. How to transfer data from iPhone to computer with cable
• Part 2. How to transfer data from iPhone to computer without cable

Part 1. How to transfer data from iPhone to computer with cable

With a stable USB connection, data transfer from iPhone to computer can be done quickly. Let’s start to see how to transfer data from iPhone to computer with cable. If you want to transfer photos, videos, songs or contacts, then please refer to Way 2.

Way 1. Transfer data from iPhone to computer with iTunes

Since iTunes is the official tool for iPhone data transfer, you may want to know how to transfer data from iPhone to computer with iTunes. Well, iTunes File Sharing can help you transfer files, but only to the apps it supports, such as Keynotes, Numbers, Pages, Kindle, etc.

1. Download, install and launch iTunes > Plug in your iPhone.

2. Click the Device icon > Under Settings, choose File Sharing.

3. Click one app and choose the files you need > Click Save to continue.

4. Choose a storage path to save your files and click Save to confirm.

Way 2. Transfer data from iPhone to computer without iTunes

If iTunes cannot help you transfer the files you need, you can try FoneTool, one professional iPhone data management tool for Windows 11/10/8/7 users, which supports data transfer between iPhone and computer, between iPhone and another one. This tool can help you transfer photos, videos, songs and contacts from iPhone to computer.

It will display your files in different collections so you can quickly find the data you need to transfer. What’s more, it supports transferring both purchased and non-purchased items between different Apple IDs.

FoneTool supports all iPhone models including the latest iPhone 14. You can click the download button to get FoneTool and follow the steps to transfer data from iPhone to computer with cable.

1. Launch FoneTool > Connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable.

2. Choose Phone Transfer > Move the mouse to iPhone to PC and click Start Transfer.

3. Click the “+” icon > Choose the files you want to transfer and click OK to confirm.

4. Click Start Transfer > Select a path to save your files > Click Transfer to confirm.

Above is an example of transferring music from iPhone to computer. If necessary, you can choose PC to iPhone to transfer music from compute to iPhone.

Part 2. How to transfer data from iPhone to computer without cable

If you do not have a USB cable at hand, you will want to know how to transfer data from iPhone to computer without cable. There are three ways that can help you achieve the goal.

Way 1. Transfer data from iPhone to computer via Snapdrop

Although AirDrop is not available on Windows PC, there are many AirDrop-like tools that can help you transfer data from iPhone to PC wirelessly, such as Snapdrop, Xender, SHAREit. Here we take Snapdrop as an example. It supports data transfer via web browser so you do not need to install any apps.

1. Connect your computer and iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Open a browser and go to SnapDrop.net on iPhone and PC. Each device will be given a nickname so you'll know where you're going to pass the data.

3. On your iPhone, tap the name of your PC > Choose Photo Library, Take Photo or Video, or Browse to select the files you want to transfer.

4. On your computer, click Save to accept the transfer.

Way 2. Transfer data from iPhone to computer via iCloud Drive

You can also take advantage of iCloud Drive to transfer data from iPhone to computer without cable. First upload data to iCloud Drive on iPhone and then download data on computer. It can help you transfer photos, videos, contacts, notes, documents, and data in Files app.

Here is an example to transfer photos to computer:

1. Upload data to iCloud Drive on iPhone: go to Photos app > choose the photos you need > tap Share button > choose to Save to Files > select iCloud Drive > tap Save to confirm.

If you want to transfer data in Files app, you can choose the files you need > tap Move > choose iCloud Drive as the destination. Or you can copy the files to iCloud Drive.

2. Download files on computer : open a browser and go to iCloud.com > log in to your account with your Apple ID and passcode > click iCloud Drive > download photos to PC.

Way 3. Transfer data from iPhone to computer via Nearby Sharing

For Windows 11 users, you can use Nearby Sharing to transfer data from iPhone to computer without cable. It can help you transfer data that can be moved to Files app.

Step 1. Turn on Nearby Sharing

1. Press the Windows key and i key to open Settings app.

2. Choose System > select Nearby sharing.

3. Choose to share files only with your own devices or any device nearby.

If you do not have Bluetooth enabled, the system will notify you. If this is the case, you can go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices to turn it on.

4. Click Change if you want to configure where Nearby Sharing files are saved to.

Step 2. Transfer data from iPhone to computer

1. Open Files app > Tap the three-dots icon > Choose Connect to Server.

2. Tap your PC IP address in the box. (You can find the address this way: go to Settings app > choose Network & Internet > click the Properties to view the details of your network > the IPv4 address is the local IP address.)

3. Tap Connect button > Choose Registered User > Enter your PC login user and password > click Next.

4. Now you can put data into the shared folder to transfer data. (You can refer to the steps of the previous method to see how to transfer data to the Files app.)

Final words

That’s all about how to transfer data from iPhone to computer. If you want to transfer data with cable, then you can try iTunes and FoneTool; if you want to transfer data wirelessly, Snapdrop, iCloud Drive, Nearby Sharing are good choices.

PS: FoneTool is also one iPhone data backup tool. If needed, you can let it help you backup all or selected data to computer, external hard drive or USB drive.