How to transfer photos from iPhone to a Windows PC without a cable

AirDrop only works between Apple devices. sendtomac moves photos and videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC from the browser, with no cable, no iCloud and nothing to install.

Step by step

1. On your PC, open sendtomac.com. A QR code appears.
2. On your iPhone, open the camera and point it at the code. The same site opens, already connected to your PC.
3. Tap “Choose photos and videos” and pick the ones you want.
4. Tap “Send”. Your PC downloads a ZIP with all of them, ready to open.

Your iPhone and PC need to be on the same Wi-Fi.

Why it’s not as easy as with a Mac

Between an iPhone and a Mac you have AirDrop. With a Windows PC, the usual options take more work.

• With a cable, you tap “Trust This Computer” on the iPhone and import from the Windows Photos app.
• With iCloud for Windows, you install it, sign in and wait for everything to sync.
• Over WhatsApp or email, photos get compressed or don’t fit.

With sendtomac you just open a website on the PC and scan the code with your iPhone camera.

If your photos are in iCloud

If storage optimisation is on, the iPhone downloads photos from iCloud before sending them. It may take a moment before you can tap Send, especially with videos.

Questions

What format do the photos arrive in?

When you pick them from the photo library, the iPhone usually hands them over as JPEG, which Windows opens without trouble.

Do the photos lose quality?

sendtomac doesn’t recompress them, they arrive exactly as the iPhone hands them over.

Are my photos uploaded to a server?

No. They go straight from your phone to your computer over your own network. We never store or see them.

What if it won’t connect?

Some networks, like guest Wi-Fi or setups with extenders, stop devices from seeing each other. Turn on your phone’s hotspot and connect your computer to it.

How much does it cost?

Your first 20 files are free on each computer. After that it’s €9.95 as a one-time payment, no subscription.

More guides

• Transfer photos from Android to Mac
• Transfer photos from Xiaomi to Mac
• Transfer photos from Samsung to Mac
• Android File Transfer alternative
• Transfer videos from phone to computer
• Transfer photos from phone to PC wirelessly

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