SaveMyRoll

The best ways to back up iPhone photos to a Windows PC (2026)

By Adrián Lengyel, who built SaveMyRoll · Facts about other products checked on 11 November 2026

Short answer: Windows Photos is fine for a handful of pictures. For a full library you want to keep safe, use a tool that verifies each file. SaveMyRoll is built only for that job: it copies every photo and video to your PC or external drive, reads every copied file back from the drive and compares its SHA-256 checksum with the original, then shows a report, for a one-time €19.99 (Personal, 2 PCs) or €29.99 (Family, 5 PCs), no subscription.

I am a filmmaker. When I checked an iPhone backup I had made years earlier, 49 originals were missing and 114 had survived only as empty 0 KB files. No tool had warned me. This page compares the options as honestly as I can, including where another tool is the better choice.

CostChecks every fileResumes after a breakBest for
Windows Photos appFreeNo reportNoA few photos now and then
File Explorer (drag DCIM)FreeNoNoQuick copy of a few files
iCloud for WindowsFree app; iCloud storage is a subscriptionNo reportSyncsPeople already paying for iCloud
iMazingYearly subscription (since June 2025)Not statedNot statedFull device management: messages, apps, backups
CopyTrans Photo$19.99 one-timeNot statedNot statedMoving photos both ways, PC ↔ iPhone
SaveMyRoll€19.99 one-timeYes, SHA-256 read-backYes, mid-fileA complete, verified copy on PC or external drive

“Not stated” means the product’s own pages, linked below, do not say it does this. Check their sites for the latest details.

1. Windows Photos app (free)

Apple’s own instructions for Windows are: install the Apple Devices app, connect the iPhone, tap Trust, then import with the Photos app. It works for small imports. On large libraries, users on Microsoft Q&A report that the import often stops with “Something went wrong”, and that selections with videos fail more often. There is no per-file report, so you cannot easily tell what was skipped. SaveMyRoll vs Windows Photos →

2. File Explorer (free)

You can open the iPhone in File Explorer and drag the DCIM folders. It is quick for a few files, but copies stop with errors such as “The device is unreachable” when the phone converts files on the fly, and nothing checks the result. How to fix “The device is unreachable” →

3. iCloud for Windows (free app, paid storage)

If you already pay for iCloud storage, iCloud for Windows can download your library. Note that with “Optimize iPhone Storage” the originals live in iCloud, and Apple says you must download the full-resolution originals before importing them to a PC.

4. iMazing (subscription)

iMazing is a full Apple device manager: backups, messages, apps, music, contacts and more. Since June 2025 it is sold only as a subscription, renewed yearly. Its trial exports up to 50 photos. If you need more than photos, it is a strong choice. SaveMyRoll vs iMazing →

5. CopyTrans Photo ($19.99)

CopyTrans Photo moves photos between PC and iPhone in both directions. It is a one-time purchase of $19.99, its trial allows about 50 actions, and the full version includes two years of updates. CopyTrans also sells CopyTrans Studio as a subscription. SaveMyRoll vs CopyTrans →

6. SaveMyRoll (€19.99 one-time)

SaveMyRoll does one job: get every photo and video off the iPhone onto your PC or an external drive, and prove it. It sorts files into year and month folders by the date they were taken, copies only new files next time, continues over Wi-Fi if the cable is pulled, resumes an interrupted video where it stopped, and stops cleanly if the drive fills up. It only reads from the phone. Free for the first 100 files per iPhone, with every feature.

Which one should you choose?

Questions

What is the best way to back up iPhone photos to a Windows PC?

For a few photos, the free Windows Photos app is enough. For a whole library, especially with many videos or onto an external drive, use a tool that verifies what it copied and can resume. SaveMyRoll does exactly that for a one-time €19.99. If you also need messages, apps and full device backups, a device manager such as iMazing fits better.

Is there a free way?

Yes: the Windows Photos app, File Explorer, and iCloud for Windows are free. They work for many people, but they do not tell you file by file whether every photo arrived intact, and large imports with videos often stop with “Something went wrong”.

Can I back up iPhone photos straight to an external hard drive?

Yes. SaveMyRoll lets you pick any folder, including an external drive, checks there is enough space before it starts, and stops safely if the drive fills up or is unplugged.

Try SaveMyRoll on your own iPhone. The first 100 files are free, with every feature, no account and no time limit.

Try it free See pricing

Sources