Transferring photos within the Apple ecosystem is easy with Airdrop. However, things get complicated once we move outside the Apple ecosystem, particularly Windows PC. While you can still use iTunes on your PC, it’s not the only way around. Let’s check out some of those other ways to transfer Photos from your PC to iPhone without iTunes.
Every way has its limitations and you can select the most appropriate tool for your needs. For example, you can send photos over the Internet, use Wi-Fi, install an app or buy third-party accessories. I’ve listed all the possible methods which you can use to copy Photos conveniently.
- Internet
- WiFi
- Desktop Client
- Third-Party Accessories
Table of Contents
Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone – Internet
1. Email
Email is one of the most obvious ways to transfer Photos to iPhone from pretty much any device. Sure, there are some limitations with this method like a 25MB file cap in Gmail but it can come in handy in situations where other methods would fail.
Pros
- The Files remain accessible forever from any device
- No limit on the number of attachments
- Secure
Cons
- Attachment limit
- Manually download all the photos
2. WhatsApp
If you are already using WhatsApp, then consider WhatsApp Web. Anything you send through WhatsApp web would end up on your iPhone. To copy Photos from PC to iPhone, you can just drop the photos in WhatsApp web on your PC and then download it off the mobile app. If you don’t want to spam your friends, you can create a personal Group with you as the only member. The only caveat is loss in image quality due to WhatsApp’s compression.
Pros
- Instant Transfer
- No limit on size or Number
- Intuitive Layout
Cons
- Loss in image quality
- You can only save up to 5 photos to Camera Roll at once.
Check out WhatsApp (free)
3. SnapDrop
Snapdrop is similar to Airdrop but uses Internet service. What seprate Snapdrop from the rest is, that it uses a peer-to-peer network (like BitTorrent), so your photos are sent directly from your PC to iPhone, without having to go through any centralized server. To get started, simply open the webpage on both the devices and transfer the files. I used it extensively to exchange images from my computer and iPhone.
Also Read: How to Transfer Music from Android to iPhone without iTunes
Pros
- Instant File Transfer
- No Software Installation required
- Peer-to-peer transfer
- Cross-Platform
Cons
- Transfer speed depends on WiFi
Check out Snapdrop (free)
Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone – Wi-Fi
4. Documents App
Documents for iOS is an incredible file manager for your iPhone. You can also use it to transfer files from PC to iPhone. You can create an HTTPS server to transfer files from your computer. The best part is that you don’t have to install anything on the computer and the files are transferred over WiFi. Sure, it requires Internet to set it up but the actual transfer takes place over the local network and thus ensuring you get maximum transfer speeds.
Read: How to Transfer Files from Android to iOS without SHAREit
Pros
- Can Access all the files in one place
- Doesn’t require installation on Computer
- High-Speed Transfer
Cons
- Connection breaks as soon as the app is minimized
Install Documents (free)
5. SHAREit
SHAREit is one of the more popular file transfer apps for Android and iPhone. I admit it’s great and if you can look past the bloat then it actually does its job pretty reliably. The best part is the high-speed transfer achieved by a local connection which transfers the data on WiFi. If you want to transfer photos from PC to iPhone, you can download the iOS app on your iPhone and install an application on your computer and start exchanging files at lightning speeds.
Pros
- High-Speed File Transfer
- Cross-Platform Sync
- Doesn’t Require an Internet Connection
Cons
- Bloat
- Require App Installation on both devices
Check out SHAREit (free)
6. HFS
A simple HTTP server can be used to share files from your Windows to the iPhone. HFS, short for HTTP File Server turns your computer into a local server which can be accessed from any browser on your iPhone. You can transfer entire albums using just the Wi-Fi at your home. No internet connection needed. Just create a server on the computer and access it from Safari browser on the iPhone or iPad. You can host entire albums and download either one file at once, a couple, or the entire album at once.Â
Read: Best AirDrop Alternatives for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac
Pros
- Doesn’t Require an Internet Connection
- Works on any browser
- HTTPS secure communication
Cons
- Wraps the files in TAR Archive
- UI not optimized for mobile browser
Download HFS (free)
Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone – Cloud Service
7. iCloud
Mentioning iCloud is like stating the obvious but sometimes you just have to lay it all out. iCloud is the default cloud service for the Apple devices and you can use it to copy files from your Computer to iPhone. Simply, Login to your iCloud account, and drop the files in the window. The files would automatically sync to your iPhone instantly. Alternatively, you can use any other cloud storage service of your choice, you would get similar results.
Pros
- Native integration with iOS
- Instant Sync
- Cross-Platform
Cons
- Limited Storage on Basic Plan to 15 GB
Visit iCloud
8. Google Photos
If you’re not a fan of Google Photos then you should probably give it a second chance. Google Photos is cloud storage and photo sharing service. You save unlimited photos and videos on your account for free ( terms and conditions apply) forever. Just like any cloud service, you can access it from any device and all the files are synced instantly. To transfer Photos from PC to iPhone, simply login to your Google Photos on your web browser and install the Google Photos App on your iPhone.
Pros
- Unlimited Storage
- Cross-Platform Sync
Cons
- Compression on the Free version
Check out Google Photos (free)
Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone – Desktop Client
9. DearMob
DearMob is a complete iTunes alternative and a recovery tool. However, you can also use it to organize and manage your Photos. It keeps the formatting similar to your Camera Roll so that you can find the files easily. To transfer Photos from your PC to iPhone, just install the application on your computer and connect your iPhone to the computer and sync all the files instantly.
Pros
- Secure
- Private
- High Transfer Speeds
- Best Suited for large files
Cons
- Can fail over time
Check out DearMob (free)
Transfer Photos From PC to iPhone – USB Drive
10. SanDisk iXPAND Flash Drive
If you don’t trust the internet (which you shouldn’t) and want absolute privacy when it comes to transferring your photos from PC to iPhone then you can invest in this little flash drive called SanDisk iXPAND. This device is specially designed for iOS and Computer, with one end having USB 3.0 and lighting connector at the other end.
Read: How to Setup VPN on Windows 10
Pros
- Works well on both computer and iOS devices
- Good for transferring many types of files like .mp4, .avi, .jpg etc
- Works on iPad/iPhone
- Support password protected folder
Cons
- USB stick gets hot after a while
- Need an app to work
- Doesn’t support all kind of format due to iOS restriction
- Doesn’t support newer iPad Pro
Get SanDisk iXPAND ($24.89- $75.99)
Transfer Photos from PC to iPhone without iTunes
These were a few methods which you can use to transfer Photos from PC to iPhone. Snapdrop is a decent alternative to AirDrop and offers instant connectivity across all the platforms. The only drawback is that it doesn’t work offline. HFS and Documents implement a simple HTTP server which lets you download a large number of photos to your iPhone. WhatsApp is also an alternative when you wish to transfer a few files every now and then. Which method do you use? Tell us in the comments below.
Read: Apps to Transfer files between computer and Android without USB
