iOS: Unable to import photos to computer

Products Affected

iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

Symptoms

Your computer does not recognize an attached iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a camera, preventing you from importing photos to your computer. The steps below may resolve the issue.

Resolution

Verify that there is a photo available to be imported:
- Save a screenshot by pressing the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time (the screen should flash briefly).
  Note: Taking screenshots and saving images on iPod touch requires iOS version 2.0 or later. With the device connected, manually open your photo-management software to determine if this software can recognize the device and import photos.
Check for software updates to your photo-management software. (If using iPhoto for Mac OS X, iPhoto version 4.0.3 or later is required to import photos from an iOS device.)
Try using the photo-management software built in to your computer's operating system:
Mac OS X: Open Image Capture (located in the Applications folder).
Windows XP: Open the Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard by choosing Start > All Programs > Accessories.
Windows Vista: Open Windows Photo Gallery by choosing Start > All Programs.
Windows 7: Choose Start > Computer. Right-click on the logo of the device under Portable Devices (if present) and choose Import Photos.
Verify that iTunes and your iOS software are up to date. Download and install any updates that are available.
Check for and install any available operating system updates. (On Mac OS X, select Software Update from the Apple Menu. On a PC, run the Windows Update application.)
Try using a different computer to import your photos.
Email photos to yourself if you wish to keep them. Then, delete them from your device and reconnect the device to your computer.
Note: If you have a large number of these photos on your device, you may delete them from your device a few at a time and reconnect to the computer until the device is recognized.

If the iOS device still is not recognized, restore it, setting it up as a new device

Prior to restoring, sync your device and verify that your information (such as contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and notes) is on your computer.
Email any photos that are inside the device that you would like to keep (depending on the situation and the device, the photos may be stored in the Camera Roll, Saved Images, or All Imported).
Transfer your purchases from your device to your computer.
Back up your device in iTunes and make a copy of the backup directory in case you need it later. Refer to this article for more information about backups.
Restore the device, setting up as a new device by following this article.
Note: If you restore from a backup, and the camera-recognition issue returns, try restoring from an earlier backup that was made before the issue began. If the issue returns, restore the device again, but set it up as a new device.

If you are using iOS 5 or later and iTunes 10 or later, you can use Photo Stream

For information on using Photo Stream to import photos from your device to your computer, see this article and Photo Stream FAQ.

Additional Information

Windows 7 Ultimate N edition or KN edition may not recognize iOS devices as cameras if the Media Feature Pack is not installed. This is available from Microsoft as a download for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=31017ed3-166a-4c75-b90c-a6cef9b414c4.

Find out which version of Windows you are using before installing this update. This update is only for Windows 7 N SP1, or Windows 7 KN SP1.

This document will be updated as more information becomes available.

Rate this article: