By Michael | Last Updated
"My iPhone 14 doesn't show up in Windows File Explorer, so I can't transfer photos and videos from iPhone to PC. Does anyone have the same problem and know the solution? Please help!"
Similar to any other USB device, iPhone will appear in the File Explorer sidebar menu as soon as you plug it into a USB port on your Windows computer. If iPhone does not show up in Windows File Explorer, you will not be able to transfer photos from iPhone to your computer or backup iPhone to your computer using iTunes. In this article, you should be able to fix the iPhone not showing up in Windows File Explorer issue using the troubleshooting methods provided below.
Your iPhone might fail to appear in File Explorer for the following reasons:
Lack of full access to the iTunes folder
Having full access to iTunes folder will easily allow you to get rid of this situation so that your iPhone can be displayed on Windows.
Outdated Windows versions
If you are operating an outdated version of the operating system, then this may cause you such trouble. Therefore, you need to update your outdated OS version to the latest available version.
The USB port may be incompatible or not working properly
If the port you use to connect your iPhone to your system is faulty or damaged, then it could trigger this problem.
Your USB cable is damaged, or it is not an official Apple USB cable
If you are using a damaged or faulty cable, then this could be the reason why Windows doesn’t recognize your iPhone. Or sometimes using an unofficial cable and not using Apple's official cable could also be the culprit.
Use outdated USB drivers for Apple devices
If the USB driver for your Apple device has not been updated for a long time, then it is possible that the problem is happening because of this.
The Camera Roll on your iPhone is empty, which is why your iPhone is not detected as a portable device
Windows allows transferring photos and videos from the camera roll, so if it is empty, it will not be displayed automatically.
Step 1: Press WIN + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer. Click on Music from the menu options on the left. Find and right-click iTunes, scroll down and click Properties.
Step 2: Under the General tab, uncheck the box next to Read-only (Only applies to files in folder), then click Apply and OK to save the change.
Step 3: Next, go to the Security tab, and click Edit.
Step 4: Within System Permissions, check Allow Full control. Click Apply, then click OK. This will solve the problem of not showing iPhone in Windows File Explorer.
Sometimes, using an outdated OS version can cause such problems. You can update your Windows OS version to the latest available version. This is because the latest updates come with more enhancements and fault fixes.
Step 1: Use WIN+I keys to open the Settings, and choose Update & Security option.
Step 2: Tap the Check for updates option in the Windows Update section. If there are any updates available, select the Download and Install option to download them.
Step 3: Wait for the download to finish and restart your Windows computer to check if the problem of iPhone not showing up in Windows File Explorer has been fixed.
Remove the iPhone from the current USB port and plug it into another USB port. If the problem is caused by a faulty USB port on your computer, this simple fix should work.
If you are using a USB HUB, connect your iPhone directly to the USB instead of connecting through the USB HUB, which may glitch.
Using a damaged or unofficial cable may cause this problem. So, before getting into any technical troubleshooting, first check your USB cable. If it is damaged, replace it with a new one.
If the cable is not faulty, then try to get rid of the situation by using an official Apple USB cable or an MFi certified cable. the MFi cable is usually used to establish a better connection between your iPhone and your system. Also, uncertified cables can damage your iPhone.
Another solution you need to consider is to update the Apple Mobile Device USB driver, which is an important component that allows your device to connect to your computer. The outdated drivers are most likely to cause various troubled thereby stopping them from establishing connections.
Step 1: Unplug iPhone from your computer, then unlock your iPhone and go to the Home screen. On the Home screen, plug iPhone back into your computer and close the window if iTunes appears.
Step 2: Right-click the Start or Windows icon and type Device Manager. Click to open it.
Step 3: Find and expand Universal Serial Bus devices. Locate the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver. Then double click to open its properties.
Step 4: Move to Driver tab and click on the option Update Driver.
Step 5: Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search your computer for the best available driver and install it on your device.
Step 6: Launch iTunes after updating the driver, the errors should be fixed and you can see your iPhone listed as one of the portable devices.
When your computer does not recognize the iPhone, it will not appear on the Windows File Explorer. Thus, you need to fix the iPhone connection issues. If the above-mentioned methods cannot fix the iPhone not showing up issue, there might be issues on the iTunes components, such as the Apple Mobile Device Support. In such situation, you can try the iTunes repair tool—iSunshare iOS Repair Genius to repair the iPhone connection issues. This software has the powerful tool to deal with the iOS connection issues. You can easily fix the iTunes error and get iPhone recognized.
Step 1: Open the software and choose iTunes Repair option from the main interface.
Step 2: Click the option—Repair iTunes Connection Issues to proceed.
Step 3: Now click the Start button to get the issue fixed.
Step 4: Minutes later, the software displays iTunes Repair completed. You can disconnect the iPhone and plug it in again to check whether it can be recognized or not.
When your iPhone doesn’t show up in Windows File Explorer, it’s usually due to connection, driver, or trust issues. By following the solutions in this guide, you can resolve the issue and access your files seamlessly.
