Transferring iPhone Camera Roll pictures to Windows 7 PC

Pictures taken with iPhone's camera are pretty much the only files you can transfer from iPhone to a Windows 7 computer without installing iTunes or any other additional software. Simply connect your iPhone to a PC via USB cable, open My Computer and couple of seconds later Apple iPhone will appear under Portable Devices


Apple iPhone under Portable Devices in Windows 7

To transfer pictures use one of these methods:

  • Navigate to Apple iPhone\Internal Storage\DCIM and drag images to a folder on your computer.
  • Right click on Apple iPhone,click on Import Pictures and Videos and follow the wizard.

Sometimes, you may find that Apple iPhone\Internal Storage\DCIM folder is empty even when you have plenty of images in your Camera Roll on the iPhone.
And when you try using the second method (Import Pictures and Videos wizard) you get message "No new pictures or videos were found on this device"

Import Pictures and Videos Wizard > No new pictures or videos were found on this device

This happens when your iPhone is locked. To resolve simply disconnect the USB cable, unlock the iPhone and connect it again.

iPhone Internet sharing via USB cable

To share your iPhone's Internet connection with your desktop or laptop via a USB cable you must have iTunes installed on your computer.
Providing this has been completed Internet sharing vis USB cable is a very simple task

iOS 4.3 and later

You can check iOS version in Settings > General > About > Version
  • Connect iPhone to the PC via USB cable
  • On iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON

iOS older than 4.3

  • Connect iPhone to the PC via USB cable
  • On iPhone: Settings > General > Network > Internet Tethering > ON

iPhone 4 Mobile Internet sharing over Wi-Fi (Personal Hotspot)

To use iPhone's personal hotspot (over Wi-Fi) feature you must have iPhone 4 with iOS version 4.3 or later.
You can check iOS version in Settings > General > About > Version
If your version is lower than 4.3 upgrade it via iTunes.

Enable personal hotspot on iPhone:
Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON
Note Name and Wi-Fi password.

On your laptop open Wireless Network manager and search for a new network with the name displayed on "Personal Hotspot" page.
Connect to the network using password displayed in "Personal Hotspot" page.


iPhone4

iPhone Internet sharing via Bluetooth

iOS 4.3 and later

These instructions will work with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 with iOS version 4.3 or later.
You can check iOS version in Settings > General > About > Version
If your version is lower than 4.3 you can upgrade it via iTunes.
  • On iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON
    If you get a warning that Bluetooth is Off. Press Turn on Bluetooth
  • On computer: Open Bluetooth Manager and add a new device. Exact procedure depends on Bluetooth software you are using. An example using DELL Latitude Bluetooth software:
    1. Bluetooth Manager > New Connection > Express Mode
    2. Select your iPhone from the list of discovered devices and click Next
    3. Double click on your iPhone name which now appears in Bluetooth Manager device list.
    4. Enter any passkey (e.g. 9561) and click OK
    5. On iPhone you should have a prompt to confirm the passkey. Enter the same passkey (e.g. 9561) and press Pair
You should be connected now. Pairing settings normally gets saved on computer and iPhone so next time you want to connect:
  • On iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON
  • On Computer: Bluetooth Manager > iPhone > Connect

iOS older than 4.3

With iOS older than 4.3 procedure is similar, but instead of Personal Hotspot you need to enable Internet Tethering:
iPhone > Settings > General > Network > Internet Tethering > ON
Also make sure Bluetooth is enabled:
iPhone > Settings > General > Bluetooth > ON

If you have iPhone 4 with iOS v4.3 or higher it's normally easier and more convenient to share your data connection over Wi-Fi personal hotspot.


Tested:
iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4
Windows XP
DELL Latitude