iPhone Showing DCIM folder empty on PC, What to do?

Apart from design, performance, and optimization, the camera is the most impressive component in every Apple device. I mean you can capture your photos in cinematic style, with beautiful attractive vivid colors. But if you’re one of those who still don’t get why the iPhone shows the DCIM folder empty even if you’ve connected the device to the PC, then you’ve landed on the right post.

In this article, we’ll be discussing how to resolve the DCIM folder showing empty on your PC issue. Just follow the article till the end that we’ve managed to prepared for you. Without wasting much of your time, let’s get started.

Also read: Why is my iPhone Battery icon Yellow? Here’s the fix.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

How to open DCIM folder on PC

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

To open the DCIM folder on PC, users need to do the following. But if you’re already familiar with these steps, you can directly jump on to the next section.

Step 1: Connect your iDevice to PC using cable, while your device is turned on.

Step 2: Tap on Trust This Computer on your iDevice.

Step 3: Open File Eplorer on PC and visit Computer > iDevice > Internal Storage > DCIM.

Step 5: You shall see DCIM folder now.

SEE ALSO  Fix FaceTime or iMessage Waiting for Activation issue

Why iPhone showing the DCIM folder empty on PC?

Here, iCloud comes into the picture. According to one of the functions of iCloud. It saves internal storage on your iDevice by uploading those photos and video to iCloud.

iDevice is meant to store only previews of original photos in the iDevice library. The original photo will get downloaded in full resolution from iCloud as soon as you open the image, as shown by the loading circle in the lower right corner in the following image.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

If you’re iDevice has not downloaded or uploaded to iCloud yet. As a result, the DCIM folder appears empty on the PC.

Download iCloud Photos to my PC

To download iCloud Photos, here’re some couple of solutions:

  • Change iCloud Photos Settings.
  • Download photos from iCloud Photos.

If your photo library is huge in size, then no doubt that it will be uneasy to carry a huge size library without iCloud Photos.

However, if you’ve got enough space available on your iDevice, then you just need to change the settings and you’re all set to download the DCIM folder on PC.

How to Download photos and keep Originals on your iDevice

Here, we need to change the settings in order to download photos.

Step 1: Visit Settings > Photos on your iDevice.

Step 2: Choose Download and Keep Originals, under iCloud section.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

Your device will download photos whenever connects to Wi-Fi. This process usually takes time depending upon your Internet speed and library size. Make sure to have enough required space on the device, your photos and videos will now appear in the DCIM folder on PC.

SEE ALSO  Why are my iPhone Apps Stuck on Waiting? Try this fix.

How to Download a small selection of photos from the iCloud website

You can download photos directly on PC, without using iDevice. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Sign in to iCloud website using Apple ID details.

Step 2: Visit Photos,

Step 3: Click to select a perticuler photo, or hold shift to select multiple photos.

Step 3: Click on Download icon located in the top right window.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

You can only transfer a selection of photos less than 1000 photos at a time on PC.

How to Download all photos using iCloud on Windows

Step 1: Download and install iCloud, sign in with your Apple ID on Windows.

Step 2: Turn on iCloud Photos by clicking Options… next to photos.

Step 3: Click on Change…, under Download new photos and videos to my PC.

Step 4: Open File Explorer, and click on iCloud Photos from slideabr.

Step 5: Choose Download photos and videos, from top left of window.

Step 6: Select All and click Download.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

Allow Permisson

It’s not possible to see the DCIM folder unless you don’t give permission to access your iDevice on your computer. Reset security preferences using Reset Location & Privacy option in iDevice settings. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: On your iDevice visit Settings > General > Reset.

Step 2: Tap Reset Location & Privacy.

Step 3: Enter your passcode if asked.

Step 4: Confirm that you want to Reset Settings.

Step 5: Once you reset the settings, connect your iDevice to the computer and tap on Trust This Computer, when asked.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

Reinstall Apple Mobile Device USB on PC

Apple Mobile Device USB software allows the computer to read Apple device, here’s how to reset settings:

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

Step 1: Connect to iDevice to PC uising cable, close iTunes if open.

SEE ALSO  iPhone Touch Screen Not Working? Try These Fixes

Step 2: Right click on Start button and open Device Manager.

Step 3: Under Portabe Device, find your iDevice.

Step 4: Select Uninstall device, by doing right click on your iDeviec.

Step 5: Tick the box i order to Delete driver software for this device.

Step 6: Click on Ok, unplug your device and restart your PC.

Step 7: The driver will reinstall when your connect your iDevie again.

Unhide items in File Explorer

Some users noticed that their photos of iDevice were hidden, which was the reason do show the DCIM folder empty on Windows PC.

Iphone Showing Dcim Folder Empty On Pc, What To Do?

Step 1: Visit File Explorer on PC.

Step 2: Go to View > Show/Hide.

Step 3: Check Hidden items box.

Read next: Transfer/Copy Music from Mac to iPhone/iPad

Leave a Comment