As you all know that the photos and videos clicked from the camera of an iOS device are saved in the camera roll location and can be viewed by the iOS photos app. You can also sync the photos from your computer to your iPhone using iTunes, but they are stored in a different location. However, if you want to sync photos from your computer to your iPhone on the camera roll location then you cannot do it until now. As in this tutorial, we will be discussing how you can sync and store photos from your computer to your iPhone on your camera roll using iTunes.

Save Photos and Videos to Camera Roll

So, to transfer photos and videos from computer to camera roll we will be using some third-party apps that will have specifically the below-mentioned features.

• The app should have the ability to import files from a computer
• It should also be capable of exporting the file to the camera roll location.

So, with the help of a third-party app, we can sync and export photos from a computer to the iOS device inside the camera roll. To start with, first, need to import the required photos and videos from a computer into the app’s local storage. After we have finished importing the photos from the computer to the app’s local storage, then we will use the app’s exporting ability through which that app will export all of the photos and videos to the camera roll of your iOS device. So, we will be using the documents app that can do all of this. You can also use any other app to perform the task, just make sure the app which you choose should have the ability of the above mentioned two features, otherwise, that app won’t be able to export photos to your camera roll.

See also: Download iCloud Photos to an External USB Drive on Mac (1 Click)

Transfer Photos and Videos from Computer to Camera Roll

As we have discussed earlier, that syncing through iTunes won’t export your photos and videos from the computer to the camera roll folder of your iOS device. To export it inside the camera roll of the iOS device, you need to have a third-party app like Documents is one of them. So below we have a guide on how to sync and get the photos from your computer to the camera roll folder of your iOS device using the documents app.

1. So first you need to connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer using a wired USB cable.
2. Now, launch iTunes and then wait for the app to detect your iOS device.
3. After it has detected your iPhone or iPod inside iTunes, select the device from the top right corner of the iTunes screen.
4. Find and navigate to the Apps tab and then scroll down to the file-sharing option.
5. Scroll and find the Documents app from the list of apps showing on the left side. Select the Documents app after which you will be shown a list of files stored in its local storage.
6. Now, drag and drop all of the images and videos from the computer to the right window pane of the Documents app where all other files are being shown. Alternatively, you can click on the Add File button and then browse for the photos and videos that you want to transfer to your iPhone or iPad.

After finishing the above process, your photos and videos have been synced and transferred to your iPhone or iPad. But it isn’t inside the camera roll folder yet, as of now, it is inside the local storage of the documents app. So, next, we need to export the photos and videos from the Documents app to the camera roll of your iOS device. So below we have a quick guide to export the files for devices running iOS 8 and above.

1. After you have transferred from iTunes to the Documents app on your iOS device.
2. Open the Documents app on your device and go to the location where you have saved the images and videos.
3. Now, tap on the edit button located at the top right corner, and then select all of the files which you need to export to the camera roll.
4. Here you will get an option to copy, tap on the Copy button from the bottom left corner. This will give a list of options where you can paste the selected images and videos.
5. Open the Photos folder and then tap the copy button at the top right corner. With this, all of your images and videos will be copied to the camera roll folder of your iOS device.

To confirm you can check the images and videos that should be inside the camera roll folder of your device.

Transfer Photos and Videos to iPhone, iPad Camera Roll without iTunes

This method is slightly different from the previous one, however, the base of the method remains more or less the same. We will be using the Documents app in this method as well, but we will also be using the WiFi sharing capability of the documents app to transfer photos and videos to the iOS device’s camera roll folder. Earlier we used the export option of the documents app. So, if you are using any other app to perform this process, make sure it has a Wifi sharing capacity, otherwise, you can use the documents app it is free and is available on the App Store.

Using this method, you can even avoid using iTunes for transferring files from your computer to the camera roll album of your iOS device. With the help of Wi-Fi sharing capability, you can upload files from the computer to the app’s local storage over Wi-Fi. Although you need to connect your computer and your iOS device to the same Wi-Fi network for this method to work. So, if you are ready for this method, below we have a quick tutorial.

1. Ensure that you have connected your iOS device and the computer to the same wireless network.
2. Now, open the Documents app on your iPhone or iPad and then tap on the Menu icon located at the top left corner.
3. Go to settings >> Wi-Fi Drive and turn on the Enable drive option. An IP address will be shown to you on the screen, leave the page as it is until the transfer is completed.
4. Next, you need to open a web browser on your computer and go to the IP address shown on the screen of the app which was already being displayed in the previous step. A prompt will pop up on your iPhone asking to allow access from your computer.
5. Now you need to tap on OK. The files on the Documents local storage will be available on the browser window.
6. Finally, click on choose file button at the bottom of the browser window and then select a photo or video you want to import from your computer to your iPhone or iPad and then click on the Upload file button.

You can repeat all of the above steps for all the files you want to transfer into the documents app’s local storage.

As soon as the files are in the app’s local storage of the document’s app, you can simply export them to the Camera roll by following the same methods mentioned before.

1. After you have transferred from iTunes to the Documents app on your iOS device.
2. Open the Documents app on your device and go to the location where you have saved the images and videos.
3. Now, tap on the edit button located at the top right corner, and then select all of the files which you need to export to the camera roll.
4. Here you will get an option to copy, tap on the Copy button from the bottom left corner. This will give a list of options where you can paste the selected images and videos.
5. Open the Photos folder and then tap the copy button at the top right corner. With this, all of your images and videos will be copied to the camera roll folder of your iOS device.

If you have a large number of files that needs to be imported from your computer without using iTunes, then a WIFI drive isn’t the most optimal way of transferring s the web interface does not support multiple file selection while uploading files over WIFI. Instead, you may opt for a WIFI drive to your PC or Mac as a WebDav server. With the help of the Map Network Drive option on Windows or Connect to the server option on MAC. Finally, you can copy specific photos and videos to your computer through file explorer or Finder on Mac.

If you prefer not to use a WebDAV connection and you also need multiple file selection support in a web-based interface, there is an app called iUSB that lets you share photos and videos in huge number from your computer to the app’s local storage over WIFI. After the files have been imported into the app, further you can save them to the Camera Roll of your iOS device. Below we have an extensive guide on how to transfer multiple photos and videos from your computer to the iOS camera Camera Roll folder over WIFI.

1. Download and install iUSB from the App Store.
2. Now, open the app on your iOS device like iPhone or iPad and then tap on the menu icon located at the top left corner.
3. Next, you need to turn on the toggle for the WIFI USB. An IP address will be created and will be shown on the display.
4. Make sure your computer and the iOS device are connected to the same WIFI network. Open the given IP address on your computer’s web browser and you will get access to the iUSB sharing screen.
5. Now, use the upload files option to upload the photos which you want to share to the iUSB’s local storage. Alternatively, you can also drag and drop the files from your computer into the iUSB sharing screen.
6. So, to export more than one photos to the camera roll of your iOS device, open the folder that has all your photos.
7. Now tap on the edit button located at the top right corner and select the preferred photos.
8. Finally, tap on the share icon at the bottom left corner and then select the Save # images option. With this, the selected photos will be saved to Camera Roll.

Do note that by default there will be two folders created inside the app – Private and Documents. The Private folder is restricted and won’t be able to be accessed from your computer. Additionally, you can create folders inside the Private and Documents folder. However, the free version only allows you to create a limited number of them. Also, the number of files stored per folder is also limited. To remove all of these limitations and get an ad-free experience, you need to upgrade to the pro version of iUSB.

Transfer photos and videos from Mac to iOS Camera Roll

For users who have Mac that is running on OS X Yosemite or later and your iOS devices like iPhone or iPad is running iOS and above you may simply use Apple’s Airdrop feature. With the help of Airdrop, you will be able to send and revive videos or photos directly from the Mac to the camera roll folder of your iOS device. Follow the guide written below to know how to use the Airdrop feature to share images and videos between a Mac and an iPhone or iPad.

1. Turn on the Airdrop option from the Control Centre on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Now, on your Mac turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and then click on AirDrop in the Finder sidebar.
3. Set the AirDropdiscovery to Everyone on both devices. Now, your iOS device should come upon the airdrop list on Mac.
4. Open a new Finder on your Mac, select the photos and videos that you want to transfer to iPhone or iPad’s camera roll folder.
5. You can drag the selected files to your iOS device from the AirDrop section. On your iPhone or iPad, you will be prompted for confirmation to authorize the process of transfer.

After you have finished transferring the photos and videos. The supported formats of the same will be shown on the Camera roll folder of your iOS device.

To Conclude

So, this was an extensive guide along with a bunch of alternative ways through which you can transfer photos and videos from your computer to your iPhone or iPad’s camera roll folder. This comes in handy while looking for images or videos on the phone and makes it look less cluttered.

See next: How to Move Photos from iCloud Photos to Google Photos