Windows 10: Unable to import photos from phone to location other than OneDrive

My previous post has not received any response beyond the initial response and one follow up post. I paused syncing in OneDrive but I can only import pictures from my phone iPhone to OneDrive. I want to put them on an external drive. The only way to accomplish this right now is import to one drive then copy again to the external drive; obviously not the most efficient way to do this..What am I not doing correctly?OneDrive in windows 10iPhone 16 pro max

:)

 

How to import photos onto PC and not onto OneDrive

Hi, Alexandra Welch

Welcome to the MicroSoft Community.



Here are the steps to import photos from your phone directly to your local PC without using OneDrive:

Option 1: Using File Explorer

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB cable.
   
2. On your phone, you might need to authorize the PC to access your device. Tap on ‘Allow’ or ‘Authorize’ when prompted.
   
3. On your PC, open ‘File Explorer’ (you can do this by pressing Windows Key + E).
   
4. In the File Explorer window, under ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’, you should see your phone listed as a connected device.
   
5. Click on your phone’s name, then navigate to the folder where your photos are stored (usually ‘DCIM’ or ‘Pictures’).
   
6. Select the photos you want to import, then copy them (Ctrl + C).
   
7. Navigate to the location on your PC where you want to store the photos, then paste them (Ctrl + V).
   

Option 2: Using Windows Photos App

If you still want to use the Photos app but don’t want to use OneDrive, follow these steps:

1. Plug in your phone to your PC.
   
2. Open the Photos app. You can do this by clicking the Start button, then typing ‘Photos’ and hitting Enter.
   
3. In the Photos app, click ‘Import’ at the top right corner, then select ‘From a USB device’.
   
4. The Photos app will detect your phone. Select it from the list.
   
5. You’ll be prompted to choose where to save your photos. Select ‘More options'.
   
6. Here you can select a new local folder on your PC where to save the photos. After selecting the folder, click ‘Done’.
   
7. Click ‘Next’ to proceed with the import.
   

Please note the exact steps might vary a bit depending on the specific models of your phone and PC. If you encounter any issues, please provide the additional details.

Best Regards

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

How to change photos import location in Windows 11

Hello ! I'm Aymeric, and I'm here to help !

Which app are you using to import Photos on your computer ? The steps differ depending on the app you're using.

If you're using the new Photos app present on Windows 11, the app will choose OneDrive as the default location.

On the left, you have a list of the folders that are being used by Microsoft Photos. Just add your own one (ideally the one where you are importing your photos in) and it will be available when you want to import your photos : Photos will ask you where you want to import the pictures.

Feel free to ask if you have any other questions !

 

Unable to import photos

Hi Georgio,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue.

• How are you trying to import photos?
• Are you getting any error message?

You may follow the steps provided below and check if it helps to resolve the issue

Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter to check and fix issues with Devices. I would suggest you to run this troubleshooter to check if the issue is with your hardware and devices.

Refer these steps:

• Press Windows key +X, select Control panel
• Change the view by option on the top right to Large icons
• Click on troubleshooting and click on the view all option on the left panel
• Run the Hardware and devices troubleshooter
  

I suggest you to refer the link below and check if it helps

Windows 8.1 support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

It applies to Windows 10 also.



Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you