iOS · Windows & iPhone & iPad

How To Fix This Device Is Unreachable When Copying Files From iPhone to Windows

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Answer

When trying to locate and import media from your iPhone folder on your Windows PC, make sure you use a reliable USB 3.0 or USB C port. Alternatively, try to use a different or the official USB cable for your iPhone. This can in a lot of cases, already fix the connection error you are getting.

Change Port & Cable

When trying to locate and import media from your iPhone folder on your Windows PC, make sure you use a reliable USB 3.0 or USB C port. Alternatively, try to use a different or the official USB cable for your iPhone. This can in a lot of cases, already fix the connection error you are getting.

Change Port & Cable
Change Port & Cable

Change your iPhone Photos Settings

Some of your iPhone settings might hinder your iPhone’s ability to copy photos to your Windows machine. In your iPhone settings, scroll down until you find your Photos settings. Ensure that the Keep Originals option is selected when transferring Photos to your PC.

iPhone Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC
iPhone Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC

Update & Restart iPhone

Disconnect and reconnect your iPhone to see if this fixes the issue. Restarting your device and making sure that your iOS version is up to date can, in some cases also fix this error from coming up. In your General iPhone settings, tap on Software Update. Download and install the latest update, which will, in turn, also reboot your device and restart all processes.

iPhone Settings > General > Software Update
iPhone Settings > General > Software Update

Update USB Driver

Ensure that your PC is running the latest USB drivers. Lookup Device Manager on your windows PC to access the application. Expand your Universal Serial Bus controllers or USBs. Right-click each and select Update Driver. Lastly, select Search automatically for drivers. This will take a moment to ensure that your USB driver is up to date.

Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > Update Driver
Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > Update Driver

Video walkthrough

If it does not work

  • Why am I seeing "This Device Is Unreachable" error when copying files from my iPhone to Windows?. This error message usually appears when there is a connection issue between your iPhone and Windows computer, caused by a malfunctioning cable or driver issues.
  • What should I do if I see the "This Device Is Unreachable" error message?. Try unplugging and replugging your iPhone to your computer. If that doesn't work, try restarting both devices, updating the drivers or the operating system, and ensuring the cable is functional.
  • Will I lose my data if I try the solutions mentioned in the article?. No, the solutions mentioned above will not cause data loss. However, it is always recommended to take a backup of your data before troubleshooting.
  • How can I avoid this issue in the future?. You can avoid this issue by using a reliable and authorized cable to connect your iPhone to your Windows computer. Regularly updating the software and drivers of your devices and not using outdated third-party software is also recommended.