"The device is unreachable" copying iPhone photos to Windows? The one setting that fixes it
You drag the DCIM folders across, it copies a few hundred photos and then stops with "The device is unreachable". Try again and it fails at a different file. It's not your cable, usually.
Why it happens
iPhones save photos as HEIC and videos as HEVC because they're about half the size of JPEG and H.264 for the same quality. Windows doesn't always open those formats, so by default the iPhone tries to be helpful: when a computer reads a photo over the cable, it converts it to JPEG on the spot. That's fine for ten pictures. For thousands, especially long videos, the phone can't keep up, a request times out, and Windows gives up on the whole copy with a misleading error that sounds like the cable came out.
Fix it
- On the iPhone: Settings, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC, Keep Originals.
- Unplug the iPhone, unlock it, plug it back in and tap Trust if asked.
- In File Explorer open This PC, Apple iPhone, Internal Storage, DCIM, and copy a few of the month folders at a time instead of everything at once.
- Keep the phone unlocked and awake during the copy. If it locks, the copy stops. Turning Auto-Lock to Never for the transfer helps; set it back afterwards.
- Still failing on one file? Copy the folders on either side of it, then that folder alone. Note the file name and export it from the phone another way (AirDrop to a Mac, or iCloud).
| Error you see | What it really means |
|---|---|
| The device is unreachable (0x80070141) | A file request timed out, usually during on-the-fly conversion. Keep Originals fixes most cases. |
| A device attached to the system is not functioning (0x8007001F) | The same timeout, worded differently. Same fix. |
| Copy stops when the screen locks | The iPhone stops sharing files while locked. |
| Some photos are missing entirely | iCloud Photos with Optimise iPhone Storage: the full-size originals are in iCloud, not on the phone. |
Opening HEIC and HEVC on Windows afterwards
- Windows 10 and 11 open HEIC in the Photos app once the free HEIF Image Extensions are installed from the Microsoft Store. HEVC videos need the HEVC Video Extensions (a small charge), or play them in VLC.
- Need JPEGs for a form or an older program? See how to convert HEIC to JPG, then shrink them with the image compressor, which works in your browser without uploading.
- Keep the HEIC originals as your backup. Converting to JPEG loses a little quality and makes them bigger.
Other routes that avoid the problem
- Windows Photos app: Import, From a connected device. It copies in the background and skips ones you already have.
- iCloud for Windows, which downloads full originals including ones only stored in iCloud.
- Copy straight to an external drive from a Mac, or from the Files app on the iPhone to a USB-C drive.
Related
Windows Photos import not working · Phone not showing up on the PC · How big iPhone videos are per minute · External drive not showing up
Questions
What does "the device is unreachable" mean when copying from an iPhone?
Windows asked the iPhone for a file and didn't get it in time. Usually the iPhone was busy converting HEIC photos or HEVC videos to JPEG and H.264. Set Settings, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC to Keep Originals and copy in smaller batches.
Should I choose Automatic or Keep Originals?
Keep Originals for copying to a computer: it's faster, more reliable and full quality. Choose Automatic only if the program you'll use can't open HEIC and you can't install the free HEIF extensions.
Will Keep Originals change the photos on my iPhone?
No. It only changes how files are sent over the cable. Your photos stay exactly as they are on the phone.
Why are some iPhone photos missing on the PC?
With iCloud Photos and Optimise iPhone Storage on, many full-size originals are only in iCloud. Download them with iCloud for Windows, or turn on Download and Keep Originals on the phone first (needs enough space).
Published .