3 Ways To Connect Your IPhone To Your Computer - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Computers and Electronics
• Telephones
• Smartphones
• IPhone

How to Connect Your iPhone to Your Computer With or Without a Cable Download Article A user-friendly guide to linking and pairing an iPhone with a computer or laptop Co-authored by Naseem Speach and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: January 3, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using a Cable
|
• Using Phone Link (Windows 11)
|
• Using AirDrop (Mac)
|
• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Q&A

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This article was co-authored by Naseem Speach and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Naseem Speach is a Tech Expert based in Los Angeles, California. Naseem started his tech reviews YouTube channel in 2020 and has since gained a following of over 34,000 subscribers. He specializes in sharing information about the latest smart home tech, Apple, Samsung, Google, PlayStation, Microsoft, and gaming devices. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 586,482 times.

Do you want to connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer? You'll just need the charging cable that came with your device and a USB port. If you want to link your iPhone to Windows, you can use Phone Link. For quick photo or video transfers on Mac, you can use AirDrop.[1] This wikiHow will show you how to connect your iPhone to your computer using a wire or wirelessly.

Things You Should Know

• To connect your iPhone with a cable, plug the Lightning or USB-C end into your iPhone, then connect the USB end to your computer.
• On Windows 11, you can link your iPhone to your PC using Phone Link.
• On Mac, you can transfer files without connecting your iPhone using AirDrop.[2]

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using a Cable

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1. 1 Meet the requirements. To connect your iPhone to your computer or laptop with a cable, you must have an open USB-A port and a supported operating system.
   • For Windows, you must have Windows 7 or newer.
   • For Mac, you must have macOS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
   • If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, you can use a USB-C port instead.[3]
2. 2 Connect your charging cable to your iPhone. This is the cable that came with your device. One end will be Lightning or USB-C, and this is the part that plugs into your iPhone.
   • If you have an iPhone 14 or older, you'll use a Lightning to USB cable.
   • If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, you'll use a USB-C to USB-C.
     • If you don't have a USB-C port on your computer, you'll need to buy a USB-C to USB-A adapter.[4]
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3. 3 Connect the USB end to your computer. This will likely be in the back of your computer case or on the side of your laptop. Some desktop computers have ports on the top of the case that can be used.[5]
4. 4 On your iPhone, tap Trust This Computer. If this is your first time connecting your iPhone to a computer, you'll receive this alert. Otherwise, you can skip this step.[6]
5. 5 Use your connected iPhone. Your iPhone is now connected to your computer. If you're using Windows, you can open iTunes to see your iPhone details.[7] If you're on Mac, you can use the Finder.
   • Here are some things you can do:
     • Transfer photos from iPhone to computer
     • Add music from your computer to iPhone
     • Backup your iPhone
     • Update your iPhone
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Using Phone Link (Windows 11)

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1. 1 On your computer, open Phone Link. Microsoft Phone Link comes preinstalled with Windows 11. To find it, open the Start menu and type "Phone Link." This looks like a blue smartphone icon in front of a monitor.[8]
   • You can use Phone Link to connect an iPhone to Windows for SMS texting, calling, and managing your notifications. This feature is only available on Windows 11 and iPhones with iOS 14 or higher.[9]
2. 2 Click iPhone. This is the option on the right.
   • A QR code will appear on the screen.
3. 3 On your iPhone, download "Link to Windows." Open the App Store and search for "Link to Windows". This is the app by Microsoft Corporation. Tap Get to install it.
   • When it's installed, tap the app to open it.
4. 4 Tap Scan QR code. This will open your iPhone's Camera. You may need to tap OK to allow permission.
   • Alternatively, you can click Continue manually without a QR code instead. You'll be required to open a hyperlink on your iPhone and pair your device through a webpage.
5. 5 Scan the QR code on your computer. This will begin the Bluetooth pairing process. When it has paired, you'll see a pop-up on your iPhone with a code. This code should be the same on your computer.[10]
   • Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
6. 6 Click and tap Pair. Do this on both your iPhone and computer.
7. 7 Allow permissions. You'll receive pop-ups on your iPhone asking permission to receive notifications and access contacts. These must be allowed to sync SMS messages.[11]
8. 8 On your computer, click Continue. Your iPhone will now be connected to your computer.[12]
9. 9 Enable SMS texting from your computer (optional). If you want to send SMS texts from your computer to your iPhone contacts, you'll need to enable it first. Do the following:
   • On your iPhone, open Settings.
   • Tap Bluetooth.
   • Tap i next to your computer's name.
   • Toggle on Show Notifications and Sync Contacts.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Using AirDrop (Mac)

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1. 1 Make sure your iPhone and Mac are ready for AirDrop. If you don't have a cable and want to connect your iPhone to transfer files, you can use AirDrop.[13]
   • Do the following to prepare:[14]
     • Place the two devices within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range of each other
     • Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices
     • Turn off Personal Hotspot on iPhone
2. 2 Open the Photos app on your iPhone. You'll find it on your Home screen or in your App Library.[15]
3. 3 Tap Library. This displays all of your photos.
4. 4 Select the photos you want to send to your Mac. To select multiple photos, tap Select at the top, then choose the photos you want to send. Otherwise, just tap one photo to open it.
5. 5 Tap the Share icon . It's at the bottom-left corner. Several sharing options will appear.[16]
6. 6 Tap AirDrop. It's the white icon with several curved blue lines. Your iPhone will now scan for nearby AirDrop users and devices.
7. 7 Tap your Mac. You'll see your Mac under Devices. Once selected, you'll see an AirDrop notification on your Mac.
8. 8 Click Accept on your Mac and save the files. Once you click Accept, you'll be asked if you want to accept or save the files.[17] When prompted, choose to save the files to your Photos so you can easily access them in your Mac's Photos app.[18]
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Community Q&A

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• Question What if iTunes isn't recognizing my iPhone? Community Answer Try reinstalling iTunes. If that doesn't work, then contact Apple support. Also, make sure that the iPhone is turned on and you are on the home screen when you are connecting your iPhone. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11
• Question How do I make my iPhone a hotspot and connect my computer to it? Community Answer Go into Settings > Personal Hotspot and enable. Then connect your computer to it like any Wi-Fi network. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 5

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about iphones, check out our in-depth interview with Naseem Speach.

References

1. ↑ Naseem Speach. Tech Video Producer. Expert Interview
2. ↑ Naseem Speach. Tech Video Producer. Expert Interview
3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-iphone-and-your-computer-with-a-cable-iph42d9b3178/16.0/ios/16.0
4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105099
5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-iphone-and-your-computer-with-a-cable-iph42d9b3178/ios
6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/connect-iphone-and-your-computer-with-a-cable-iph42d9b3178/ios
7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108347
8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/phone-link-requirements-and-setup-cd2a1ee7-75a7-66a6-9d4e-bf22e735f9e3
9. ↑ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/sync-across-your-devices

More References (9)

10. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/phone-link-requirements-and-setup-cd2a1ee7-75a7-66a6-9d4e-bf22e735f9e3
11. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/phone-link-requirements-and-setup-cd2a1ee7-75a7-66a6-9d4e-bf22e735f9e3
12. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/phone-link-requirements-and-setup-cd2a1ee7-75a7-66a6-9d4e-bf22e735f9e3
13. ↑ Naseem Speach. Tech Video Producer. Expert Interview
14. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102538
15. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/119857
16. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/119857
17. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/airdrop-mac-send-files-devices-mh35868/mac
18. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102538

About This Article

Co-authored by: Naseem Speach Tech Expert This article was co-authored by Naseem Speach and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Naseem Speach is a Tech Expert based in Los Angeles, California. Naseem started his tech reviews YouTube channel in 2020 and has since gained a following of over 34,000 subscribers. He specializes in sharing information about the latest smart home tech, Apple, Samsung, Google, PlayStation, Microsoft, and gaming devices. This article has been viewed 586,482 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 15 Updated: January 3, 2026 Views: 586,482 Categories: IPhone Article SummaryX

1. Connect a USB cable to the iPhone. 2. Connect the other end to a computer. 3. Open iTunes on the computer. 4. Click the iPhone icon. 5. Click Back Up Now. 6. Choose content to sync. 7. Click Apply. 8. Click Sync. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Naseem Speach Tech Expert Click a star to vote Co-authors: 15 Updated: January 3, 2026 Views: 586,482

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