How to open a file on iphone

Viewing and accessing iPhone files on a PC or web is not the same as for an Android phone. Unlike iPhone, the Android phone connected to a PC or web file viewer allows you to access and view all files regardless of format. However, the same doesn't go for iPhone. You will most likely get access to your iPhone's DCIM folder(photos), leaving you frustrated.

We have the answer to how to access iPhone files on PC with the six best solutions that will work for your Windows, web, or macOS. You can view and access all files on your iPhone or iPad using the solutions we are going to discuss.

  • Part 1 : View and Access iPhone Files PC Online - AirDroid Web
  • Part 2 : Browse iPhone Files with macOS Finder
  • Part 3 : Check iPhone Files on PC with Windows File Explorer
  • Part 4 : Find iPhone Files on PC with iTunes
  • Part 5 : Get iPhone Files on PC using iCloud
  • Part 6 : See iPhone Files PC via 3rd Party Tools
  • Part 7 : Final Words
  • Part 8 : FAQs

View and Access iPhone Files PC Online - AirDroid Web

AirDroid is a name very famous when it comes to mobile management tools, remote file sharing and accessing across devices, screen mirroring, or remotely controlling other devices. AirDroid Web is a solution developed by AirDroid that eliminates the need to install third-party software to access files on iPhone.

iOS has sandboxed the third-party apps on iOS devices. As a result, apps fail to access the files on the iPhone directly. Therefore, AirDroid Web is the perfect solution that lets you access iPhone files not only on Mac but Windows, Linux, or Chromebook. And above all, the connection is wireless, and you do not need to connect a USB cable to access files.

The main features of AirDroid Web are as follows:

  • Unlimited access to the files and folders on iPhone
  • You can download files from iPhone to PC
  • Transferring files is quick and seamless across devices
  • Wireless connection with high data security and privacy

Pros of AirDroid Web

Here are some of the reasons why you should use AirDroid Web to access iPhone files on a PC or web.

  • Eliminate the limitation of viewing and accessing DCIM only
  • Multi-platform support: access files on iPhone on your Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook
  • Wireless connection eliminates the need for a data cable
  • You don't have to rely on iTunes for data viewing and transfer
  • Web-based solution; no third-party app installation

But how to access all files on iPhone from a PC?

How To Access iPhone Files Using AirDroid Web?

We will explain to you how to access iPhone files on Mac, Windows, Linux, or Chromebook using AirDroid Web.

Step 1: Download AirDroid iOS from the App Store of your App Store.Step 2: Register for an AirDroid account or sign in to your AirDroid account on your iPhone if you already have signed up for the account.Step 3: Open AirDroid Web Client(http://web.airdroid.com/) from your PC(Windows, Linux, Chromebook, Mac) browser. Log in to the account using the same credentials as you used for AirDroid iOS.

Alternatively, you can go using AirDroid to access files on your iPhone without registering. You can use the Lite Mode or General Mode to connect devices via IP address.

Lite Mode: If your iPhone and PC are connected to the same WiFi network, open the AirDroid app on your iPhone and tap AirDroid Personal Web under My Devices. Look for the IP address in Option 2 and enter the IP address in the PC browser. Accept the connection request on your iPhone, and you're good to go.

Step 4: Once a connection is established, you can view, manage, and access iPhone files on a PC. Whether files, documents, photos, or videos, you can copy, delete and view them without iTunes or a data cable.

How to open a file on iphone

Browse iPhone Files with macOS Finder

If you're a Mac user and want to browser iPhone Files on your Mac PC, here is an answer to how to access iPhone files on Mac.

macOS Finder lets the macOS Catalina users access the files without need of iTunes as iTunes service is no longer available. The finder app is often the first thing you will see on your Mac device after setting up the device. Whether you want to look for apps or files, you can rely on it to locate the contents of your laptop, iCloud Drive, or any other connected storage device. Finder integrates the files between iPhone and Mac, and you can view, manage, and access iPhone files easily.

Here is how to access iPhone Files on Mac using Finder:

Step 1: The first thing is to connect your Mac and iPhone using the USB data cable.Step 2: Open the Finder Window on your Mac and select iPhone in the Locations section of the Finder.Step 3: You will be able to view different folders containing files on your iPhone. You can choose between TV shows, music, clips, books, videos, photos, files, etc. Select the tab according to what you want to view on your Mac.

How to open a file on iphone

Step 4: If you want to copy files on your iPhone to Mac, select the files and drag them to the destined folder on Mac. For file transferring and vice versa, select the files on Mac and drag them to the destined folder on your iPhone.

Pros

  • Easy access to files on iPhones from Mac
  • No need for internet or data connection
  • No need for iTunes with Finder
  • Copy, share, delete, or change files across the devices

Cons

  • Only available for the Mac users
  • A Data cable connection is required for transferring files

Check iPhone Files on PC with Windows File Explorer

Do you know you can check iPhone Files on a PC using Windows File Explorer? We hope you wouldn't know. Windows File Explorer is that part of our Windows PC that we open every other time when using the PC. Because every time we talk about connecting PC to iPhone, we are told that it will require iTunes to access iPhone files on PC; otherwise, a data cable connection will do nothing but charge your iPhone.

But actually, Windows File Explorer can be used to access the photos. For other files, you will have to rely on iTunes. So let's talk about how to access files on iPhone from a PC using Windows File Explorer.

Step 1: First things first, install iTunes on your Windows PC, connect it to your iPhone, and add the computer to the Trusted device by setting it to Trust Your Computer. If you have already been using iTunes and added your computer to a trusted device, this step is unnecessary.

To the actual process!

Step 2: Go to Windows File Explorer on your PC and tap on This PC as shown in the left computer pane.

How to open a file on iphone

Step 3: Look for Apple iPhone in the devices and click on it. Tap on Internal Storage>DCIM>100APPLE>Files

How to open a file on iphone

Step 4: You can click and drag any file or files appearing in the folder to your PC desktop or any other folder on your PC.

How to open a file on iphone

Pros

  • Access photos on iPhone from a PC without an internet connection
  • No need to access files through iTunes
  • Easy to transfer using a simple drag and drop function

Cons

  • Limited access to the files on iPhone
  • USB data cable required

Find iPhone Files on PC with iTunes

iTunes is the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about accessing iPhone files on a PC. Whether you want to access videos, movies, books, photos, audiobooks, tones, or photos, iTunes is a go-to solution for it. You can use iTunes for accessing iPhone files on Windows, Mac, or any other operating system.

How to do it?

How to open a file on iphone

Step 1: Install iTunes on your Windows or Mac PC and connect the iPhone to your computer.Step 2: Once iTunes start showing the iPhone in devices, you can click on it in the left sidebar and view the files.Step 3: You can open files and folders, change them, delete, or copy them to your PC with iTunes. It's also helpful if you want to create a backup of your iPhone on a Windows PC.

Pros

  • Authorized solution for accessing iPhone files by Apple Inc.
  • Change, edit, delete, copy, and backup files
  • Unlimited access to all types of files
  • Integrates well with iPhone regardless of the device
  • It's free to use

Cons

  • A Data cable connection is required

Get iPhone Files on PC using iCloud

iCloud Drive is also a solution for iPhone users if they want to access iPhone files on a PC. However, it is a bit different from iTunes regarding data that can be accessed using iCloud. If you want to access emails, contacts, photos, numbers, pages, notes, keynote, reminders, or calendars on your iPhone from a PC, iCloud is the best solution for it.

How to open a file on iphone

A few clicks on your phone will enable you to access the files of your iPhone on your PC.

Step 1: Enable iCloud on your iPhone by visiting Settings >Device Name>iCloud. Select the content that you want iCloud to store and toggle it ON.Step 2: Go to iCloud from your PC browser and sign in with your Apple ID & Password.Step 3: You can see the backed-up files of the iPhone on your iCloud. You can select which file or folder you want to access, and you're good to go.

If you want to know how to access iPhone files on Mac, you can simply do it by visiting the iCloud from your Mac PC settings. By enabling iCloud Drive on your iPhone, you can synchronize the data across all Apple devices(Mac, iPad, etc.).

Pros

  • Wireless access to files
  • No third-party installations
  • Unlimited access to the files on iPhones

Cons

  • Videos can't be accessed using iCloud
  • Internet is necessary for synchronization and data access.

See iPhone Files PC via 3rd Party Tools

Besides the solutions we have already mentioned, you can also rely on 3rd party tools for accessing iPhone files on a PC.

iPhone Transfer Tools

iPhone transfer tools let you transfer data across Apple devices, from Apple devices to PC or any other operating system.

Fone Personal is an iPhone transfer tool that allows data transfer across iPhones, from iPhone to PC or vice versa. You can also create backups of your files on your iPhone to save them on your PC.

AnyTrans is a must-have whether you want to transfer files from an old iPhone to a new one or backup your data on a PC. The app lets you manage your Apple devices(iPhone, iPad, iPod) or iCloud & iTunes content without hassle.

iPhone Backup Tools

iPhone Backup tools also let you access the valuable data stored on your iPhone. Whether you want to view and manage your photos, videos, or documents, some of the best iPhone backup tools can help you solve the problem.

iMazing is a tool that lets you backup your iPhone data to a PC or other devices according to your requirements. You can set backup frequencies weekly, daily, monthly, or manually.

iTransor is also a backup, restore, and exporting tool for iPhone. Using the backup tool, you can also backup or restore data from Whatsapp or WeChat.

Final Words

We have discussed the six best ways to access iPhone files on a PC irrespective of the operating system used on the PC. iCloud, iTunes, and Windows Explorer are used to access different format files of your iPhone. However, if you talk about an inclusive all-in-one solution, AirDroid Web lets you access all app files on iPhone from Mac, Windows, Chromebook, etc. Therefore, we recommend using AirDroid web instead of going after different solutions for varying needs.

FAQs

How to access app files on iPhone?

You can access app files on your iPhone using the AirDroid Web, as we have explained in the blog article. Besides, iCloud and iTunes also let you view app files on your iPhone.

What to do if iPhone does not showing in file explorer?

Make sure that you have turned on Trust Your Computer in the settings of iTunes on your PC. For doing this, connect your iPhone to your PC, open iTunes, and Turn on Trust Your Computer.

Why my pc can't see iPhone photos?

If you have followed the method of accessing photos using File Explorer correctly, photos are not shown because there might not be any photos in the folder. Besides, you might need to sync the photos in the case of iTunes or iCloud.

How do I access a file on my iPhone?

How to find your files in the Files app.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Files app. Don't see the blue Files app icon on your Home Screen? Just swipe down, then search for the Files app..
In the Files app, search or browse for the file that you want..

Why won't my files open on my iPhone?

To resolve the issue, you need to first check that the Files app has the required permissions to use cellular data. On the Settings screen, tap Cellular Data, scroll down, and then check that the switch next to Files is set to On. If you found it disabled, just turn it back on and you've fixed the problem already.

Where are files saved on iPhone?

How to find your files in the Files app. On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, open the Files app. Can't see the blue Files app icon on your Home Screen? Just swipe down, then search for the Files app.