How To Access iPhone Files From A PC Or Mac

Even though Microsoft and Apple have been coexisting for decades, it is still not easy to view and access iPhone files on a PC via a USB cord even though they have been coexisting for decades. We can only transfer iPhone photos and videos via Windows Explorer in a limited manner, unlike the drag-and-drop feature for Android phones. I am certain that you are unaware that there are multiple ways in which you can access iPhone files on a Mac, with or without iTunes, that you are not aware of.

It is required that you have iTunes or iCloud installed on your PC or Mac before you can view and access iPhone files, which is a recommendation from Apple. However, what should you do if the files you are looking for are included in an old backup you have on your computer? Would you like to transfer files from your iPhone to your PC? The following tutorial will show you a professional program, which can be used to enable you to view iPhone files from a backup that you have created on your computer of your iPhone, in addition to iTunes and iCloud.

• Method 1. View iPhone files on PC/Mac using iTunes
• Method 2. Using iPhone or iTunes backup to access and transfer files
• Method 3. Using PC/Mac without iTunes to access iPhone files
• Method 4. Jailbreak, you can access iPhone root files

Method 1. View iPhone files on PC/Mac using iTunes

In order to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your computer, you will need to use iTunes. From your PC or Mac, you’ll be able to access your music, movies, books, voice memos, audiobooks, and much more that you have on your iPhone. However, you cannot manage the files.

By using iTunes

It is possible to see your iPhone files on a Mac or Windows PC running macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a computer running Windows.

• First, you need to open iTunes on your computer, then you will need to connect your iPhone to the computer with the help of a USB cable.
• After your device is detected, you can find it under the “Device” section in the left sidebar of the application. You can expand the menu by clicking on it.
• This is the third step of the process, in which you select the type of file you want and view the related files.

Note:

1. Therefore, unless you transfer some files to your computer, you will not be able to view some files, such as photos, messages, contacts, call logs, etc., directly on your iPhone.
2. Having problems opening iTunes on your computer or PC can be a real pain, so if that is the case, please read our previous article from this series: 7 Ways to Fix iTunes Won’t Open on a PC or Mac.

By using Finder

MacOS Catalina has replaced iTunes with three separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV, which are all available in the Mac App Store. There has also been a change in the program that helps manage your device, which is now called Finder. In this way, you can browse iPhone files on your Mac using the Finder application.

Using the Finder on a Mac, you can access iPhone files:

• Start by opening the Finder on your Mac and connecting your iPhone to the computer with the help of the computer’s USB cable.
• From the left sidebar of the Finder window, select your iPhone.
• The third step is for you to select the tab of the file type you want to browse corresponding iPhone files for.

Keep in mind: There is also the feature of Finder that allows you to transfer files from one computer to another Mac. To do this, select the files you wish to transfer and drag them to a folder on your computer where you wish to save them.

Method 2. Using iPhone or iTunes backup to access and transfer files

Even if you have accidentally deleted the files you want to access from your iPhone, don’t worry, you can still access them from an old iPhone backup if the files were deleted accidentally from your iPhone. In spite of that, it is tricky to access the data from the iPhone backup because the files have been compressed into an encrypted format, which makes it harder to access them. Data from a backup can only be accessed by restoring it to a device that has been backed up by Apple. If Apple’s approach doesn’t appeal to you, you will have to find a dedicated tool to get the job done if you don’t like Apple’s approach. There is no doubt that Free iPhone Data Recovery is a great choice for you.

With the help of the software, you will be able to extract iTunes backups easily. Your PC or Mac can be used to view and access files from an iPhone backup that you have made on your computer. Among the files that can be accessed are photos, movies, messages, contacts, notes, and voice memos, among others. As well as allowing you to selectively extract files from a backup, it also allows you to convert them into readable formats such as TXT, PDF, CSV, HTML, etc., with the help of this software. When compared to iTunes, Free iPhone Data Recovery has a more intuitive interface, which makes it easier to use. It is possible for you to download this program for free and try it out for yourself.

To access iPhone files from an iTunes backup on PC/Mac, follow these steps:

• In the first step, you need to install and open Free iPhone Data Recovery on your computer. Click “Next” after you have checked the box for the file type that you wish to use, and then click “Save”.
• Continue by clicking “View iTunes Backup”. Disconnect your iPhone from the computer if it is connected to it at the moment.
• As a next step, you will be presented with a list of iTunes backup files that you can select the one you need to access, then “Next” to start the scanning process. It is possible for you to import your backups manually if you do not see a list of your backups when you click “Import”.
• It is a good idea to preview the scan results after the scan is complete in order to find the files you are looking for. Click on “Recover” in order to export them to your computer, and then click on “Save”.

Additionally, you are also able to transfer files directly from your iPhone to your computer using this program. When the program has been launched, keep your iPhone connected to the computer after it has been launched, and follow the prompts to continue with the process.

Method 3. Using PC/Mac without iTunes to access iPhone files

You can also use iCloud to access your contacts, photos, calendars, notes, documents, and more from your iPhone from any PC or Mac computer if iTunes does not work for you. You can access contacts, photos, calendars, notes, documents, and more through iCloud. Here are the steps that need to be followed:

• The first thing you need to do is to open the iCloud app on your iPhone, then go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, and then turn on the files that you want to access on your computer.
• As a next step, go to iCloud.com on your computer’s web browser and log in to your iCloud account by visiting iCloud.com.
• You will then be able to view the iPhone files you wish to view by clicking on the appropriate file type icon.

Method 4. Jailbreak, you can access iPhone root files

This is due to the fact that the iPhone’s file system uses a security feature called sandbox, which is the main reason why users cannot access iPhone files directly on PCs or Macs. With a jailbroken iPhone, however, your files are no longer protected by the sandbox, so you can access them from your computer with the USB cable, just like you would with an Android phone. Despite the fact that it seems to be convenient, we would not recommend this method too highly.

When you jailbreak an iPhone, you are removing Apple’s restrictions on the device, allowing you to take control of the system at the level of a superuser and give you full access to the device. You will be able to view and access the root file system, as well as be able to install applications that aren’t available through the App Store. When you jailbreak your iPhone, however, you are bypassing the built-in security features that are designed to protect your phone from malware and viruses, thus increasing the risk that your phone will be attacked by hackers in the future. Please keep in mind that this process is in violation of the iOS end-user license agreement, which means that your iPhone will be taken out of warranty before its time. It is very important that you think twice before you decide to jailbreak your iPhone.

In a nutshell

Our goal in this tutorial was to teach you how to view and access iPhone files on PC and Mac, including how to restore data from the iPhone’s iTunes or iCloud backup on the PC or Mac. Whenever you are in a difficult situation, these methods could be of great help to you. In case you find this article useful, please bookmark it and share it with your friends.