The short version
You have two easy routes: plug the phone in with a cable and import, or let the cloud do it (iCloud Photos or Google Photos) and download on the computer. Either way, then copy the folder to an external drive so you have a second copy.
Route 1: cable
- iPhone → Mac: plug in, unlock the iPhone, tap Trust, open the Photos app, choose your iPhone in the sidebar and click Import.
- iPhone → Windows: plug in, unlock and tap Trust/Allow, open the Photos app on Windows and choose Import (Apple Devices app may be needed).
- Android → Windows: plug in, choose File transfer on the phone’s USB notification, then open the phone in File Explorer and copy the DCIM folder.
- Android → Mac: use Android’s cloud route below, or a USB transfer app recommended by the phone maker.
Think of it like this: the cable route is like carrying the photo albums across the room yourself; the cloud route is like posting them and collecting from the mailbox.
Route 2: cloud
- iCloud Photos: on a Mac they appear in Photos automatically. On Windows, install iCloud for Windows, or visit icloud.com/photos and download.
- Google Photos: visit photos.google.com on any computer, select photos and download, or use Google Takeout to download everything.
Keep it tidy and safe
- Make one main Photos folder with a sub-folder per year.
- Copy it to an external drive every few months, and unplug the drive afterwards.
- Importing doesn’t delete from the phone unless you choose that. Check the copy before deleting anything.
Quick tips
- Use the original cable if the computer doesn’t see the phone; some cheap cables only charge.
- Unlock the phone before plugging in.
- Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two kinds of storage, one away from home.
Sources
- Apple: Transfer photos and videos from iPhone to Mac or PC
- Microsoft: Import photos and videos from a phone to a PC
- Google Takeout
Test yourself: play Tech Term Match, a quick free game.