The short answer
- On the iPhone, set Transfer to Mac or PC to Keep Originals.
- Keep the iPhone unlocked and plugged in while it copies.
- Copy one DCIM folder at a time instead of everything at once.
- Use a data cable plugged straight into the PC.
You’re copying photos from your iPhone in File Explorer or the Windows Photos app, and partway through Windows stops with “A device attached to the system is not functioning”, sometimes shown with the error code 0x8007001F. Your phone and your photos are fine. In almost every case, the iPhone simply couldn’t hand a file over quickly enough.
Why it happens
iPhones save photos as HEIC and videos as HEVC to save space. With the default Transfer to Mac or PC setting, Automatic, the phone converts each file into a more compatible format while Windows is copying it. Converting takes time, especially for long videos, and when one file takes too long, Windows gives up on the connection and shows this error. A phone that locks itself mid-copy, or a cable that drops out for a moment, causes the same message.
1. Switch to Keep Originals
On the iPhone, open Settings → Apps → Photos (on older iOS: Settings → Photos), scroll to Transfer to Mac or PC, and choose Keep Originals. The phone now sends each file exactly as it was saved, with nothing to convert on the way, so large imports stop timing out. Unplug the phone and plug it back in before you try again.
You’ll now get HEIC photos and HEVC videos on your PC. If Windows won’t open them, see HEIC photos won’t open on Windows.
2. Keep the iPhone unlocked
A locked iPhone stops sharing its files, which cuts the copy off halfway. For a big import, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock and choose Never, keep the phone plugged in, and set Auto-Lock back when you’re done.
3. Copy in smaller batches
In File Explorer, open Apple iPhone → Internal Storage → DCIM. Your library is split into folders with names like 100APPLE or 202410__. Copy one folder at a time instead of selecting everything. If a folder fails partway, copy it again and choose Skip these files when Windows asks about files that already exist, so finished photos aren’t copied twice.
If it always stops on the same file, copy the rest of the folder first, then try that one file on its own.
4. Check the cable and the port
Use the cable that came with the phone, or another one you know carries data, plugged into a port on the computer itself rather than a hub, keyboard or monitor. Make sure Apple Devices (or iTunes) is installed and up to date from the Microsoft Store, then restart the PC and the phone.
Questions people ask
Does Keep Originals lower the quality?
No. Keep Originals sends the files exactly as the camera saved them. Automatic is the setting that converts them on the way.
Is something wrong with my iPhone?
Almost certainly not. The message means Windows lost the connection while waiting for a file, usually because the phone was converting it or had locked.
What does error 0x8007001F mean?
It’s the Windows error code that often appears with this message. The causes and fixes are the same.
Will copying delete photos from my iPhone?
No. Copying to your PC leaves the photos on your phone unless you delete them yourself.