I can no longer download photos from my dumb phone into Windows11

Question

I can no longer download photos from my dumb phone into Windows11

Charlotte 115

Explorer, File Explorer, and This PC don't recognize my phone connected to my USB port as a separate drive so I can't use these programs to download photos. My version of Photos is also missing the Photos Legacy app, so I can't use that either. Also, since my dumb phone has no internet service -- only talk and text -- I can't use the i-cloud to transfer photos either.

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Answer 1

GsN5034 - IA 77,990 Independent Advisor

Hello,

Are you using an iOS device, such as an iPhone or iPad, that is connected to your Windows computer?

Whether you are using an Android phone or an iPhone, you should see a notification when you connect it to your computer asking for permission to access the photos and videos on your mobile device, similar to the notification shown in the screenshot below.

(You will need to unlock the device and tap 'Allow' to grant permissions. )

User's image

If you no longer see any permissions,

Try different USB ports to see if your device's internal storage is visible. (OR)
Use another USB cable and see if that works.

Charlotte 115 Reputation points

2026-09-25T18:25:27.6966667+00:00

I have a dumb phone, not an iOS nor an Android. It appears that Photos is trying to ask my dumb phone for permission to access the photos I took with it. I have never had to do this, and of course nothing shows up on my phone screen when Photos does this. Yes, I also tried using the proper cord, since I inadvertently used the cord to recharge my electric toothbrush, and that didn't work either.
Charlotte 115 Reputation points

2026-09-25T19:34:30.4966667+00:00

It turns out the problem was my USB dock. Once I connected my phone directly to the USB hub, I was able to upload my phone.

Answer 2

Use a direct USB import path and check the phone’s USB mode first.

Unlock the phone before connecting it.
Reconnect it with a different USB cable if possible. Some USB cables charge only and do not transfer files.
Connect it directly to another USB port on the PC and avoid USB hubs or docks during testing.
If the phone shows a USB notification, change it from Charging over USB to Transfer Files or Transfer Photos.
In Windows 11, try importing through the current Photos app:
- Open Photos
- Select Import
- Select From a connected device
- Follow the prompts to choose items and save location

If the phone still does not appear:

Open Device Manager:
- Right-click Start
- Check Portable Devices or Universal Serial Bus controllers
- If the phone shows a warning icon, uninstall that device entry, then disconnect and reconnect the phone
In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile Devices > Manage devices, make sure Show mobile device in File Explorer is enabled if the device has already been linked.
If Windows shows USB-related notifications, open USB settings and review the connection warning. A USB-C hardware or compatibility issue can prevent device detection.

About Photos Legacy: if the current Photos app is installed, Windows 11 can open Photos Legacy from Photos > Settings > Open Photos Legacy. If that option is not present, the current Photos app can still import from a connected device.

For iPhone-specific methods such as iCloud, they are not required for USB import. The key requirement is that the photos must be stored on the phone itself, not only in the cloud.