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I've been having problems importing photos in photos legacy from my iphone photos legacy for months

Donna Lenard 0 Reputation points
2026-01-16T22:45:14.8966667+00:00

Photos Legacy App, windows 11, importing from iphone.

I was not at all happy with the changes in the Photos app. After months, the Photos Legacy App was introduced and I started using it. At some point, I started having problems with importing photos from my phone. It will sometimes work perfectly but more often stops trying to import and says "Something went wrong." Sometimes it imports some photos and then says it couldn't import all of them. I've had problems more than it has worked and can't get it to work at all lately.

In this time since the problems started, I've changed phones, changed computers, changed from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I've tried new cables and done all the trouble shooting I can find.

What I would really really like is for somebody to tell my what the problem is and how to fix it!!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-16T22:45:23.7433333+00:00

    It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with importing photos from your iPhone to the Photos Legacy app on Windows 11. Here are some potential troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the problem:

    1. Check for Updates: Ensure that both your Windows operating system and the Photos Legacy app are up to date. Sometimes, updates can resolve bugs that may be causing import issues.
    2. Use Different Cables/Ports: Since you've already tried new cables, also consider using different USB ports on your computer. Sometimes, certain ports may not provide a stable connection.
    3. Check iPhone Settings: Make sure that your iPhone is set to allow photo access. Go to Settings > Photos and check that the settings are correct for transferring photos.
    4. Restart Devices: Restart both your iPhone and your computer. This can often resolve temporary issues that may be affecting the import process.
    5. Try Importing in Smaller Batches: If you're trying to import a large number of photos at once, try importing them in smaller batches. This can sometimes help avoid errors during the import process.
    6. Use Windows Photos App: If the Photos Legacy app continues to give you trouble, consider using the built-in Photos app to see if it handles the import better.
    7. Check for Error Messages: Pay attention to any specific error messages that appear when the import fails. These can provide clues about what might be going wrong.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or community forums where others may have experienced similar issues.

    References:

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  2. Hendrix-V 14,680 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-17T07:14:07.66+00:00

    Hi Donna Lenard,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    Thank you for sharing the details about your experience. It sounds frustrating to have photo imports work inconsistently, especially after trying multiple solutions and upgrading devices and operating systems.

    The error “Something went wrong” or partial imports can be caused by:

    • File format compatibility: iPhones save photos in HEIC by default, which requires specific codecs on Windows.
    • Cloud-only files: If photos are optimized for iCloud and not stored locally, imports can fail.
    • Large batches: Importing thousands of photos at once can trigger errors.

    Here are some checking steps that you can try in this situation:

    • Update everything: Ensure Windows 11, Photos Legacy, and iOS are fully updated.
    • Install codecs: From the Microsoft Store, add HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions for HEIC/MOV support.
    • Adjust iPhone settings: Go to Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC and select Keep Originals.

    Please check with smaller batches, try 50–100 photos at a time to avoid corruption issues.

    Some alternative workarounds that you can consider:

    • Switch to the New Photos App in Windows 11 for better integration and ongoing support compared to Photos Legacy.
    • Use iPhone transfer utilities to provide more control and stability for large imports.

    Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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