How to transfer photos from SD card to iPhone – 4 Efficient ways
Take great photos with your camera and wish to transfer all beautiful photos to your iPhone? Discover these quick ways to import photos from your SD card to iPhone easily!
Jasmin Woods Updated on Mar 12, 2025 2:42 PM
Transferring photos from SD card to iPhone lets you access your precious pictures on the go.
Digital camera always captures excellent photos of life's best moments. To truly make the most of those memories — whether for easy viewing, quick sharing, or secure backup, you'll want to transfer photos from SD card to iPhone. With SD card pictures imported on iPhone, you can access and organize them in your Photos Library anytime, anywhere.
Luckily, the SD card to iPhone transfer is straightforward with right tools. Whether using a camera adapter or an SD card reader, you can get photos off SD card to iPhone directly. Alternatively, you may transfer SD card photos to iPhone by importing them to your computer first.
In this guide, we'll walk you through 4 easy ways and show you how to import photos from SD card to iPhone effortlessly. Let's dive in!
To transfer SD card to iPhone easily, iPhone Data Transfer enables you to view and transfer all or a selection of your photos and videos to iPhone's Photos app in iOS-compatible formats.
How to transfer photos from SD card to iPhone with adapter
Thanks to Apple's seamless ecosystem, you can import photos and videos from an external SD memory card to iPhone's Photos app directly by using a proper Apple camera adapter. To transfer photos from SD card to iPhone without computer, you may use one of these to get started:
- Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader
- Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter
- Lightning to USB Camera Adapter
- Apple USB-C to SD Reader
When you're ready, here's how to import photos from SD card to iPhone with Apple camera adapter, no need for a computer:
1. Connect SD card to iPhone.
- Connect the camera adapter or card reader with your iPhone.
- Insert the external SD memory card to the card reader.
2. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Once connected, the Photos app should open on your iPhone automatically.
- If it doesn't, open the Photos app and tap on Import.
3. Import photos from SD memory card to iPhone Photos.
- View SD card pictures and videos, and select the ones you wish to import.
- Tap Import > Import Selected to transfer your desired photos to iPhone.
- If you want to transfer all SD card photos to your iPhone, tap Import All.
4. Choose to keep or delete the original photos on your SD card.
- After the photos are imported, choose to keep or delete the media on SD card.
- Disconnect the adapter or card reader with your iPhone.
Once the SD card photos and videos are transferred to your iPhone, you can open the Photos app to edit or share them. Note that this method only supports SD card to iPhone photo transfer. You cannot export photos from your iPhone to SD card.
How to import photos from SD card to iPhone with computer
Transferring SD card photos to iPhone is easy if you have access to a computer. Using either a Windows PC or Mac, the all-in-one tool iPhone Data Transfer enables easy and quick photo transfer from SD card to iPhone without an adapter.
This versatile tool support various image formats. While importing photos from SD card, it can automatically detect the incompatible pictures and convert them into iOS-friendly formats, ensuring seamless viewing and sharing after the transfer. Whether you want to transfer all or just a selection of photos from SD card to iPhone, this tool makes the process easy and efficient.
Compatible with all iOS devices and versions, these simple steps will show you how to get photos from SD card to iPhone using a computer:
Step 1. Open iPhone Data Transfer on your computer. It works on both Windows PC and Mac.
Step 2. Connect both your SD card and iPhone with your computer.
- Link a card reader to the USB port on your computer and insert the SD memory card.
- Attach your iPhone using a suitable USB cable. If asked, unlock your passcode and allow for Trust on Trust This Computer prompt.
Step 3. Access iPhone Photos Library.
- Go to the Photos tab on the left side of the window. Here, you're able to access and manage your current Photos Library on your iPhone.
- If necessary, you may create a new album to move SD card photos to it.
Step 4. Transfer pictures and videos from SD card to iPhone Photos Library.
- To import pictures from SD card, click the Add + button at the top and choose Add File(s) or Add Folder from the drop-down menu.
- In the pop-up folder, navigate to the SD card album through This PC > Drives and Devices.
- Choose the pictures and videos you prefer to export from SD card to iPhone.
- Also, you may drag and drop desired photos from the SD card folder to this iPhone Photos Library screen directly.
This way, the photos on SD card will import to iPhone directly, allowing you to view, edit, and share them. It also works if you're looking to transfer photos from iPhone to external USB drive.
Additionally, this tool supports the transfer of various file types between iPhone and PC/Mac, including photos, videos, music, contacts, messages, and more.
How to transfer pictures from SD card to iPhone via iTunes
Designed for syncing media data between computer and iPhone, iTunes offers a practical way to move photos from an SD card to an iPhone. Although it doesn't support direct transfer of SD card photos to iPhone, you can use a workaround by importing the photos from the SD card to your computer first, and then syncing the photos with your iPhone via iTunes.
Note that iTunes only supports the one-way transfer, and the process will overwrite all current pictures and videos in your iPhone Photos Library. Here's how to get pictures off SD card to iPhone using iTunes on computer:
1. Connect a card reader with your computer and insert the SD memory card.
2. Launch the latest version of iTunes on your computer and link your iPhone with a USB cable. If prompted, enter your passcode and tap Trust on your iPhone screen.
TIP: On Windows PC and macOS 10.14 or earlier, use the iTunes. If you're using a newer Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder.
3. Click the device icon when it appears in the upper-left corner.
4. Select Photos option from the left menu.
5. Click Sync Photos checkbox and click the drop-down box next to Copy photos from.
7. From the expanded options, locate and select your SD card folder.
8. Choose the photos or picture folders you'd like to transfer, then hit Apply button.
It may take a short while to transfer your photos from PC to iPhone. When it's done, the SD card photos will replace all existing data on your iPhone Photos Library. To avoid unnecessary data loss, consider using the iPhone Data Transfer method for straightforward transfer.
How to transfer photos to iPhone from SD card using iCloud Photos
Another Apple-supported way to transfer pictures from SD card to iPhone is using iCloud Photos. Once the SD card photos are imported on your computer, you can upload them to your iCloud Photos storage. This will sync the SD card pictures across all devices associated with the same Apple ID, including your iPhone, making it easy to download the SD card photos locally.
iCloud Photos provides limited 5GB of free cloud storage. If your iCloud storage is full, other cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox are also available for SD card to iPhone transfer.
How to import SD card photos to iPhone with computer by iCloud:
1. Enable iCloud Photos on iPhone by going to Settings > your Apple ID > iCloud > Photos and turn on Sync This iPhone toggle.
2. Insert the SD card to a card reader and connect it with your PC or Mac. Make sure it can be recognized by your computer successfully.
3. Open a browser on computer and visit iCloud.com.
4. Sign in with same Apple ID and password that linked with your iPhone.
5. When you're in, navigate to Photos option.
6. On iCloud Photos screen, click the Upload icon at the top-right corner.
7. From the pop-up window, navigate to SD card folder and select the pictures and videos you wish to transfer to iPhone.
Wait for iCloud to upload and sync the SD card photos with your iPhone. You can then open the Photos app on your phone to access the newly added photos and videos.
Bonus: Why can't my photos import from SD card to iPhone?
You may encounter unsuccessful picture transfer from SD card to iPhone if there are compatibility and format issues with your memory card or images.
Apple Camera Adapter
When transferring photos to iPhone from a digital camera or SD card directly, ensure you're using an Apple-compatible camera adapter or SD card reader. If your iPhone doesn't detect the SD card, try disconnecting it, waiting a few seconds, and reconnecting it to see if it's recognized.
Supported SD card
Ensure your SD card is compatible with iOS device. These are Apple's supported SD card and image-transfer protocols:
- Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)
- Mass Storage Device protocol
- SDSC
- SDHC
- miniSD
- microSD
- MMC
- SDXC
Note that the flash or USB thumb drives aren't supported for photo importing.
Picture format
Apple supports importing a variety of photo formats from an external SD card to iPhone. Make sure your photos are saved in compatible formats that iOS can read (like JPEG, PNG, or HEIC), or, you won't be able to open or view the SD card photos on your iPhone.
In such cases, tools like iPhone Data Transfer can automatically convert incompatible formats into iOS-supported ones, ensuring seamless viewing and sharing.
Available storage
Additionally, before transferring photos, ensure there's enough storage space on your iPhone to accommodate the SD card pictures. If you're using iCloud to sync photos, make sure you have sufficient cloud storage and an active Wi-Fi connection for the process to work smoothly.
FAQs on photo transfer from SD card to iPhone
Q1 - How do I import photos from SD card to iPhone Photos without computer?
To get photos off SD card on iPhone without using a computer, the most convenient way is to use an adapter or SD card reader.
- Simply connect the adapter or card reader with your iPhone.
- Then insert the SD memory card correctly.
- Once recognized, the Photos app will open up automatically. If not, open the Photos manually.
- Tap Import and select the pictures and videos you want.
- Then tap Import All or Import Selected to get the SD card pictures on your iPhone.
Q2 - Why is my iPhone not recognizing my SD card?
Ensure the SD card is connected with your iPhone correctly using a compatible connector or adapter. If it's connected but not detected, you may disconnect it, wait shortly, and connect it again.
Q3 - Can I transfer my photos on SD card to iPhone without an adapter?
Yes, there are several methods enabling SD card to iPhone photo transfer without using an adapter. Simply get your photos on your computer, and then use one of the following:
- iTunes / Finder. The iTunes and Finder can sync SD card photos from computer to iPhone through a USB cable connection.
- Cloud services. Tools like iCloud Photos and Google Photos allow you to upload SD card pictures to the cloud and then download them to your iPhone for local access.
- iPhone Data Transfer. Transfer photos and videos between iPhone and PC/Mac seamlessly, and can convert SD card photos to be compatible with iOS.
- Email. Attach the memory card images and send them to your iPhone.
