{"id":40862,"date":"2022-06-14T13:46:40","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T13:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=40862"},"modified":"2026-06-24T11:03:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T11:03:06","slug":"import-photo-iphone-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2022\/06\/import-photo-iphone-ubuntu\/","title":{"rendered":"Import Photos from iPhone to Ubuntu 26.04 | 24.04 | 22.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This tutorial shows how to access and import your photos and videos from iPhone \/ iPad to Ubuntu 26.04, Ubuntu 24.04, or Ubuntu 22.04 computer.<\/p>\n

Ubuntu seems now have out-of-the-box support for accessing iOS photos. User can easily browse, copy, and move photo images and videos in connected iOS device using either the built-in file manager or a photo manager app (e.g., gThumb). And, here’s how to do the trick in Ubuntu step by step.<\/p>\n

This tutorial is tested and works in my iPhone with iOS 16.1.1, and iPad with 14.4.2, along with Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, and Ubuntu 26.04 with default GNOME Desktop. Thanks to @Trozpent, there’s a few tips in the comment below that may also help!<\/b>
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Option 1: Access iOS photos using USB cable<\/h3>\n

If you have an old USB-A cable, or your Ubuntu computer has a USB-C port, then connect your iPhone or iPad to computer with the cable. Then, tap “Trust this Computer<\/strong>” in iOS device and input your password to authenticate.<\/p>\n

Using File Manager<\/h4>\n

In Ubuntu computer, open “Files” (aka Nautilus file manager), you’ll then see a new “Document…<\/b>” option in the left panel. In my case, there’s also a “iPhone<\/b>” option, and by clicking on it allows to browse folders in the device.<\/p>\n

Thanks to @Trozpent,<\/b> if you only see the “Document…<\/b>” option in file manager’s left side menu. Then, click on it and press Ctrl+L<\/b> to enter the location bar. Next, just delete the last 3 characters “:3\/<\/b>” in the end, and hit Enter will open your iOS folders.<\/p>\n

There, click open DCIM<\/b> folder, then you can browse, copy and paste all your photos and videos in the iOS device from the sub-folders.<\/p>\n

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Use gThumb to import photos on plug-in:<\/h4>\n

If you want to import all or selected photos from iOS to your computer, then use a photo manager app can be a better choice. And, here I would recommend gThumb.<\/p>\n

1. Install and setup gThumb<\/h4>\n

gThumb is a free open-source image viewer and organizer for GNOME desktop. It has a built-in importer tool for transferring photos from cameras, which works great in my case for my iPhone.<\/p>\n

1.) First, press Ctrl+Alt+T<\/code> to open up a terminal window. When it opens, run the command below to install gThumb and the gdk-pixbuf<\/code> plugin for heif image support:<\/p>\n

sudo apt install gthumb heif-gdk-pixbuf<\/pre>\n
For those hate Linux commands, the image viewer can be also installed via Ubuntu Software or App Center.<\/p>\n
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2.) Next, you need to set gThumb as the default app for handling photos from removable media.<\/p>\n
To do so, first open “Settings” from the top-right corner system tray menu.<\/p>\n
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When the Settings utility opens, navigate to “Apps<\/b>” from left pane. Then, go to “Default Apps<\/b>“, enable “Automatically Launch apps<\/b>” toggle option under Removable Media<\/i> session.<\/p>\n
Finally, select “Import with gThumb<\/b>” for photos in the drop-down box. For Ubuntu 22.04<\/strong>, go to “Removable Media” instead in left and select gThumb in right for Photos.
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2. Connect iPhone via USB and start importing photos<\/h4>\n
Now, plug your iPhone into Ubuntu PC\/laptop via USB port. Then, select “Trust this computer<\/b>” in your iPhone and type password to confirm.<\/p>\n
An import dialog should pop-up automatically in your Ubuntu desktop:<\/p>\n