Many iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Windows users are reporting that they have been receiving an error message saying “A device attached to the system is not functioning” (see the image below).
This error message occurs because your computer is not properly communicating with your iOS device. This could be because of many reasons, for example:
- Your iPhone or iPad is not connected to your computer properly
- Your computer’s USB port may not be working
- Your USB cable may not be working
You may see this error when you attempt to copy and transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Windows PC. This short article explains what you can do to fix this problem.
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- Reconnect your iPhone to iPad to your computer. Try a different USB port. Try a different USB cable.
- Restart your computer and your iOS device. You can turn off your iOS device by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Then you can restart. Restart your PC also.
- On your iOS device, go to Settings > Photos and scroll down, find the “transfer to Mac or pc” section. And select “Keep Originals”.
- On your computer, switch between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.
- Update iTunes to the latest version on your PC. There are two ways to do this depending on your initial installation. If you downloaded iTunes from Apple’s web site, in iTunes, choose Help > Check for Updates. If you downloaded iTunes from Microsoft Store, on your computer, go to Start > Microsoft Store > More… > Download and Updates.
See also: How To Transfer Photos & Videos From iPhone & iPad To Computer (Mac or Windows)
I have been getting aggravated for a while because every time I would try to transfer to my PC or any PC for that matter it would error out in just a few seconds. After setting things to where you suggested, it is working perfectly! Thank You!
Clicking on “keep originals” allowed me to transfer the videos to my pc that I couldn’t earlier.
Thank You.
Keep original changes the format of some files to heic and if i select automatic data wont copy
for pc or loptop.Remove the battery on the lip and then unplug all USB sockets and then turn off the lip. Restart the system. Arak Times new movie channel animation..search in persian languge in google this:اراک تایمز آپارات
I have an iphone xR and the latest OS. The keep originals box has always been checked. Now I can transfer maybe 10 to 20 pictures at a time, at best. It seems to go in streaks. I was able to capture a 1000 at a time, now it’s a struggle to get a couple.
Thanks for providing this solution – it works! I had tried severally before reading your post. Thanks a lot.
Works like a charm. Thank you very much!
My iPhone has 11K images on it, but when i go to import into my pc, only a few hundred are showing up in the DCIM folder. Thoughts on why this may be?
“keep originals” worked for me
I was getting pretty frustrated luckily I found this. Thanks!
Still working on March 2020. Thank you for this
Hallelujah! No rebooting of anything required. Just clicking on “Keep Originals” did the trick for me. THANK YOU.
“Keep Originals” is the key. Works great. Thanks.
Thank you!!! Trying to transfer some videos for my students and was getting so frustrated! Just changing to “Keep originals” worked like a charm!
THANK YOU! 3 nights of trying and getting annoyed with this and as others have said ‘keep originals’ was the key. Very relieved to have found this. Thanks again!
Thanks for helping.
But keep original affect the size/compatibility of the video.
Is there a way to use automatic and thrableshoot this issue?
thanks a lot, by changing the “keep originals” it works perfect. I wonder how it went wrong….probably an IOS upgrade changed the setting 🙁
Thank you so much. Had problem when I want to transfer the photos to my lap top to free some space on iPhon.
No 3 works for me:
On your iOS device, go to Settings > Photos and scroll down, find the “transfer to Mac or pc” section. And select “Keep Originals”.
Perfect!
Option 3. Now the transfers complete successfully. Thanks
Selecting Keep Originals only transfers the audio portion of my video clips. I’m beyond frustrated.
I had the same experience with this as well.
Yep… while using Keep Originals allows the transfer to PC “work” it does not convert videos correctly and they only have audio regardless of what app I use to play them, including iTunes. Windows prompts me to download the HVEC Video Extensions to play the video. Anyone have experience with this working? Or another way to play and/or the original videos?
I agree with you Brad. Checking “Keep Originals” caused me a whole lot of new headaches. The rest of the people in this forum must be transferring to Apple devices. I’m trying to transfer to a PC and it does not work. It used to work, but not any longer.
I had the same problem. Only audio uploaded. I downloaded the 99 cent extension and now it seems to be working. Annoying though.
I seriously feel this is Apple’s way of making compatibility with PC’s very difficult. Everything worked well before, and all of a suddent after the iOS 10 update, the errors started. They either want us to buy a Mac or other accessories to make this work effortlessly.
The only time I don’t have this problem is when I open .MOV files with Power Media Player 14. Hope that helps you all, too.
Thank you very much. It really works. Now I can transfer my photos to my computer:)
I have another problem that my iPhone not show up in my iTunes. My iPhone is 11 pro max, and iTunes version is 12.10.5.12. Could you please advise how to solve the problem? Thank you 🙏
Before finding this post I was on the the verge of abandoning all hope and just going full hulk from frustration, throwing both iPhone and laptop from my apartment window on the 8th floor.
So thank you for saving me from all of that.
By going onto my iOS device and selecting “Keep Originals” under the settings seemed to fix the issue I have been having. Must have been changed when there was a software update or something because I did not have this problem previously when backing up my device.
Anyways, just thought I would show my appreciation.
Thank you again 🙂
Omg you are a lifesaver!!! Months of frustration and phone memory being full….. keep originals was the trick! Thankyou