Untouched
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How to copy original photos and videos off your iPhone without losing quality

Updated September 30, 2026

Short answer

Use a method that moves the file instead of re-encoding it: Export Unmodified Original to a drive, AirDrop to a Mac with All Photos Data turned on, or import over USB with Photos or Image Capture on a Mac. If Optimize iPhone Storage is on, each original downloads from iCloud first. Avoid messaging apps, email and the “Most Compatible” share option, which can compress or convert.

Methods that keep the original

Export Unmodified Original (to a drive, a card, or Files)

  1. Connect the drive or card reader to your iPhone.
  2. In Photos, select the photos and videos.
  3. Tap Share, then Export Unmodified Original.
  4. Under Locations, pick the drive (or a folder in On My iPhone) and tap Save.

For edited items, the unmodified original is exported. Items in a locked Hidden album aren’t transferred until you turn off the lock in Settings › Apps › Photos.

AirDrop to a Mac, with All Photos Data

  1. Select the items and tap Share.
  2. Tap Options at the top and turn on All Photos Data.
  3. AirDrop to your Mac.

Apple describes All Photos Data as sharing “the original file with edit history and metadata.” It’s available with AirDrop only. In the same Options menu, Current prevents a format conversion; Most Compatible may convert to JPEG or MOV.

USB import on a Mac

Connect your iPhone, open Photos on the Mac and use the Import screen, or use Image Capture to import straight into a folder. On Windows, Apple’s instructions use the Apple Devices app and the Windows Photos app. With iCloud Photos on, Apple says to download the original, full-resolution versions to your iPhone first.

From iCloud.com

For a few items, select them on iCloud.com and download. Apple notes this gives you the most recent version, so edited items come down edited.

Methods that can lose quality

  • Messaging apps and email. Many compress photos and videos to make them smaller to send.
  • “Most Compatible” when sharing. Apple says files may convert to JPEG or MOV.
  • Shared Albums. Apple notes that items copied from a Shared Album may not save at full resolution.
  • Screenshots or screen recordings of a photo or video. They capture what’s on screen, which may be the space-saving version.

If you keep originals in Untouched

Untouched stores each item as an ordinary folder in Files › On My iPhone › Untouched, so the originals are already files:

  • On a Mac: connect the iPhone, select it in the Finder sidebar, open the Files tab, and drag the Untouched folder out.
  • To a drive: in the Files app, move or copy the folders to the drive.
  • One item: open it in Untouched and tap Export original… to share its folder, for example with AirDrop.

Because every file has a SHA-256 checksum recorded when it went in, you can tap Verify integrity afterwards to confirm the copies on the iPhone are still intact.

Sources

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