How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Flash Drive in 4 Ways

Why need to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive?

A variety of storage devices have emerged to help people store files. One of the most popular ways is to transfer files from iPhone to USB flash drive. Here are a few common reasons.

♦ Free up iPhone space. As the number of files stored on your iPhone increases, your iPhone will run out of storage space. The flash drive has more storage capacity, which is conducive to freeing up iPhone space.
♦ Easy to carry and use. Unlike other storage devices, USB sticks can be carried around with you, and you can use the files you want anytime and anywhere.
♦ Protect data. When unexpected things happen, for example your iPhone is accidentally damaged or lost, backing up iPhone to flash drive in advance can prevent data loss.

If you intend to transfer files from your iPhone to a USB flash drive, you've come to the right place. In this article, we will provide 4 effective methods on how to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive.

4 Method to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive

In this section, we will show you how to transfer data from iPhone to USB drive. If you want to transfer iPhone music, videos, photos to a USB flash drive more securely and quickly, method 1 is the smartest choice. we also provide three other helpful methods. Read on for more details.

Method 1. The easiest way to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive

FoneTool is a powerful free iOS data transfer software developed by a professional team with more than 10 years of experience in the data security industry. You can easily transfer iPhone photos, music, videos, messages, contacts to USB flash drive without data loss. It has some highlights as follows.

Fast transfer speed. It transfers data from iPhone to a USB flash drive at an amazing speed and shows that 10 GB of photos can be moved in 10 minutes.

Selectively transfer. It allows you to preview and select the files to transfer if you don't want to transfer all iPhone data.

Multiple features. Besides transferring to flash drive, it can also backup iPhone, delete duplicate iPhone photos, erase iPhone and convert HEIC photos to JPG/JPEG/PNG, etc.

Widely compatible. It perfectly works with all iOS versions and devices, like iPhone iPad, iPod Touch.

Download and install FoneTool on your PC, then follow the instructions below to securely one-click transfer files from your iPhone to the USB flash drive.

Step 1. Open FoneTool > Plug in your flash drive > Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable.

Step 2. Click Phone Transfer. Select iPhone to PC and click Start Transfer.

Step 3. Click the + icon > Choose the files you want to transfer to the flash drive > Click OK.

Step 4. Choose your USB flash drive as the storage destination and click Start Transfer. 

Method 2. Transfer files from iPhone to flash drive via Files app

Is it possible to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive without computer if you don't want to use your PC? The answer is yes. As long as your iPhone is running iOS13 or later, you can transfer Files to a USB flash drive through the iPhone's built-in Files app. Next, take transferring photos from iPhone to USB flash drive as an example to explain the specific steps.

Note✍: You need to prepare a suitable USB adapter, which can directly connect your iPhone and USB flash drive.

Step 1. Insert the USB adapter that has connected the USB flash drive to your iPhone. Tap Trust on your iPhone.

Step 2. Go to Photos app > Choose the photos you want to transfer > Click the Share button > Tap the Save to Files option.

Step 3. Tap your flash drive > Choose a folder to save your photos > Tap Save.

Method 3. Transfer files from iPhone to flash drive with iTunes

As an official file management tool provided by Apple, iTunes allows users to transfer files from iOS devices to USB drives. However, iTunes can only transfer purchased items from iPhone to a USB flash drive. The following steps will guide you on how to transfer data from iPhone to flash drive.

Step1. Connect your flash drive to the computer, and then download the latest version of iTunes on your PC.

Step 2. Run iTunes, click Edit > Preferences > Devices on the main interface, and select Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically to tap the OK button.

Step 3. Connect your iPhone to the computer and iTunes will automatically detect it. Go to File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from iPhone.

Step 4. Select your USB flash drive as the output directory in the pop-up window, and all purchased items will be transferred from your iPhone to the flash drive.

To be honest, using iTunes to transfer iPhone data is not recommended here. It can't preview and select the file you want to transfer, only supports full transfer. And if the file is too large, the transfer speed is very slow. In addition, if you want to transfer data to the iPhone, iTunes will erase the existing data on the iPhone before importing new data.

Method 4. Transfer files from iPhone to flash drive using iCloud

If you have enough iCloud space, you can sync iPhone photos, contacts, emails, and other important files to iCloud, and then download files from iCloud on your PC to flash drive. However, it only comes with 5GB of free space, and you'll need to pay for more iCloud storage. Let's check the detailed steps on how to transfer files from iPhone to USB flash drive.

Step 1. Log in to your iCloud account on your iPhone, and Check if iPhone files have been synced to iCloud.

Step 2. Connect the flash drive to your computer. Go to www.icloud.com in a web browser, and log in to your iCloud with the same Apple ID.

Step 3. Here takes the photo transfer as an example. Choose the photos you want and click Download to directly save photos to the flash drive.

To sum up

Now, you should already know how to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive. You can choose the most suitable method according to your needs and situation. In contrast, FoneTool must be the best choice for most users. It assists you to transfer files to a flash drive more quickly and securely without erasing the original data on the device. 

At the same time, with the help of this tool, the whole transfer process is not limited by any other reasons such as insufficient storage space, inconsistent iOS version, slow transfer speed, and so on.