DCIM Folder not showing nut Pictures Intact

Question

Level 1

9 points

DCIM Folder not showing nut Pictures Intact

I'm using Windows 11, fully patched, up to date with 25H2, and an iPhone 14 Pro fully patched, iOS 26.1.

Was copying pictures from my phone to computer, photos set to keep originals on phone, when I received a Catastrophic Error during the copy. At that point Windows would not recognize the phone.

I unplugged phone and power cycled. Restarted Windows. Connected phone and file explorer started. I clicked on iPhone in explorer and then the Internal storage folder. At this point I usually see the DICM folder but it is gone.

Now all the individual folders containing the pictures show like 202510_a.

I took a picture and it uploaded to iCloud. I can delete pictures.

So I'm now trying to determine what should I do. I understand I can't recreate DCIM folder on iPhone as it is a system folder although I never actually tried doing so in Windows. To get iOS to reinstall I think I would have to reset phone but I'm not sure that reloads OS or just scratches personal data. Maybe I have to go as far as Recovery mode.

Of course there is the do nothing option, everything seems to be running as it should.

I created backup with iTunes to my computer after testing camera and iCloud photos. Saved previous backup before making new backup, the older backup was on on 18.7.1

Looking for comments on best course of action or better yet a simple fix.

Thank you.

P.S. I installed iClouds for Windows and download photos.

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Nov 9, 2025 6:35 AM

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Answer 1

Kens Ipod Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 9, 2025 11:26 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Thanks for the response. I tested on a Windows 10 computer (Pro) and no DCIM folder there either.

So to answer your questions. Yes my iPhone is set to convert pictures, exact wording for setting - Transfer to Mac or PC, set to Automatic, which automatically transfers photos in a compatible format.

My windows 11 is Pro but I don't recall downloading any codecs for HEIC. Under Photos - Setting there is an option to get an extension for HEVC.

What you say about HEIC formats makes perfect sense. The copy process use to be flawless and so many years it just became a mess. It stops mid folder, files can't be opened on Windows. Thank you for this clue.

I'm going to change setting although not sure what will happen when I send a picture in a text to and Android user. We shall see.

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Answer 2

Nov 9, 2025 9:33 PM in response to Kens Ipod

Does the iPhone still ask permission to use its photos (otherwise Windows File Explorer might display and empty iPhone Internal Storage)? If not, try to reset iPhone settings (at the bottom of General settings -- just reset settings, NOT the whole phone to factory defaults).

I'd either disable that iPhone automatic (.heic to .jpg) conversion (and use some other app to convert .heic to .jpg if necessary), or set iPhone Camera to take .jpg in the first place. That automatic setting might otherwise produce unexpected errors and results such as HEIF disguised with .jpg extension which some apps might not like and which might be an obscure error anyway.

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Answer 3

Nov 9, 2025 7:37 AM in response to Kens Ipod

What a coincidence is that just today I saw that "Catastrophic Error" when testing my Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Pro with VMware Fusion virtual machines.

FWIW I believe that Catastrophic Error is due to the fact I had iPhone Settings > Photos to "Automatically" convert .heic and H.265/HEVC to .jpg and H.264/AVC. I noticed that Windows then displays .heic as .jpg but when opening via File Explorer straight from the iPhone DCIM folder it treats them as .heic and might refuse to open them, crash, or issue that "Catastrophic Error" alert. Some images might be copied but then they are HEIF disguised with .jpg extension.

The DCIM folder is missing if iPhone has not given a chance to give Windows permission to see the photos when booting Windows or maybe when connecting the USB cable, iPhone must be awake with that step is done.

BTW unlike Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro seems to have .heic and HEVC support built-in and it can open such HEIF disguised with .jpg extension.

So: do you use Windows 11 Home or Pro? And do you have that "Automatic" .heic and HEVC conversion to .jpg and H.264 setting in iPhone enabled?

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Answer 4

Nov 11, 2025 8:18 AM in response to Kens Ipod

Kens Ipod wrote:

So I was concerned that I could connect device to computer and see pictures. I tried a totally unique computer and thankfully it required me to "Trust" and to enter passcode.

So basically the only real issue I have is no DICM folder. Pictures are there and iCloud seems to work.

Not sure what to do next but leaning towards and full reset and restore.

Resetting iPhone settings should again issue the prompt to "Trust" also the receiving old computer. Then it would also prompt for other similar tasks again. So resetting is not a big deal but some extra effort anyways so I would not do that very lightly either.

Where exactly you do NOT see the DCIM folder? I don't see it on the Mac (at least with Image Capture.app or Photos.app) but I do see it in Windows File Explorer > iPhone > Internal Storage > DCIM if the iPhone has granted permission to see it via "Trust" this PC.

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Answer 5

Kens Ipod Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 9, 2025 12:16 PM in response to Kens Ipod

Thanks for the response. I tested on a Windows 10 computer (Pro) and no DCIM folder there either.

So to answer your questions. Yes my iPhone is set to convert pictures, exact wording for setting - Transfer to Mac or PC, set to Automatic, which automatically transfers photos in a compatible format.

My windows 11 is Pro but I don't recall downloading any codecs for HEIC. Under Photos - Setting there is an option to get an extension for HEVC.

What you say about HEIC formats makes perfect sense. The copy process use to be flawless and so many years ago it just became a mess. It stops mid folder, files can't be opened on Windows. Thank you for this clue.

I'm going to change setting although not sure what will happen when I send a picture in a text to and Android user. We shall see.

Reply

Answer 6

Kens Ipod Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 10, 2025 5:43 AM in response to Matti Haveri

I disabled the automatic conversion when exporting, did that yesterday.

No the phone does not restrict access to the pictures when I plug it in to the window computer.

I want to be very clear, the DCIM folder does not show but all my folders with pictures DO show.

In windows I use to click on the Apple iPhone, then Internal Storage folder, then dicm to see pictures.

Now I click on Apple iPhone, then Internal Storage and now my folders with pictures appears.

Photos and iCloud transfers all seem to be working fine, except that when the phone is attached to any Windows computers it shows my pictures. (This is a security gap as anyone can delete them all.)

I am very concerned about resetting phone settings. The resetting sounds worse then restoring from a backup. Carplay, Apple pay etc looks like they will be lost.

Of course this security exposure has me equally concerned.

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Answer 7

Kens Ipod Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 11, 2025 7:00 AM in response to Kens Ipod

So I was concerned that I could connect device to computer and see pictures. I tried a totally unique computer and thankfully it required me to "Trust" and to enter passcode.

So basically the only real issue I have is no DICM folder. Pictures are there and iCloud seems to work.

Not sure what to do next but leaning towards and full reset and restore.

Reply