2024 Guide on How to Fix Error “This Folder is Empty” on iPhone

Many of us love to take in data to our mobile devices such as photos, videos, messages, and a lot more. And with that, the tendency is our mobile device might run out of storage easily. So what we do is to have our important data be transferred over to our computer to free up space on our mobile devices.

This goes especially to those iPhone users. Yes, we know those iPhone devices offer you a huge amount of space that you can utilize for all of your data. However, they get easily filled up especially if you have tons of photos and videos saved on your device.

Why? Because photos and videos are considered to be one of the biggest space eaters on your iPhone device.

So, what we do is to have our iPhone device connected to our computer to have some of our data from the iPhone transferred over. But there are times that when you try to open up your DCIM folder, you get an error message saying “this folder is empty” iPhone device.

With that, we are sure that you may be wondering about what happened and why the contents of your folder do not show up on your computer. Well, we have the answer to your questions. We are going to educate you in this article on solutions for how you can fix this error.

Before We Fix This Folder Is Empty Issue on iPhone:

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For you to fix the error by yourself, we have also gathered some great ideas and solutions below.

Part 1: Ways on How to Fix “This Folder is Empty” iPhone DevicePart 2. Video Guide: How To Fix Error “This Folder is Empty” on iPhonePart 3: The Best Way to Transfer Data from iPhone to PCPart 4: Conclusion

Part 1: Ways on How to Fix “This Folder is Empty” iPhone Device

Why Does "This Folder is Empty" Error Happens?

The error happens because of several reasons such as virus or malware infection, damaged device drivers, hardware issues, file system corruption, and a few other common issues.

As mentioned earlier, we have here some great fixes that you can do so that you will be able to see the content of the folder of your iPhone device when connected to your computer.

Solution #1: Make Sure Your iPhone is Unlocked

Since you have to consider some security facts for all devices, when you try to connect your iPhone to your computer the very first time, you have to make sure that you choose the option “Trust this computer”.

By choosing this option, your iPhone device will trust your computer so that it could get access through your data. So in case, your iPhone device is unlocked, then you may see that your DCIM folder is empty when you click on it.

So with that, here is what you need to do.

Step 1: First is you have to connect your iPhone device to your computer using your USB cable.

Step 2: Then, unlock your iPhone device. You may enter the passcode of your iPhone device is necessary.

Step 3: After that, on your iPhone device’s screen, you will see a notification. All you have to do there is to tap on the “Trust” option to proceed.

Step 4; Then, go on your computer and try to refresh it.

Step 5: Then, open up your device or the folder that you are trying to access. In this case, click on your DCIM folder. The data that it contains should then be showing up on your screen.

Solution #2: Get Your Photos from Your iCloud Library

If in any case that your iCloud Photos are turned on in your iPhone device, then all of the photos that you have will then be automatically saved on your iCloud storage. Even if you can see your photos on your iPhone device, they are not kept on your device anymore.

Every time that you try to open a certain photo or video, it automatically saves up into your iCloud storage. And because of that, it can be one reason why you are not able to see any of them when you connect your iPhone to your computer.

So with that, all you have to do are the following steps.

Step 1: On your iPhone device, simply go and launch the Settings app.

Step 2: After that, select on iCloud and then select Photos.

Step 3: And then, please select on the option “Download and Keep Originals”. This way, you will be able to get your photos from your iCloud to your iPhone device.

Step 4: Then once you are done with that, simply connect your iPhone device to your computer and check on the DCIM folder if it now contains your photos or videos.

Solution #3: Reset the Location and Privacy Option

Another way that you can solve this concern is resetting your Location & Privacy options under Settings. And with that, here is what you need to do.

Step 1: On your iPhone device, launch the Settings application.

Step 2: Then from the Settings, tap on the option General.

Step 3: Then from the General’s page, scroll down and tap on Reset.

Step 4: From the Reset page, tap on Reset Location & Privacy. From there, it will ask you for your passcode.

Step 5: Once that you have entered your passcode, choose on Reset Settings for you to confirm the changes.

Once that you are done with all the given steps above, all you need to do now is to connect your iPhone device to your computer and check for your DCIM folder. This process should allow you now to see the data that the folder contains.

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Solution #4: Re-install Your iTunes and Other Software from Apple

Being able to uninstall your iTunes and some other Apple software that you have on your computer and reinstalling them is another way for you to get this concern fixed. As per the instruction of Apple, it is best if you are going to uninstall your iTunes and some other Apple software that is related to it by this order.

1. iTunes
2. Apple Software Update
3. Apple Mobile Device Support
4. Bonjour
5. Apple Application Support 32-bit
6. Apple Application Support 64-bit

However, before you go ahead and these programs re-installed on your computer, you have to make sure that they are fully uninstalled. Same goes with all of the files or data that is related to them.

Solution #5: Restart your iPhone Device

Once that you were able to found out that the internal storage of your iPhone is empty. Or your DCIM folder is not available, then another way that you can have this fixed is by restarting your iPhone device. And with that, here are the ways on how you can do so depending on the model of your iPhone device that you are using.

For iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X and later models

All you have to do is to quickly press the Volume Up button and the Volume Down button. And then, press and hold the power button of your iPhone device. Once that you see the Apple logo shows up on your screen, release it.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

All you have to do is to press and hold the Power button and the Volume down button at the same time. And one that you see the Apple logo on your screen, release both buttons.

For iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S or Older Models

For you to restart your device, press and hold the Power button and the Home button at the same time. Then release both buttons once that you see the Apple logo appear on your screen.

Solution #6: Get Your Photos from iCloud Website

Now, if what you would like to do is to have your photos transferred to your computer and you have synced them using iCloud, then there is one efficient way for you to do so. And this is by accessing the iCloud website using your computer. And to do so, here is what you need to do.

Step 1: On your iPhone device, make sure that you have turned on the iCloud Photo Library.

Step 2: Then on your computer, you can access www.iCloud .com and log in to the iCloud account name and password that you are using on your iPhone device.

Step 3: Then once that are logged in, choose all of the photos that you would like to transfer over to your computer.

Stepp 4: After you are done choosing the photos, click on the Download button and all the photos that you have chosen to transfer to your computer will be saved on your Download folder.

Part 2. Video Guide: How To Fix Error “This Folder is Empty” on iPhone

Part 3: The Easiest Way to Transfer Camera Photos from iPhone to PC

As for a quick and easy way to resolve the error message “this folder is empty” when transferring data from your iPhone device to computer, you can make use of another alternative program to move your camera photos or other data you want from your iPhone to your computer easily and quickly. And this is by making use of the new FoneDog Phone Transfer.

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Using FoneDog Phone Transfer, you will be able to selectively or wholly transfer your photos, messages, videos, music, and contacts from iPhone to PC. Plus, this program comes with a lot of features that you can use. It also supports data transferring among iOS, Android, and PC.

Through FoneDog Phone Transfer, you will be able to transfer any data that you have on your iPhone device to your computer without any complications such as losing data.

So with that, here is a quick guide to use the new FoneDog Phone Transfer.

Step 1: Get FoneDog Phone Transfer

You can download FoneDog Phone Transfer for free from the official website of the FoneDog and have it installed on your computer.

Step 2: Plug Your iPhone Device to PC

After downloading and installing FoneDog Phone Transfer on your computer, start running the program. Then, have your iPhone device connected to your PC using your USB cable. Then wait for it to detect your iPhone device.

Step 3: Choose The Files to Transfer

Then, after your iPhone device is fully detected by the FoneDog Phone Transfer, you will be able to see on our screen file type that this program supports. On the left pane of your screen, you will categories such your Photos, Music, Videos, Contacts, Messages, and Toolbox.

From there, choose one where you like to get the data that you want to transfer.

Step 4: Choose The Data to Transfer

Then, once that you have chosen a certain file type, you will be able to see the data that it contains on the right part of your screen. From there, choose all of the data that you wish to transfer from your iPhone device to your computer.

You can click on each data one by one. You can also sort them out by date for you to easily find the data.

Step 5: Transfer Your Data

Once you are done choosing all of the data that you would like to transfer from your iPhone device to your computer, all you need to do is to click on the Export to PC icon located at the top of your computer screen.

And once that you have clicked on that icon. All you have to do now is to wait until the process is finished.

Part 4: Conclusion

As you can see, it is very easy to resolve when you get the message “this folder is empty” when you try to connect your iPhone device and transfer your files or data from your iPhone to your computer. There are also some ways on how you can do so and one of which is by using the FoneDog Phone Transfer.