How to View Your iPhone Photo Cache
By Adrian Grahams
Each time you use Apple iTunes to synchronize the photos on your computer with an Apple iPhone, the program converts the images for optimal display on the iPhone and stores these images in a dedicated photo cache folder. The photos stay in the cache folder even after you delete them from the iPhone. Over time, the cached images can take up considerable space on your computer's hard drive. You can view your photo cache in the Windows folder that you use for synchronizing photos with the iPhone and then decide if you want to delete the folder to free space on your computer.
Step 1
Connect your iPhone to the computer with the supplied USB cable. If you've previously selected the Wi-Fi sync option for iTunes, connect the iPhone to a power outlet instead.
Step 2
Launch Apple iTunes on your computer. The program should open automatically if you connected the iPhone with a USB cable.
Step 3
Click to select your iPhone in the "Devices" section of the left menu.
Step 4
Click the "Photos" tab in the top menu bar to view the "Sync photos from" list that contains the folders and subfolders that you synchronize with the iPhone. Write down the name of the folders.
Step 5
Navigate to each folder on your computer; for example, go to the Pictures library folder if you synchronize the contents of this folder with your iPhone.
Step 6
Find the "iPod Photo Cache" folder in the open window. Note that iTunes uses the legacy iPod name for the folder even if the cache is for an iPhone.
Step 7
Double-click the folder to open it and view the contents.
References
Tips
- You can delete the folder to create space on your computer's hard drive. ITunes will create a new cache folder when you next synchronize your iPhone.
Writer Bio
Adrian Grahams began writing professionally in 1989 after training as a newspaper reporter. His work has been published online and in various newspapers, including "The Cornish Times" and "The Sunday Independent." Grahams specializes in technology and communications. He holds a Bachelor of Science, postgraduate diplomas in journalism and website design and is studying for an MBA.