Copy files between iPhone and PC. How can I copy a password from LastPass when I can only use it on one device? How can I share my passwords from my mobile device to the computer? How to transfer files from iPhone to PC? Can I relocate a file from iPhone to PC without iTunes? How do I get a sensitive piece of text from my mobile phone to my Windows PC securely? How can I transfer files from PC to iPhone without a USB cable? How do I move docs from iPad to PC?

How do I transfer my iPhone passwords to my computer?

This article will describe 4 ways to shift information, passwords, files, data, images, photos, and docs from your iPhone to your PC and Windows computer.

Transferring files from iPhone to PC without iTunes

Let’s say you changed your Password for Facebook (or any other login) on your iPhone. Now you want to log in to Facebook on your Windows PC. But you use LastPass or a similar service which only offers you to use their app on either mobile or computer, not both for free. The free versions of Dashlane, 1Password, and Keeper can’t be used on multiple devices or mobile and PC at the same time either.

How should you access your password on the iPhone from your computer now? Or if you use the password manager on your computer, how can you get your strong password over to your mobile device to be able to log in on your mobile?

Normally.. this problem isn’t a problem for Apple users. They simply drop a note into iPhone Notes and open Notes on Mac and the problem of transferring a sensitive password from the iPhone to the computer is solved. But now you need to get info from your iPhone to your Windows PC, how do you do it?

Solutions for copying passwords (and other sensitive texts) from iPhone to a Windows PC

1. Use iCloud on PC

Open a web browser of your choice and google ”iCloud login” or just go to https://www.icloud.com

Now you can access your Mac Notes application in a browser like Chrome interface on your Windows computer. This way you can easily transfer passwords, sensitive info and reminder notes entered into your Notes app on your iPhone, and get the info swiftly over to your windows-based PC.

Is it secure to use iCloud in this way?

Couldn’t a password written in iPhone notes get hacked or intercepted while traveling over the internet to your browser on the PC computer?

According to Apple themselves, their security is state of the art naturally:

”iCloud uses best-in-class security technologies, employs strict policies to protect your information, and leads the industry by adopting secure, privacy-preserving technologies like end-to-end encryption for your data.”

iCloud secures your info by encrypting it while it’s in transit and also when stored in iCloud in an encrypted format.

• One feature that improves IT security is that you can only access info stored in Apple Notes from a trusted device that is logged in with your apple id.

• End-to-end encryption provides a higher level of data security. No one but you (not even Apple, Amazon, or Google) can access end-to-end encrypted information (at least in theory!).

• Apple uses two-factor authentication to access end-2-end-encrypted data. Enable it!

• Apple Notes (as well as the other similar apps Calendar, Contacts, Voice memos, Backup, etc.) utilizes a minimum of 128-bit AES encryption, both while the data is transferred and when it is stored on the server.

• Use a VPN service for an extra layer of protection

I would rather have my sensitive data in the hands of Apple rather than Google or Amazon because Apple is much more user privacy-focused compared to Google which feeds on user data.

With that said, any info stored on the multinational giants’ servers can be accessed by authorities whenever they like. Don’t store any info you don’t want the government to get their hands-on in Apple Notes or similar. That goes for Dropbox and similar services too.

Conclusion: For your everyday needs iCloud security is enough, like dropping your new Facebook password from the iPhone over to the PC computer.

2. Use Dropbox on both iPhone and PC

If you haven’t heard about Dropbox you have probably lived offline your whole life and wouldn’t end up on this webpage anyway; hence I will not dig into what Dropbox is or how it is used.

Just copy your Facebook password stored in LastPass or in memory to a text file. You can just open Pages on your iPhone and save one row of info in a doc and save it to your shared Dropbox folder, which will be available on your PC computer as well if you have Dropbox installed.

REMEMBER to export or save as Word doc format or PDF so you can open it on your Windows computer in Word or Open Office or whatever Editor you prefer.

Now you can open the doc on your Windows computer and copy your 22 digit strong passwords or whatever into the login box for Facebook in your PC browser. That’s much more convenient with all the crazy symbols and signs of today’s hard and strong passwords.

Is dropbox safe to use for transferring passwords in docs?

• Files stored on Dropbox encrypted using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) which is even better than iCloud 128-bit AES.

• Dropbox employs SSL/TLS creating a secure tunnel to protect data while it is being transferred between Dropbox apps and their servers. But while in transit “only” 128-bit AES is implemented (same as iCloud security level).

• Dropbox apps and infrastructure are regularly tested for security vulnerabilities and hardened to enhance the security and protection against hacker attacks. That being said, Dropbox has had its share of hacking problems in the past. Given its popularity, it’s a prime target for hackers, but their security has also been enhanced during recent years.

• Two-step verification is available. Use it!
Read more about Dropbox’s security here

Conclusion: Dropbox will provide adequate security for everyday needs when transferring a personal password between devices to enable login on another device or system. But you should still delete the file with the password from Dropbox as soon as you are done to reduce the risk of it being compromised.

3. Use iTunes to move files from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer

The file will be transferred between your devices and stored in the location you specified on your PC.

You should now be able to open your document or file on the computer by using the app you selected in step 4.

Conclusion: Now you can copy your password securely from the document you opened on your computer and paste it into the login form for Facebook, or whatever service you are trying to login to with your password stored on your iPhone or mobile device.

Read more bout how to transfer files between mobile and stationary devices with iTunes here

4. Access passwords stored in iCloud Keychain via the iCloud for Windows app

Apple enables Windows PC users to connect with Apple’s password manager. 

The iCloud for Windows app is now updated with a nice feature that finally gives iPhone users a reliable free password tool.

Having the combination of an iPhone and a Windows PC has not been a walk in the park, to say the least. Life just got a lot easier with a recent update from Apple.

Passwords stored in iCloud Keychain will now be accessible through the iCloud for Windows app. Even if you use the MS Edge browser you can now edit and create passwords on your PC computer too.

Open the start menu and search for the new app iCloud Passwords.

(you will need to update the iCloud for Windows app get this new app)

You can read a more thorough explanation here