Here’s what I recently thought was a technical problem: I was using my iPhone to record video and transferring it to my PC using the USB connector, when suddenly the DCIM folder was empty.

I checked the phone and all the photos and videos were there, but in Windows Explorer they were missing.

However, the cause and solution were both easier than expected: it’s a security feature enabled when the iPhone is initially connected when locked, and all you need to do is:

1. disconnect the USB connection,
2. unlock the iPhone, and then
3. reconnect to USB.

Your iPhone DCIM should no longer be empty!