PRESERVATION-FRIENDLY File TransferS

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING APPS

Mobile apps such as WhatsApp, Apple Messages, and Signal compress and convert original photo and videos created using mobile devices. These applications also usually remove original metadata from files that could be used as evidence, such as geolocation metadata, device information, and creation dates. Social media messaging services and applications such as Facebook Messenger, and direct messaging through Instagram and X remove all metadata from media files and compress them to low resolution by default.

To avoid losing evidentiary metadata or image quality or resolution, consider using Apple’s Airdrop or Image Capture software.

AIRDROP: safely Transfer files Wirelessly

Apple’s “Airdrop” feature allows users to wirelessly transfer files between iOS and macOS devices without losing metadata. Note that photo and video files maintain metadata but source file formats (HEIC and HEVC) and converted to JPG and MOV formats.

To learn more, check out Apple's support page on the subject:
File Transfer using AIRDROP

Image capture software: safely Transfer files via cable connection

Apple’s “Image Capture” software comes with the macOS operating system and transfers exact duplicates with no metadata loss or file format conversions. To use this application, connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer running macOS and search for “Image Capture” or navigate to Applications > Utilities > Image Capture

Transfer files using Image Capture from your iOS device to a macOS device: 
File Transfer using macOS

Transfer files from your iOS device to a Windows device :
File Transfer using Windows

For more specific instructions to transfer Voice Memos, please see this tutorial.