How can I reset iPhone camera roll to IMG_0001.jpg?

I really want to reset the iPhone camera roll to photo IMG_0001.jpg. I have tried to do it with Image Capure, iExplorer and PhoneView, but any of them did not work at all. Is there a way to clear previous history saved on iPhone (when I take picture, my camera roll starts with IMG_0002.jpg) and to make camera roll to be reset without needing to erase all content and settings?

Solution 1:

At the risk of you having done the steps, here is how it worked in the past using PhoneView:

1. Power off the phone.
2. Connect to USB and let it start (this way the camera app and others are not accessing the camera roll).
3. Launch PhoneView and in the settings turn on Show Entire Disk (Advanced Disk Mode)
4. Delete all pictures, files, folders from inside DCIM _(such as .MISC and 100APPLE, 101APPLE, etc... leaving just the DCIM folder empty).
5. Edit the PhotoData > MISC > DCIM_APPLE.plist file to set things to 0000 and 100 as desired in the xml file.
6. Disconnect the USB and power down the phone, never once tapping on any apps while you shuffled things under the OS and the Camera app.

7. Power on the phone and take a picture.

   DCIMLastDirectoryNumber 100 DCIMLastFileNumber 251

Solution 2:

The following procedure works in 2019 to set the picture number of iPhones to an arbitrary number:

1. Install iExplorer 2.2.1.16 (the last free version, search for "iexplorer 2.2.1.6").

2. Get all photos from the iPhone and clear all photos from the iPhone as you would usually do when retrieving all photos from the iPhone (e.g. using the Digital Pictures app).

3. Close all apps on the iPhone.

4. Connect via USB and launch iExplorer.

5. Delete all folders Media/DCIM/10[456789]APPLE when setting image number to 3000. Otherwise the highest existing directory name will set the starting image number (e.g. 108APPLE for 8000).

6. Get file PhotoData/MISC/DCIM_APPLE.plist via drag and drop.

7. Edit file DCIM_APPLE.plist. Change DCIMLastFileNumber and DCIMLastDirectoryNumber to your needs. When setting the image number to 3000 you need to set the directory number to 103.

8. Transfer file DCIM_APPLE.plist back to its original location on the iPhone and confirm the overwrite (drag and drop).

9. Power-cycle the iPhone.