There was a time when transferring data or photo from your Android mobile to your PC was a cumbersome task. With our Android phones or tablets, we always wonder how to get it onto our PC?
But as time passed on, it became smooth and there are many reliable tried and tested methods through which we are able to transfer the files from Android devices to our PC.
Our Android smartphones are very robust and we can easily plug this device into any operating windows, Mac Book, or Chrome OS computers simply and easily. We can easily drag and shift the files in both ways.
But transferring files from any iPhone to Desktop or PC is not that easy at all like Android phones.
So without facing any complicated procedure, you can quickly plug your Android smartphone or tablet to your PC and can transfer any file or data to and from the Android device.
In this article we will explain to you how to transfer files or any data from Android to PC, following both the software and hardware related mixture. You can try both the techniques for doing this action and hence you can easily transfer the files from the USB cable, from Bluetooth and also cloud sync.
Other than these options, you can also use apps like AirDroid or Pushbullet. Along with that emailing your file or the photo is also another option. So, let’s discuss in brief how to move the files or pictures from any Android device to PC.
A. Transfer files using USB Connection
When you buy a modern Android device, you may find different types of cables that come packed with your device. These various cables may be Micro- USB to USB-A, Micro –USB to USB-C, USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB-C types, but most of our Android phones have USB- C as it is easy to use with its dual-sided design.
For all the other cables you have to buy an extra adapter to use it for your PC. With USB-C you just have to plug your phone into any USB port of your PC and then unlock your android device. After that, you can see a notification on the top of your phone’s screen. If you swipe down the notification, you will be able to see that your phone is charging.
For transferring files, you have to tap that notification and select “Transfer File” of “File Transfer”. And for transferring media files you have to select “Transfer Photos” (maybe also shown as PTP). Once you have completed selecting the photos that needs to be transferred, go back to your desktop and then open a File Explorer.
You will find the File Explorer icon in your taskbar. Then click on the start menu and then again click on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop. And search for the icon of your phone alongside other drives and portable devices. Double click on your phone’s icon and now you will be able to gaze at your Android phone’s internal storage.
Now, you can easily paste your selected photos and you can also easily browse other files and folders and just transfer files in either way or handle the data the way you want to.
B. Transferring files using Bluetooth
If your PC is Bluetooth enabled then you will not face any problem in transferring files from your Android device to your PC. Sending smaller files via Bluetooth file transfer is a good option for you. First of all, turn on Bluetooth both on your PC and your mobile phone and then check on your PC whether it detects its nearby device or not.
From Windows PC, go to settings, then select devices and then select the option Bluetooth and other devices. When you choose the very option, your PC will detect nearby Bluetooth enabled devices and if you turn your Android mobile’s Bluetooth on, it will detect your Android phone and then you have to pair your mobile with your PC.
To pair both the devices, you have to confirm a security code. After the connection is established, you have to go to the bottom right corner of your PC and then right-click on it, and select Receive a file then click Next to start the file transfer. Once the file successfully transfers, you will be notified and then clicks on Finish.
C. Transferring files using Wi-Fi
If you have a stable Wi-Fi connection, then You can easily port any information or files via this wireless network from your Android phone to your PC. If you are operating Windows 10 in your PC and you have a Microsoft Account on your Android phone, then you have to connect your phone and PC through your Microsoft Account.
Now you can easily move any files, send text messages from your Windows PC without touching your mobile and not only this you can even take phone calls as well. No need for a USB cable for doing this action.
D. Transferring files using Cloud Storage Services or Email
This is an advanced idea for transferring files. If you are registered in Cloud Storage Services such as in Google Drive or Dropbox, your phone will be automatically synchronized with your Windows PC. In this way, all your photos from your Android phone will automatically be transferred to your PC.
In One Drive, you can easily access all your essential information from any device using your registered account. You can share it with family and friends and can also transfer data on distinct platforms. You can also use Email for transferring data. Just you have to attach any file or photo to your Email from your phone and send it to yourself.
Or you can also attach any file from your mobile and save it as a draft. Then search that mail on your computer in the draft section and then you can easily download the file. This is a quick method for transferring files. Or if you send the mail to yourself, then you will find it on the inbox of your email id.
But these two ways of transferring files or data face some security issues and if you are not using a wireless network, all your relevant data may be lost. However, you may stay away from transferring sensitive data and can protect your Cloud Storage account with a unique password.
E. Transferring files using AirDroid
This app is perfect for Android mobile users. You have to create an account or can sign in from your Google, Facebook or Twitter account. Once you have signed in your AirDroid mobile app will allow you to transfer files via tethering and also through a Wi-Fi network.
This app will ask for your permission to access all call logs and the media files on your android device. For using this app with all its facilities, you must select Allow for these options. Make sure that your File option is set to On, then only you can transfer files from your Android phone to your PC.
Now, click on the website page of AirDroid from your PC and then sign in. And from your Android phone, browse the files or data that you want to share.
When you find the sharing menu in AirDroid, you can send the selected files from your Android mobile to your PC and if you are using the same network, you can see the file transferred from your Android mobile to your PC quickly.
F. Transferring files using a USB drive or an SD Card
You can also transfer files easily by using any USB drive or SD Card. This is a very safe way to transfer data, and also it is the best way if you want to transfer a lot of files at one time on multiple devices without pulling down your wireless network nor using any adapter.
For transferring files into multiple devices use “USB On-The-Go” and just pair it with any USB storage device which is compatible and at the same time allows you for immediate transfer between your PC and your Android mobile phone.
But what will you do if you do not have a USB cable or an adapter for your smartphone?
Don’t worry, then also you can use another primary method for transferring data from your Android phone to your PC by using the micro SD card of your phone. You just need to have a card reader with you. The process of transferring is straightforward. You need to save the files or the data into your phone’s SD card that you want to move.
Then switch off your Android phone and pull out the SD card and place it in your PC’s card reader. Then you can view the files on your PC and easily transfer from SD card to your PC. By chance, if your Android phone does not have a SD card slot, then you have to connect a USB OTG adapter to transfer files from the very card reader to your phone.
G. Transferring files using Pushbullet
Pushbullet and AirDroid are similar apps that you can safely use to transfer files from your Android phone to your PC. If your AirDroid is not working, then Pushbullet is also an option. To begin with the file transferring process, you need to install the it’s Android app.
After installation completes, you need to click Allow to let Pushbullet access your media files. Then you need to open Pushbullet’s website from your windows PC and sign in to begin the file transfer process from your Android phone to your PC. You can start the process by transferring by sending any file to your PC.
Go to the menu button in your mobile app and tap on Pushing. After that, you have to tap on the paperclip icon>select the image you want to send>tap the second button. After performing this action, your file will instantly transfer from your Android mobile to your browser window.
H. Transferring files using Shared Windows Folder
To transfer files using this method, you need to have an Android file manager and your network must allow for an exclusive Windows Sharing folder and copying data to your PC from your Android phone. By using ES File Explorer (or any other similar apps, you will find in Google Play), you can easily transfer files and data from your Android phone to your PC.
When you open ES File Explorer, you will see a feature mentioned as View on PC; you have to tap on that menu for the emerging network. For sending files, you have to enable the FTP option by tapping the Turn On button. After that, you must copy the FTP address on the web browser of your PC.
When you click on that address, you will see a folder containing the name of your Android device. Now it will be easy for you to find out the data you want to share with your PC.
Once you find out the desired file or data to share right click on that and select the ‘Copy To Folder’ option, select one location on your PC where you want to browse that file and click OK to let the file or data copy from your Android phone to your PC. This process of transferring data is almost similar to the process that we adopt with USB transfer.
The difference is that here we do not use the cable.
I. Transferring files using Nearby Share
It is a new way to transfer files and is applicable to Android 10 version devices only. With the help of Android Beam (the Google-developed feature), you can quickly share the files with nearby devices via NFC.
