How to transfer photos from Android to a computer – Android Police
It works on both PC and Mac
Whether you use a top Android phone or a budget one, you probably take pictures with it. While watching them on your phone's screen is perfectly fine, you might want to transfer them to your computer. Once those photos are on your computer, you can edit them, view them on a larger screen, or save them. There are several ways to achieve this, but some are specific to some brands or don't always work with Macs.
You'll find plenty of free options to transfer photos across devices without prerequisites, allowing you to send files seamlessly from your Android device to your PC or Mac. Read on to find which ones work best for you.
Using a USB cable is a fast and straightforward way to transfer photos and files from your phone to your computer. You can use a basic USB-A to USB-C cable. However, it's best if your computer has a USB-C port and you have a USB-C to USB-C cable. Here's how the process works:
If you're transferring a few pictures, Bluetooth can be a decent option. Bluetooth doesn't require a cable and works seamlessly, no matter which operating system you use. It offers relatively slow transfer speeds, so it's not the most appropriate method for sending more than a few photos. The process to send files over Bluetooth is slightly different on macOS than on Windows, but it's still relatively simple.
Once you've completed the above steps, head over to your phone to share your photos:
Another simple way to move pictures from your phone to your computer is to use Google Photos. Since pictures from your phone are automatically uploaded to the cloud, it's easy to retrieve them on your computer without much effort. This requires an active internet connection, but you don't need to select the pictures to send.
Before you start, allow Google Photos to upload your pictures automatically to the cloud. Here's how to do it:
Now that your photos are backed up to the cloud, it's easy to retrieve them on your computer:
Most modern smartphones take good pictures, but we often have to transfer them to a computer to edit, save, or view them. The process is relatively easy and doesn't require much fiddling. A Bluetooth connection might be the fastest option available, depending on the number of pictures you'd like to transfer. However, if you're sending more files, consider using a cable connection, as it's faster and easier. Still, the Google Photos app is an excellent way to back up your files to the cloud and download them on your computer if you have a reliable internet connection.
Regardless of the method you pick, Google Photos is a valuable companion that helps you organize your pictures, both locally and online. If you're not convinced, check out our selection of the best Android photo gallery apps that act as alternatives to Google Photos. Most of them won't let you upload your photos to the cloud, but you can use a USB cable or Bluetooth to transfer pictures from your phone to your computer.
Hagop is a tech-savvy guy, who's also into traveling, fitness, biking, food, and planes. He's heptalingual and has lived in 5 different countries, but has decided to settle in Paris for the time being.