Android file transfer: How to move data between your phone and computer

Moving files between your Android device and a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook doesn't have to be difficult — or dependent on whatsoever deject services.

Contributing Editor, Computerworld |

Table of Contents
  • Android file transfers for Windows computers
  • Android file transfers for Mac computers
  • Android file transfers for Chrome OS computers
  • Don't like cables?

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Your smartphone is a powerful figurer in your pocket — and with Android, office of that PC-like musculus means being able to plug your phone into any Windows, Mac, or Chrome Os arrangement and then drag and drop files either way.

Unlike iPhones, Android devices allow you to access their file systems directly from a desktop, without the demand for whatsoever cumbersome interfaces or complicated procedures. In fact, transferring files to or from an Android device is basically no different than plugging an external hard drive into your calculator and moving information to or from information technology.

All you need is your phone, your computer, and a cable to connect 'em — with micro-USB or USB-C on the telephone side and USB-A or USB-C on the computer side, depending on the specifics of your devices. (Almost current Android phones use USB-C, whereas most pre-2016 devices take the older micro-USB standard. USB-A, meanwhile, is the traditional connector port you lot're used to seeing on computers, though more and more models now also offer USB-C.) In that location's a decent take chances that the aforementioned cable that connects your phone to its wall charger will work.

Got it? Proficient. Here's what you need to do next, depending on whether you have a Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS system:

Android file transfers for Windows computers

With Windows, things are every bit uncomplicated as can be. But plug your phone into any open USB port on the computer, and then turn on your phone's screen and unlock the device.

Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen, and you should see a notification near the current USB connection. At this point, it'll probably tell you your phone is connected but for charging.

android file transfer usb notification JR Raphael/IDG

Later on you connect your phone to your figurer, a notification will let you gear up it for transferring files.

Tap the notification and select "Transfer files" or "File transfer" in the menu that appears. If media files are all you're planning to move, you could also use the "Transfer photos" (sometimes listed as "PTP") option, which'll treat your phone like a digital camera. Once you've made your option, get to your desktop and open up upwardly a File Explorer window using the method that makes the most sense for your Windows configuration:

  • Click the File Explorer icon in your taskbar
  • Open the Kickoff menu and click This PC or Computer
  • Click the This PC, Reckoner, or My Computer icon on your desktop

Then look for an icon representing your telephone alongside other portable devices and drives. Click or double-click that icon, and ta-da! You're staring at your Android telephone's internal storage. You can now click around and browse folders, drag and drop files between your telephone and PC, or dispense the data in any way y'all want.

android file transfer windows JR Raphael/IDG

Your Android phone'southward storage looks similar whatsoever regular hard bulldoze when viewed from a estimator.

Android file transfers for Mac computers

Got a Mac? The Android file transfer process is a flake more complicated for you lot — merely fear not, for it'south nonetheless pretty darn easy.

The principal difference is that before things will work, you'll need to download and install an official Google program chosen Android File Transfer. To utilise the program, your Mac must be running macOS 10.vii or afterwards, and your Android device must take Android 3.0 or later on — something that should pretty much exist a given with any reasonably recent Android product.

Once the plan's in place on your Mac, but plug your phone into your computer, plough on your phone's screen and unlock the device, and and then await for the aforementioned USB condition notification described above.

Tap the notification and select "Transfer files" or "File transfer." The Android File Transfer plan should and so automatically open up on your Mac, and you should be able to browse your phone's storage and transfer files to your middle'due south content.

If the official Android File Transfer plan doesn't work well for you — a vexingly common complaint amongst Mac users these days — consider the favorably reviewed tertiary-party Commander One Pro as an alternative. Information technology costs $30 for a single license, $100 for a five-user squad license, or $150 for a 50-user company license.

Or — well, skip down to the final department of this story for one other selection.

Android file transfers for Chrome OS computers

You'd expect file transfers betwixt Android phones and Chromebooks to exist equally elementary as can be, because that Google's the driving strength behind both of those operating systems — and past golly, y'all'd be absolutely right.

Simply like on a Windows organisation, all you've gotta exercise to connect your Android telephone to a Chromebook is plug information technology into any open USB port, and then tap the USB charging notification on the phone and select either "Transfer files" or "File transfer" from the prompt that appears — or select "Transfer photos" or "PTP" if you want your phone to exist treated similar a camera, with a focus exclusively on multimedia files.

Once you lot practise that, the Chrome Bone Files app should automatically appear on your Chromebook with your telephone present equally one of the storage options. The organisation volition probably fifty-fifty prompt you to back up all of your phone'due south media files to Google Drive; you can let that, if you'd similar, or dismiss it and simply drag and drop files in either direction as needed.

android file transfer chrome os JR Raphael/IDG

Pulling upward your Android phone's storage on a Chromebook is easy every bit tin exist — and typically includes a i-click option to copy all your device's media files besides.

There's really not much to it — nor should there exist.

And if you desire an even simpler style to have care of business concern...

Don't like cables?

Hey, look a infinitesimal — aren't there apps and cloud services for this sort of thing? Sure there are, and we've got you covered at that place, too. Cheque out "Transferring files wirelessly between devices" in our in-depth Android file management guide for everything there is to know.

This commodity was initially published in August 2017 and updated in October 2019.

Contributing Editor JR Raphael serves upwardly tasty morsels most the human side of technology. Hungry for more? Join him on Twitter or sign up for his weekly newsletter to become fresh tips and insight in your inbox every Fri.

Copyright © 2019 IDG Communications, Inc.