Part of the STEP BY STEP Series. This article includes shortcut keys and affiliate links.
This is a step by step article on how to transfer photos from and Android phone to a Windows PC. It is written for people who are unfamiliar with computer terms. On Google’s own website, the instructions are pretty concise:
Source: https://support.google.com/android/file transfer
In reality, the steps may be very different. This article tries to break down the steps into every single action that must be taken to transfer your files. Let’s begin!
Get a USB cable (this is the same cable you use to charge your phone)
Connect the rectangle end (USB 2.0 or 3.0) to your computer.
Connect the other end of the cable to your phone.
* (this step may not apply) On your phone, tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification.
* (this step may not apply) Under “Use USB for,” select File Transfer.
* (this step may not apply) A file transfer window will open on your computer.
If a folder doesn’t open on your computer, open a new “File Explorer” window in one of the following ways:
1. Click the “folder icon” button at the bottom of your computer (on the Taskbar)
2. OR press the Windows key + E
The Windows key is on your keyboard on the lower left-hand side. This is what the Windows icon looks like:
Navigate to “This PC” on the left
Double left-click your phone name (e.g. Galaxy A10e) to access the files on your phone
Double left-click the “phone” folder
Your images will be in the DCIM (Digital Camera Images) folder. Double click this one to open it as well.
Now here’s the tricky part
Open another File Explorer window by holding the Windows key and pressing N (stands for new window).
In the new window navigate to the “Pictures” folder. This should be on the left-hand side, usually near the top under “Quick Access.”
NOW, click back on the first window. Click and hold the top of the window (the blank part at the top) and drag it to the far left until you see a semi-transparent rectangle cover the left half of your screen (this will indicate the space the file window is about to take up).
Let go of your mouse and the window should “snap” to the left side of your screen.
All other windows should appear on the right side of your screen as smaller windows.
At this point, left-click on the other folder window and it will fill the right side of your screen.
NOW, both folder windows should fill your whole screen. Your Phone Photos Folder on the left and your Computer Pictures Folder on the right.
You can click and drag pictures from the left to the right.
To select them all, click on one picture and then press Windows Key + A (this is to select all)
It’s up to you how much to organize them. You can simply copy them all to your pictures folder. OR you can create folders by date or location and copy the pictures there.
To create a new folder on your computer, right-click in the blank space in the location you wish to create the folder. A context menu will appear and then click on “New > Folder”
You can then open this window and drag and drop photos into this folder.
I recommend copying files and leaving them on your phone unless you have a backup option (e.g. a flash drive or hard drive). You must have multiple copies of your precious documents and photos for when your computer dies and you can no longer access your files. Your phone will work to store these copies until you get a backup option. Here are flash drives (MOSDDART) and hard drives (Seagate) I recommend (if you order from these links, I get a small commission):
When you’re done copying photos from your phone, eject your phone from Windows (ideally).
Then unplug the USB cable from your computer and phone.
REMEMBER!
Practice, practice, practice! The more you use your computer and follow these steps, the more they will become familiar. Computer concepts are basic, but until you understand them, the process will feel overwhelming and complicated.
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