4 Easy Ways to Connect Your Computer and Phone

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Use your phone and PC to share files and control devices
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Connecting your phone to your PC has a variety of advantages, including the ability to back up files. You can connect most phones to a computer by using the phone's included USB cable; in some cases, you can also connect your phone via Bluetooth or using the Phone Link app for Windows. This wikiHow article teaches you how to connect a PC to a phone.

Connect a PC to a Phone

  1. Connect your phone to a USB port on your PC.
  2. Tap Allow or Trust this PC on your phone.
  3. Click one of the options on your PC.
  4. Access your phone's internal storage using File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using a USB Cable

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  1. You can use the USB charging cable that comes with your phone. Connect it to your phone and then connect the other end of the charging cable to a free USB port on your computer.
    • For best results, connect your phone to a USB 3.0 or SuperSpeed port on your computer.
  2. You may see a prompt on your phone screen asking you to allow your computer to have access to your phone. Tap Allow or Trust this PC if prompted.
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  3. If you see a notification above the taskbar in the lower-right corner that your phone is connected and has options, click on it. This displays options for your phone.
    • You can also access your phone's internal storage using File Explorer on Windows or the Finder on Mac.
  4. This will connect your phone to your computer. The options are as follows:
    • Import photos and videos - Store your camera roll items on your computer.
    • Open device to view files - This opens your phone's external storage as a removable drive in File Explorer.
    • Take no action - Ignore the device. Your PC may continue to charge your phone if you select this option.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Phone Link

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  1. Phone Link is the official app from Microsoft that you can use to connect your phone to your computer wirelessly. Link to Windows is the companion app you download to your mobile phone. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store on Android devices or the App Store on iPhone or iPad .
  2. Phone Link usually comes pre-installed on Windows computers. Use the search bar to search "Phone Link" and open the Phone Link app in the Windows Start menu.
    • If you don't have Phone Link installed on your Windows computer, you can download and install it for free from the Microsoft Store.
  3. It has a blue icon that resembles a smartphone in front of a laptop. Tap the Link to Windows app on your Home screen or Apps menu.
  4. You'll need to sign in to your Microsoft account on your mobile phone. Be sure to sign in to the same Microsoft account you use on your Windows computer.
  5. Use the following steps to display the QR code on your computer screen and scan it with your phone:
    • Click the I have the Link to Windows app ready checkbox in the Phone Link app on your computer.
    • Click Scan QR code
    • Tap Link your phone and PC in the Link to Windows app on your smartphone.
    • Tap Continue when asked if the QR code is ready.
    • Tap Allow if asked to allow the app to use your camera.
    • Scan the QR code on your computer screen.
  6. The Link to Windows app will ask you to allow various other permissions, such as access to your contacts, notifications, phone, and more. Tap Allow for any permissions the app asks.
  7. You can use the Phone Link app to view your phone notifications, messages, photos, and apps on your computer. You can also make calls on your computer if you set up the dialer. [1]
    • To set up to dialer, click the Calls tab at the top of the Phone Link app. Then click Get Started . Follow the instructions to set up calls on your computer.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Apple Devices

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  1. The Apple Devices app allows you to sync your files, photos, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music with your iPhone and Windows computer as well as transfer files from your iPhone to your PC and vice versa. You can download and install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store. Use the following steps to do so:
    • Open the Microsoft Store .
    • Search "Apple Devices" in the menu at the top and press Enter .
    • Click Get to install the app.
  2. It has a blue icon with two circular arrows. Click the Apple Devices in your Windows Start menu.
    • Alternatively, you can use iTunes for the time being. However, iTunes is being broken up into four different apps: Apple Music for music, Apple TV for movies and TV shows, iTunes for audiobooks and podcasts, and Apple Devices to connect and sync your phone with your computer. [2]
  3. Use the USB or lightning cable that came with your iPhone to connect it to a free USB port on your PC.
  4. It'll be listed in the sidebar to the left. Select your iPhone from the drop-down menu at the top.
  5. To sync your media content, select the type of content you want to sync in the menu to the left. Then click the checkbox next to "Sync [media type] onto [iPhone name]." Then click Apply . Repeat for all media types you want to sync. Click Sync in the lower-right corner to sync your devices.
    • To sync your music, you need to download and install the Apple Music app. To sync your movies and TV shows, you need to install the Apple TV app.
    • If you click on Photos and it tells you your phone is using iCloud, this means your photos are already synced automatically to your iCloud drive. You'll need to access them on your iCloud drive .
  6. If you want to transfer files between your iPhone and your PC, use the following steps to do so: [3]
    • Click Files in the menu bar to the left.
    • Drag and drop a file to an app in the list to transfer it to your iPhone.
    • Select a file and click Save . Then select a destination to save the file to save a file from your iPhone to your computer.
    • Select a file and press Delete to delete the file.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Bluetooth

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  1. This is the square icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. It usually has the Wi-Fi and speaker icon.
    • You can also hold the Windows key and tap A to open the Action Center.
  2. It's the icon that resembles a jagged "B" with a tail. This will turn on Bluetooth.
    • If the icon is highlighted, Bluetooth is already on. You can skip this step.
  3. To do so on Android, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Access menu. On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the upper-right corner to open the Control Center
  4. Tap the Bluetooth icon in the Quick Access or Control Center to toggle Bluetooth on or off.
  5. This is next to the Bluetooth icon in the Action Center window on Windows. This displays nearby devices you can pair with.
  6. This should connect your smartphone to your computer. Your computer's Bluetooth menu should go from listing your device as "Paired" to "Connected".
    • Alternatively, you can tap and hold the Bluetooth icon on your mobile phone and tap your computer in the list of devices.
    • If this doesn't work within a few seconds, click the On switch below "Bluetooth", then click it again.
  7. Your phone is now connected to your PC! Depending on your phone model, you'll be able to do anything from synchronizing your files to playing music through your computer's speakers.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    For Method 1, my computer doesn't register that the phone is connected. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    You're USB cable might be broken; also, some of the cheaper USB charging cables have issues working with a computer connection. Try replacing the USB cable with a better model, and if that doesn't help, bring in your phone and computer to a tech store to test if the micro USB port is broken.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 8
  • Question
    Can the pictures on my Nokia 105 be transferred to my PC?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Connect via USB, open up your file explorer and you should see your phone. Select everything, then copy and paste onto your computer.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can I bring up my phone's info onto a computer screen?
    Aditya Telang
    Community Answer
    If your question is about phone information, then you can only see it as an external device, like a pen drive, to check videos, music and images. But if your question is about mirroring your phone screen to your TV, yes, you can, using a compatible cable. Make sure that your phone supports output. Newer phones and TV's support mirroring via Bluetooth or WiFi.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If you lost your phone's original USB cable, you can easily purchase another one from your carrier's store or online.
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      Warnings

      • Bluetooth eats up battery life very quickly, so if you aren't using your Bluetooth constantly, consider turning it off until you need it.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/phone-link-requirements-and-setup-cd2a1ee7-75a7-66a6-9d4e-bf22e735f9e3
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/how-itunes-is-changing-itns5ecc4f3c/windows
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/devices-windows/transfer-files-between-your-devices-mchl4bd77d3a/1.4/windows/10

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