The Best Ways to Transfer Photos from Your Phone to Your PC or Mac

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Easily get your photos from your phone
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Now that most of the pictures we take are on our smartphones rather than cameras, uploading your photos to your computer is the best way to make sure they are kept safe and secure. Uploading these precious memories is generally a simple process that involves connecting your device to your computer via a range of techniques. Read on to learn more and get some tech tips from computer and phone repair specialists, Mobile Kangaroo.

Easily Upload Photos from Your Phone

Use wireless options like Google Photos or iCloud Photos to quickly upload photos from your smartphone. You can use Photos to upload and import photos from your Android or iPhone, or you can use Photos on your Mac to upload and import photos on your iPhone.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

Google Photos

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  1. 1
    Make sure backups are enabled on your phone. Open the Photos mobile app and follow these steps to ensure the pictures on your phone are uploaded and accessible online:
    • iPhone & iPad: Tap your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the app and check the backup status. If it's off, you need to turn it on in Settings > Backup > On .
    • Android: Open the Google Photos app and tap your profile picture or initials in the top right corner. Look for your backup status, which is usually indicated by a ring around your profile picture. If Backup is off, you need to turn it on by going to Settings > Backup > On . [1]
  2. 2
    Open the Google Photos website on a computer to view your photos. Go to https://photos.google.com/ . This will open a page with your phone's photos if they are backed up.
    • You may first have to sign into your Google account with your email address and password if this is your first time opening Google Photos.
    • You can use Google Photos on Android or iPhone, Windows or Mac. While it's easier for Android phones to use Google Photos, iCloud is seamless for iPhone users.
    • Keep in mind that backing up and syncing your photos may take a while, depending on the number of photos transferred, your internet connection, and other conditions including internet speed.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

iCloud

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  1. 1
    Make sure iCloud Library is enabled on your iPhone. You must have iCloud Photo Library enabled on your iPhone to see the pics that you uploaded.
    • To enable iCloud Library, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos and tap Sync this iPhone . According to Mobile Kangaroo, "enabling iCloud Photo Library ensures you never have to manually transfer anything; any photos you take will be uploaded to the cloud and downloaded to your Mac or PC without any user involvement."
  2. 2
    Open the iCloud site and log in if needed. Go to https://www.icloud.com/ on your computer and click Sign In . Enter your Apple ID and password that you use for your iPhone, then click → . This will log you into your iCloud account.
  3. 3
    Click Photos . The icon for "Photos" is a multicolored pinwheel icon on a white background. Doing so will open your iCloud Photos app. [2]
    • The photos uploaded from your iPhone will take some time to show up on your computer, depending on how many photos you're uploading and your internet connection.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

AirDrop on iPhone & Mac

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  1. 1
    Turn on AirDrop on both devices. You can find the icon for AirDrop in the Control Center (iPhone) and the menu bar (Mac).
    • Also make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both your Mac and iPhone.
    • The iPhone and Mac have to be within 30 feet or 10 meters of each other.
    • When you turn on AirDrop, select Contacts Only or Everyone so you can transfer images between the devices.
  2. 2
    Navigate to the photo you want to share in Photos on your iPhone. Use the Photos mobile app to be able to quickly share items.
  3. 3
    Click
    iPhone Share
    and click AirDrop .     You'll see this rectangle with an arrow pointing upwards in the toolbar.
    • You might need to tap a three-dot menu first if the share icon isn't immediately available.
  4. 4
    Select the person you want to share with. If your computer doesn't appear, you may need to start AirDrop again, especially if it's been more than 10 minutes.
    • On your computer, click Accept to receive the AirDropped pic. [3]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Quick Share on Android & Windows

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  1. 1
    Turn on Quick Share on your Android. Quick Share has replaced Nearby Share as the default sharing software and Nearby Share is no longer included on some Android phones, like the new Galaxy phones and tablets. [4]
    • You can long-press the Quick Share icon in the Quick Settings panel, or find it in Settings > Connected devices > Quick Share .
    • Make sure "Who can share with you" is set to Contacts only or Everyone for your PC to be able to send pictures to your Android.
  2. 2
    Open Quick Share on your computer. You need a 64-bit version of Windows 10 and up to use this software. Go to this link to download the Android software . This is not the same as downloading the Samsung version of Quick Share, which is available through the Microsoft Store; that version will only work with Quick Share on Samsung phones and tablets.
    • Make sure Bluetooth is on for both your Android and computer.
    • Turn on Wi-Fi on your Android and computer .
    • Connect both devices to the same network.
    • Make sure both devices are within 16 feet or 5 meters of each other.
  3. 3
    Navigate to the photo or album you want to share on your phone. You can use the mobile Google Photos app or any gallery app that you have installed on your Android.
  4. 4
    Click
    Android Share
    .     The "Share" icon is in the bottom left corner of your screen.
  5. 5
    Tap your device with the Quick Share logo or tap the Quick Share option. Chances are high that if you're signed into the same Google account with Quick Share on your PC and your Android phone, you'll see your PC's name with the Quick Share logo in the first row of options.
    • If not, you can select Quick Share from the second row and then tap your PC's name.
  6. 6
    Tap Open on your computer. Click Open' to view, save, or edit the image. [5]
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Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

USB for iPhone & Mac

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  1. Connect the two devices using the USB cable included with your phone.
    • Make sure your phone is on.
  2. 2
    Open Photos on your Mac. You can find the Photos app in the Dock or in Finder.
  3. 3
    Click your iPhone under "Devices" in the sidebar. You'll see the name of your phone in the panel on the left; click it to see all the Photos on your phone.
  4. 4
    Select where to import the photos. You can choose to save the imported pictures to an existing album, a new album, or into the library without specifying an album.
    • If you want to delete the photos from your iPhone after importing them to your computer, check Delete items .
  5. 5
    Click Import all new photos or Import a selection… . You'll be asked again if you want to keep or delete the imported items from your iPhone.
    • After the images finish importing, you can disconnect your phone from the computer.
    • View the imported images in the Photos app on your computer. [6]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

USB for Android & Windows

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  1. Connect the two devices using the USB cable included with your phone.
  2. 2
    Open Photos. If you have the app pinned to your Start menu or taskbar, just click the app icon. You can also search for it by pressing the Win button and entering photos . Click the app result to open Photos.
  3. 3
    Select Import . On Windows 10, this button looks like an image with a downwards-pointing arrow on it and is near the top right corner of the app window; on Windows 11, this icon is centered at the top of the app window.
    • On Windows 10, select From a connected device when prompted.
    • Your connected phone will automatically appear under "Import" on Windows 11.
  4. 4
    Select the photos you want to upload. Select everything that you haven't uploaded to your PC by selecting Select new or choose everything on your phone by checking Select all .
  5. 5
    Click Add items . This button may instead show how many photos you have selected. Once you click it, you can choose where to import the photos.
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Expert Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I save pictures from my phone on a Mac?
    Mobile Kangaroo
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialists
    Mobile Kangaroo is a full service repair shop and Apple Authorized Service Provider headquartered in Mountain View, CA. Mobile Kangaroo has been repairing electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.
    Mobile Kangaroo
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialists
    Expert Answer
    With an iPhone, as long as you're using iCloud Photo Library you never have to manually transfer anything. Any photos taken will upload to the cloud and download to your Mac without any user involvement. In other situations your phone can be plugged directly to your computer. With a Mac, just open the Photos app and you should see your iPhone in the side bar. Select the phone and import whichever photos you'd like.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
  • Question
    How can I upload photos from my phone using Windows?
    Mobile Kangaroo
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialists
    Mobile Kangaroo is a full service repair shop and Apple Authorized Service Provider headquartered in Mountain View, CA. Mobile Kangaroo has been repairing electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.
    Mobile Kangaroo
    Computer & Phone Repair Specialists
    Expert Answer
    If you're using Windows 10, the Photos app will provide the ability to import photos from your iPhone or Android. Just plug your phone directly into the computer, click on the notification banner asking which action to take, and choose Import.
    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 1 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How can I upload pictures from my cell phone to my PC without internet connection?
    Community Answer
    You don't need internet connection. Plug your phone into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.
    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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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6193313?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=1
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108782
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-airdrop-to-send-items-to-nearby-devices-mh35868/mac
      4. ↑ https://blog.google/products/android/ces-2024-android-updates/
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/13801258?hl=en&ref_topic=7651297#zippy=%2Cset-up-quick-share-app-for-windows
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/photos/import-from-a-camera-or-phone-pht6c803201
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/import-photos-and-videos-aed09800-f826-4d40-a243-7640de229d9d#ID0EFD=Windows_11

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