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Simple options to send files from Android to PC (and vice-versa)
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Do you have files on your Android phone that you want to transfer to your computer? Do you wish there was an easy way to do it without connecting your phone to your computer using a USB cable? You can transfer files from your Android phone to your computer wirelessly in several ways, including by uploading them to cloud storage, sending with Bluetooth, or using a file transfer app. Read on to learn the easiest ways to wirelessly transfer files from your Android to your PC.
Ways to Wirelessly Transfer Files between Android & PC
- Upload the files to a cloud storage app like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, then download them onto your PC.
- Pair your Android to a PC or Mac with Bluetooth and use the Share feature.
- Use a third party file sharing app like AirDroid or Feem.
Steps
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Create an account on a Cloud Storage website. You can use various cloud storage services to transfer files from your Android to your PC and vice-versa. Most offer free options with limited storage space, and you can buy more space if needed. Many cloud storage services allow you to sign in with an existing account (i.e., your Google or Microsoft account), but you can create a new account if you don't have one. Some options that work great on both Android and Windows:
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Download the mobile app on your Android. You can download the mobile app for your cloud storage service from the Google Play Store. Just open the Google Play Store, search "Google Drive," "OneDrive," or "Dropbox," and tap Install on the app you want to use.
- Some Androids come with Google Drive already installed.
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Open the app and sign in. Sign in using the email address and password associated with your account.
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Upload a file to your cloud storage app. You'll usually do this by tapping the plus + icon and selecting an option like Upload .
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Select the files you want to transfer. Use the file browser menu to select the file you want to upload. They may be listed under "Recent" or categorized by images, audio, video, or documents.
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Log into the cloud service website on your PC. Once you've uploaded the file(s) from your Android, it will be easy to download them on your computer. Go to the website for your cloud service site and log in using the same username and password you used to log in to the app on your Android.
- Many of these services also have an app you can download that lets you access your cloud storage via File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac.
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Click the file you want to download. This highlights and selects the file you want to download.
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Click the option to download the file. The option to download the file will appear at the top of the screen, or it can be found under the menu icon, which resembles 3 vertical dots. It may be at the top of the screen or next to the file. This downloads the file to your computer.
- You can access files you have uploaded to OneDrive using File Explorer on Windows 10 and 11. Open File Explorer and click OneDrive in the menu panel to the left. You can also do this with Google Drive if you download the desktop app.
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Turn on Bluetooth on your Android. To send files from your Android device over Bluetooth, your Android device must be paired with your computer. To turn on Bluetooth, swipe down from the top of the Home screen, then tap the Bluetooth icon if it's turned off. [1] X Research source
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Pair your phone with your computer. Make sure your phone is unlocked while pairing it with your PC.
- Click the Windows Start menu on your Windows PC and select Settings .
- Click Devices (Windows 10) or Bluetooth & devices (Windows 11).
- Click Bluetooth & other devices (Windows 10) or Devices (Windows 11).
- Ensure the toggle switch next to "Bluetooth" is turned on.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen on your Android.
- Tap and hold the Bluetooth icon and select your Windows PC when it appears.
- On your PC, click Add Bluetooth or other device (Windows 10) or Add device (Windows 11).
- Click Bluetooth , select your Android, and click Connect .
- Tap ' Pair on the pop-up alert on your phone.
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Set your computer to receive a file. Use the following steps to do so:
- Click the Windows Start menu on your Windows PC.
- Click Settings .
- Click Devices (Windows 10) or Bluetooth & devices (Windows 11).
- Click Bluetooth & other devices (Windows 10) or Devices (Windows 11).
- Click Send or receive files via Bluetooth .
- Click Receive files .
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Tap and hold a file on your Android device. You can send images or videos from the Gallery, or send other files and documents from within the Files or My Files app.
- If you are using Bluetooth 3.0 or above, the transfer rate should be about 20 megabytes per second or higher. If you are using Bluetooth 2.0 or below, the transfer rate may slow when transferring large files.
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Tap the Share icon . It has an icon that resembles three dots connected by a line. This displays a variety of sharing options.
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Tap the Bluetooth icon . It has a blue icon resembling a jagged "B." Tap it to share the file over Bluetooth.
- If you don't see Bluetooth listed as an option at the bottom of the screen, swipe left on the icons to scroll all the way to the right and then tap More to display all options.
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Select your PC to transfer the file. This sends the file to your computer over Bluetooth. You should be able to see the file transfer progress in the Bluetooth window on your computer.
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Turn on Bluetooth on your Mac . When you turn on Bluetooth, the Bluetooth window should display a message that says "Now discoverable as," followed by the name of your Mac. Use the following steps to turn on Bluetooth:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings… or System Preferences...
- Click Bluetooth .
- Click Turn Bluetooth On (if it is not already on).
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Turn on Bluetooth on your Android device . Swipe down from the top of your Android home screen to display the Quick Access menu, then tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it on.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen to display the Quick Access menu.
- Tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it on.
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Pair your Android device with your Mac. You can do this from your Android or your Mac. Use one of the following steps to pair your Android device with your Mac:
- From your Mac: With the Bluetooth menu still open, click Connect next to your Android device listed below "Devices". Verify the confirmation code display on both your Mac and Android matches and tap Ok on your Android.
- From your Android device: Tap and hold the Bluetooth icon in the Quick Access menu. Scroll down and tap your Mac below "Available devices." Verify the confirmation code displayed on both your Mac and Android matches, and tap Pair .
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Open the Bluetooth Sharing menu on your Mac. Use the following steps to open the Bluetooth Sharing menu on your Mac:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings... or System Preferences...
- Click Sharing .
- Click the checkbox next to "Bluetooth Sharing" in the menu to the left to enable Bluetooth sharing.
- Click Bluetooth Sharing to open the Bluetooth Sharing menu.
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Select what to do when your Mac receives a file. Use the drop-down menu next to "When receiving items:" to select what your Mac does when it receives a file sent via Bluetooth:
- Accept and Save: This will automatically accept any items sent via Bluetooth and save the file.
- Accept and Open: This will automatically accept any items sent via Bluetooth and automatically open the file.
- Ask What to Do: This displays a prompt asking what you want to do when a file is sent via Bluetooth.
- Never allow: The prohibits files from being sent via Bluetooth.
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Select where files are downloaded to. Use the drop-down menu next to "Folder for accepted items" to select where files sent via Bluetooth are downloaded. By default, items will be saved to the Downloads folder.
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Tap and hold a file on your Android device. You can send images or videos from the Gallery, or send other files and documents from within the Files or My Files app.
- If you are using Bluetooth 3.0 or above, the transfer rate should be about 20 megabytes per second or higher. If you are using Bluetooth 2.0 or below, the transfer rate may slow when transferring large files.
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Tap the Share icon . It has an icon that resembles three dots connected by a line. This displays a variety of sharing options.
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Tap the Bluetooth icon . It has a blue icon resembling a jagged "B." Tap it to share the file over Bluetooth.
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Tap your Mac. This sends the file you select to your Mac via Bluetooth. Depending on your settings, the file may transfer automatically, or you may need to accept the file on your Mac.
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Download and install AirDroid on your Android device. AirDroid is a popular app that allows you to transfer files from your Android to your PC, among other things. It is free to download, though some features require a paid subscription. You can use the file transfer feature for free to transfer files between your Android and your PC.
- Open the Google Play Store .
- Type "AirDroid" in the search bar at the top.
- Tap AirDroid in the search results.
- Tap Install .
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Download and install the AirDroid Companion app on your PC. The AirDroid Companion app is available for both Windows PC and Mac. Use the following steps to download and install the AirDroid Companion app.
- Go to https://www.airdroid.com/en/download/airdroid-personal/ in a web browser.
- Click Windows or Mac OS X below "For Computers."
- Open the Installation file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
- Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
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Open AirDroid on your Android device. AirDroid has a green icon with an image that resembles a white paper airplane. Tap the icon on your Home screen or Apps menu to open AirDroid.
- Alternatively, you can tap Open in the Google Play Store once it downloads and installs.
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Sign up for a new account or sign in. If you already have an AirDroid account, tap Sign In at the bottom of the screen to log in. Otherwise, tap Sign Up at the bottom to create an account now.
- When you first open AirDroid, you are asked to allow it access to your Android storage. Tap Continue and then tap Allow to allow access to your phone storage.
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Turn on features you want to use and tap . If you want to use any other features on the Security & Remote Features menu, you can do so now. You only need to turn on Files to send files.
- To turn on other features, tap the feature you want to use, tap Grant Permission , then tap Allow .
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Sign in to the AirDroid Companion app on your PC. Open the AirDroid Companion app on your PC, then enter the email address and password associated with your account and click Sign In .
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Tap Transfer . It's the first option at the bottom of the screen in the AirDroid app on your Android device. Tap this icon to display a list of devices you can connect to.
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Select your PC. If your computer is available, it should say "Remote Connection Mode." Tap your computer to connect to it. This opens a chat window for your PC.
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Tap the paperclip or image icon. It's next to the text box at the bottom of the screen. Tap the paperclip icon if you want to send a file. Tap the image icon if you want to send a picture.
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Select the file(s) type you want to send (if sending a file). Use the pop-up options to select the type of file you want to send.
- Apps: This allows you to send an app to your computer.
- Camera: This allows you to take a picture with your camera and send it to your PC.
- Videos: This allows you to send video files to your PC.
- Music: This allows you to send audio files to your PC.
- Files: This allows you to send any file type stored on your Android's internal storage to your PC.
- Files (SD Card): This allows you to send any file type stored on your SD card to your PC.
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Tap the checkbox next to the file(s) you want to send. The checkbox is either in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail preview for the image or video file, or to the right of the file name. You can select as many files as you want.
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Tap Send . It's in the lower-right corner. This sends the files to your PC.
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Click the paper airplane icon in the companion app. It's in the menu bar to the left.
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Click your mobile device. It's below "My Devices" in the panel to the right.
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Click the magnifying glass icon next to the file. This opens the folder that the file is downloaded to. You can now cut and paste the file and move it wherever you want.
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Install Feem on your Android. Feem is a free and lightweight app that can send files to any device with the Feem app installed over Wi-Fi. You don't need to sign up for an account. To download and install Feem on your Android device:
- Open the Google Play Store .
- Type "Feem" in the search bar at the top.
- Tap Feem in the search results.
- Tap Install .
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Download and install Feem for your PC. Feem is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can download Feem for your PC from the Microsoft Store or for your Mac from the App Store, or follow these steps for Windows:
- Go to https://feem.io/#download in a web browser.
- Click Windows Desktop , Download for Mac , or Download for Linux .
- Open the installation file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
- Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
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Connect your Android and PC to the same Wi-Fi network. Feem can send files to any device connected to the same wireless network. Your Wi-Fi network doesn't even need to be connected to the internet. If they're not already connected, connect your PC and Android device to the same Wi-Fi network.
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Open Feem on your PC and Android. Feem has a blue icon with a white "F." Once connected, Feem will assign your Android device and PC a random name, displayed at the top of the screen next to "I am."
- The first time you open Feem, you will be asked if you want to allow it to access your device storage. Tap Allow to allow it access.
- When you open Feem on your PC, it will ask you to select a language and a color theme. Select your preferences and click the arrow pointing right at the top.
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Tap your PC's name on your Android. Using the Feem app for Android, tap the name assigned to your PC. This displays a chat window.
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Tap the paper clip icon. It's in the lower-left corner of your Android screen.
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Tap a location to send from. You have three options. You can tap Images/Videos/Audio/Apps' or Files from other apps , or Send folder .
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Tap the checkbox next to the file(s) you want to send. The checkbox is either in the upper-right corner of the thumbnail preview image for videos or images or to the right of the file name.
- You can browse file types using the tabs at the top of the screen. The tabs include Photos , Videos , Audio , Apps , and Files .
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Tap Send . It's in the lower-right corner of the app. This sends the files to the Feem app on your PC.
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Open the chat in the Feem app on your PC. Click the name assigned to your Android device on your PC to view the chat. This displays all files sent to your PC from that device.
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Click one of the files. This displays a context menu.
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Click Open File or Show in Folder . Click Open File to open the file on your PC. Click Show in Folder to open the folder to which the file is saved.
- By default, your files will be saved to either your "Pictures," "Videos," "Music," or "Documents." folder, depending on what type of file it is.
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