The Ultimate Guide to Transferring Videos from Android to PC

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Transfer video files of any size from your Android to your computer
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This wikiHow article shows you how to move videos from your Android phone or tablet to your PC. Fortunately, transferring these videos is much easier than transferring videos from a camera. For shorter videos, you can send them to yourself over email. For larger files, though, you'll want to either connect your Android to your computer with a USB cable or upload the video file to Google Drive. You can also transfer video files over Bluetooth. Either way, we have you covered with everything you need to know!

Moving Video Files to a PC from Android

Connect your Android device to your computer with a USB cable, then tap the USB notification that appears on your device. Then, when you see the "Use USB for..." prompt, choose "File Transfer." Use File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac to drag and drop video files form your phone to your computer.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using a USB Cable

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  1. Enter your passcode or use biometrics to unlock the device. https://support.google.com/android/answer/9064445
  2. The small end goes in your device and the large end goes in your computer. If you are using a USB-C cable, you can plug either end into your phone or computer.
    • The exact location of the USB plug will vary depending on your hardware, but the mini-USB port on the device is usually on the bottom. On laptop computers, the port is usually on the side, and on desktop computers, it's usually on the front or back.
    • Using a USB 3.0 or USB-C cable will ensure the quickest transfer rate.
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  3. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access your notifications.
    • If you’ve connected your device to your computer before, you may not receive a notification.
  4. This opens a file transfer window on your computer. r
    • If you didn’t receive a notification, you can just press Win + E to open File Explorer on Windows, or click the blue and white smiley face to open Finder on Mac.
  5. 5
    Open your phone storage on your computer. You can do so using File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. Press Win + E to open File Explorer on Windows. Click the icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face to open Finder on Mac. Click your phone model in the menu bar to the left. Then open “Internal Storage” or “USB Storage.”
  6. The exact name of the folder that contains the videos varies by device, but you can usually find them in the DCIM folder, the Camera folder, the Photos folder, or the Videos folder.
    • If it is taking your computer a long time to open the folder containing your videos, try copying the video files you want to transfer to a separate folder with no other video files. You can use the Files or Google Files app on your Android device to move your files.
  7. To drag and drop, click on a video and hold the mouse button down, then move the video to a folder on your PC and release the mouse button.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Google Drive

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  1. The icon looks like a green, yellow red, and blue triangle.
    • You can find the Google Drive app in the Google Play Store if you do not own it already.
    • If this is your first time using the app, you'll be prompted to sign in with your Google account information.
  2. 2
    Tap the plus icon. It’s the circle button with a plus sign in the middle. It’s in the lower-right corner.
  3. It has an icon that resembles an upward-pointing arrow over a straight horizontal line. [1]
  4. This will start uploading the video to your Google Drive. [2]
    • Tap Video at the top of the page to filter all of your files by video.
    • To select multiple files, tap and hold the first file you want to upload then tap all the other videos you want to upload to check them. Then tap Select in the upper-right corner.
  5. Switch to your computer and visit drive.google.com . You can use any web browser on your computer.
    • If you're not currently logged in to Google on the computer, you'll be prompted to log in upon visiting the site.
  6. This brings up a contextual menu.
    • To sort your files by the most recent uploads, click Recent in the menu bar to the left.
    • To select multiple files, hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and click the files you want to download.
    • Alternatively, you can click the icon with three dots ( â‹® ) in the upper-right corner of the file.
  7. The video is downloaded to your computer. [3] [4]
    • If you are downloading multiple files,right-click any file you want to download.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Bluetooth

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  1. 1
    Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. To do so, swipe down from the top of your screen. Ensure the Bluetooth icon is turned on. If it is not, tap the Bluetooth icon. It resembles a jagged “B” with two tails.
  2. 2
    Pair your phone with your computer. Use one of the following steps to do so:
    • Windows 11: Click the Wi-Fi/Speaker/Battery icon in the taskbar in the lower-right menu to open the Quick Settings menu. Click the arrow pointing right next to the Bluetooth icon. Scroll down and click Show all devices . Click your Android phone model. Click or tap Pair if prompted on your phone or computer.
    • Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button and click the Settings/Gear icon. Click Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth. Click your phone model and click Done . [5]
    • Mac: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar in the upper-right corner. Click System Settings . Click Bluetooth. Hover your mouse cursor over your phone model and click Connect . [6]
    • Chromebook: Click the Time in the lower-right corner of your Chromebook desktop. Click Bluetooth and click Pair new device . Click your phone model and follow any prompts to connect your phone.
  3. 3
    Set your computer to receive Bluetooth files. In order to receive Bluetooth files from your Android device, you need to set your computer to allow files to be sent over Blueteooth. Use one of the following steps to do so:
    • Windows: Click the Windows Start button and click the Gear/Settings icon. Click Bluetooth & other devices (Windows 11 only) and click Devices. Click Send and receive files via Bluetooth under “Related Settings.” Click Receive files . [7]
    • Mac: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar in the upper-right corner. Click System Settings and click General followed by Sharing . Click the information icon (which resembles an “i” inside a circle) next to Bluetooth Sharing . Ensure “When receiving items:” is set to “Accept and Save.” Alternatively, you can set it to “Ask what to do.” [8]
    • Chromebook: Click the Time in the lower-right corner of your desktop and click the Settings/Gear icon. Click Connected devices . Click Set up next to “Quick Share.” Ensure visibility is set to “All contacts” and click Confirm . Click Turn on . [9]
  4. 4
    Open the video you want to send on your Android device. Open the Gallery of Photos app on your Android device and tap the video you want to share.
  5. 5
    Tap the Shareicon. It has an icon that resembles 3 dots connected by a line. It’s along the bottom of your screen on most phones.
  6. 6
    Tap the Bluetooth icon. It has an icon that resembles a jagged “B” with two tails.
    • Alternatively, you can tap Quick Share or Nearby Share if you are sending the file to a Chromebook or Windows PC.
  7. 7
    Tap your computer. This will send the file to your laptop.
  8. 8
    Click Accept if prompted. You may be asked if you want to accept the file on your laptop. If so, click Accept to receive the file.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Email

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  1. It may be the Gallery, or the Photos app on a Google Pixel, but its exact name may vary across different Android models.
  2. Scroll through your gallery until you find the video you need to transfer.
  3. It has an icon that resembles 3 dots connected by a line. It’s along the bottom of your screen on most phones.
  4. Use Gmail, Outlook, or your e-mailing app of choice. This will open an e-mail template with your video already attached.
    • Many email services have a limit on the size of the file you can attach. If the file is larger than 25 mb, it may not allow you to attach the file. If this is the case, you may consider using Google Drive instead. [10]
    • Alternatively, you can use third-party services to upload and email large files .
  5. Enter your own email address, or any email address that you can check from a PC in the “To:” field at the top.
  6. It’s usually an icon that resembles a paper airplane. It’ll either be in the upper-right corner or the lower-right corner.
  7. Open a web browser and navigate to your email service website. Open the email you just sent to yourself. The method you use to check this email will vary depending on your email service.
    • If your email service allows you to send larger files as attachments, it make take a while for the email to send.
  8. This will open a context menu.
  9. This downloads the file to your computer.
    • Depending on your email service or browser, this option may be listed as Save or Download instead.
  10. This opens the video on your computer.
    • Depending on your browser, the option may be listed as Open or Open File instead.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/googledriveanddocs/uploading-files-to-google-drive/1/
      2. ↑ https://sites.allegheny.edu/information-technology-services/remote-resources/smartphone-video-recording/
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2424384?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2424368?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&oco=1
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/pair-a-bluetooth-device-in-windows-2be7b51f-6ae9-b757-a3b9-95ee40c3e242
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/connect-a-wireless-accessory-blth1004/mac
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-and-receive-files-over-bluetooth-in-windows-36f8cf26-d1ff-50d1-4b73-3a56e5b43e6a
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-bluetooth-sharing-on-mac-mchlp1673/mac
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/10751738
      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6584

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