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How do I transfer photos from my Android phone to a computer?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 6 minutes · Storage & cleanup

Steps written for Android 16 and 17, including Samsung One UI 8 and 9, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Menu names can vary a little by model and carrier.

Illustration of a phone showing a framed mountain photo, with a cable plug on one side and a laptop on the other

Unlock your phone and plug it into the computer with a USB cable that carries data. On the phone, tap the USB notification and choose File transfer. The phone then shows up on the computer, and you can copy photos from the DCIM folder. No cable? Use Google Photos on the web or Quick Share instead.

Steps to check

Show steps for:

  1. No cable needed if you use Google Photos

    If Google Photos backup is on, your photos are already in your Google Account. On the computer, go to photos.google.com and sign in with the same account. Select a photo, then click More (three dots) → Download. This works on any computer, including a Mac. If backup is off, our guide on backing up to Google Photos shows how to turn it on.

  2. Plug the phone in with a data cable

    Unlock the phone, then connect it to the computer with the USB cable. The computer cannot see the phone's files while it is locked. Google notes that not all USB cables can transfer files, so if nothing happens later, a different cable is the first thing to try.

  3. Switch the phone from charging to File transfer

    Phones start in charging-only mode. Swipe down from the top of the phone screen and tap the notification that says something like Charging this device via USB. Under Use USB for, choose File transfer.

    • Samsung Since One UI 8 the default is Charging phone only. Tap the USB notification, tap again to see more options, then choose Transferring files / Android Auto.
    • Motorola Tap Charging this device via USB, then choose File transfer. Motorola also offers PTP, which is meant just for photos and videos.
    • Pixel Tap Charging this device via USB, then under Use USB for, choose File Transfer.

  4. Windows: copy the photos

    The easy way is the Photos app that comes with Windows. Open Start, then Photos, select Import, choose your phone, pick the photos you want and where to save them, and follow the prompts. Or open File Explorer, click your phone's name in the sidebar, then Internal shared storage → DCIM → Camera, and drag photos into a folder on your computer. When you are done, eject the phone in Windows, then unplug the cable.

  5. Chromebook: copy the photos

    After you choose File transfer on the phone, the Files app opens on the Chromebook. Open the phone, go to the DCIM folder, and drag the photos where you want them. Unplug the cable when you are done.

  6. Mac: use Quick Share or Google Photos

    Macs do not open Android phones over USB on their own. Motorola's help suggests a third-party app such as OpenMTP for cable transfers. A simpler choice is Google Photos on the web (first step). Google also says Pixel 8a and later, and certain Samsung and Motorola phones, can send photos to a Mac with Quick Share: on the Mac, set AirDrop to Everyone for 10 minutes, then on the phone open the photos, tap Share → Quick Share, and pick the Mac.

  7. Windows without a cable: Quick Share

    Quick Share sends photos over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to a nearby Windows PC. Install Quick Share for Windows from Google's website, open it, and sign in with your Google Account. On the phone, select the photos, tap Share → Quick Share, and choose your PC. The photos land in the Quick Share folder inside Downloads. Samsung PCs use Samsung's own Quick Share app from the Microsoft Store.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

A big batch of photos taking a while to copy, or the phone asking you to allow access the first time you connect it.

Worth a closer look

The phone charges but never shows up on the computer, even after you choose File transfer. Try another cable, another USB port, or another computer, and restart both. Motorola notes that if the phone detects moisture in the port, it turns the USB connection off until the port is dry.

What people are saying

Common questions

Why does my computer only charge the phone?
Usually the phone is still in charging-only mode, the phone is locked, or the cable only carries power. Unlock the phone, choose File transfer from the USB notification, and try a cable you know carries data.
Where are my photos on the phone?
Photos from the camera are in the DCIM folder, usually inside a folder called Camera. Screenshots and pictures saved from apps are often in the Pictures folder.
Does copying photos to the computer delete them from my phone?
No. Copying leaves the photos on the phone. They are only removed if you choose to move or delete them.
What about Phone Link on Windows?
Microsoft's Phone Link app can show your most recent photos on the PC without a cable, and you can save the ones you want. It covers recent photos only, so use a cable or Google Photos for a whole library.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.