How to Share Files Between Android and Windows PC

How to Share Files Between Android and Windows PC

Getting photos, videos or documents from an Android phone onto a Windows PC (or back) is easier than it used to be. There are four good ways, and which one is best depends on how much you're moving and whether you have a cable to hand.

Method	Best for	Needs
Quick Share for Windows	A few photos or files, no cable	Google's app on the PC, Bluetooth + same network
Phone Link	Recent photos, texts, notifications	Phone Link app + Link to Windows on the phone
USB cable	Big folders, whole camera roll	A data cable
Cloud storage	Files you want everywhere	Google Drive, OneDrive or similar, internet

1. Quick Share for Windows (Wireless, Like AirDrop)

Quick Share is Google's built-in sharing on Android, and Google makes a free Quick Share app for Windows.

What it needs (from Google's help page):

• a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later (on ARM-based PCs, Windows 11 or later),
• Android 6.0 or later on the phone,
• Bluetooth turned on on both devices,
• both devices on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network,
• the devices within about 5 metres (16 feet) of each other.

Set it up on the PC:

1. Download Quick Share for Windows from Google's official Android website (search "Quick Share for Windows" and use the android.com result). On a Samsung PC, get Quick Share by Samsung from the Microsoft Store instead.
2. Install it, open it and sign in with your Google Account (Google says this unlocks all options).
3. Give the PC a name you'll recognise and choose who can share with it:
4. Your devices - only devices signed in to the same Google Account,
5. Contacts - your contacts nearby,
6. Everyone - anyone nearby,
7. No one - the PC is hidden.

For your own phone, Your devices is the safest choice.

Send from Android to the PC:

1. Open the photo or file on the phone and tap Share.
2. Tap Quick Share.
3. Pick your PC from the list. If the PC asks, accept the transfer.

Send from the PC to Android: open the Quick Share app, then drag files into its window, or use Select files / Select folders. You can also right-click a file and choose Send with Quick Share. Pick the phone, check the PIN matches if one is shown, and select Share. Accept on the phone.

2. Phone Link (Built Into Windows)

Phone Link comes with Windows 11 and pairs with the Link to Windows app on Android. Besides texts, calls and notifications, it shows the phone's recent photos on the PC, and you can drag them onto the desktop or into a folder.

1. Open Phone Link on the PC (search for it in Start) and choose Android.
2. Follow the on-screen steps: it shows a QR code that you scan with the phone to install or open Link to Windows.
3. Allow the permissions it asks for on the phone.

Which features you get (for example dragging files both ways) depends on your phone maker and app versions - some Samsung and other phones support more. If you only need to move files, Quick Share or a cable is usually simpler.

3. USB Cable (Most Reliable for Big Transfers)

For hundreds of photos or large videos, a cable is hard to beat.

1. Connect the phone with a USB cable. Use one that carries data - some cheap cables only charge.
2. Unlock the phone.
3. Tap the USB notification ("Charging this device via USB") and choose File transfer (sometimes called File transfer / Android Auto or MTP).
4. On the PC, open File Explorer > This PC and open the phone. Photos are usually in DCIM > Camera.
5. Copy files - don't cut - until you've checked they arrived.

If the phone doesn't appear, see Android phone not showing up on PC.

4. Cloud Storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, Google Photos)

Upload from the phone in the Google Drive or OneDrive app, then open the same service on the PC (in a browser, or the OneDrive folder in File Explorer). Google Photos backs up your camera roll, and you can download photos at photos.google.com.

This works anywhere, not just on the same network, but it uses internet data and cloud storage space. The free Google storage is shared by Gmail, Drive and Photos, so large videos fill it quickly.

Quick Share Not Finding the PC?

• Bluetooth off on either device - turn it on, even though the file travels over Wi-Fi.
• Different networks - a PC on Ethernet and a phone on mobile data won't find each other. Put both on the same Wi-Fi.
• Visibility - on the PC, set who can share to Your devices (with the same Google Account) or Contacts/Everyone.
• Too far away - keep them within a few metres.
• Screen off - wake and unlock the phone while sending.
• Old app - update Quick Share on the PC and Google Play services on the phone.

A Bluetooth problem on the phone can also block it - see Bluetooth not connecting on Android.

A Word on Privacy

Set Quick Share to Your devices or Contacts rather than Everyone when you're in public places, and decline transfers you didn't expect. Only accept files from people you know.

Which Should You Use?

• A few photos right now: Quick Share.
• Every day, with texts and notifications on the PC: Phone Link.
• Backing up the whole phone: USB cable, then keep a second copy (see how to back up your Windows 11 PC).
• Files you need on several devices: cloud storage.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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See Also:android windows file transfer