How to transfer pictures from your phone to your laptop

With the Photos app and a USB cable, you can transfer photos and videos to your computer. You can also make your photos available on all your devices with iCloud Photos.

Table of Contents Show

Use iCloud Photos
Import to your Mac
Import to your Windows PC
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
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How do I transfer photos from mobile phone to laptop?
How do I transfer pictures from my phone to my laptop wirelessly?

Use iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos keeps your photos and videos safe, up to date, and available automatically on all of your Apple devices, on iCloud.com, and even your PC. When you use iCloud Photos, you don't need to import photos from one iCloud device to another. iCloud Photos always uploads and stores your original, full-resolution photos. You can keep full-resolution originals on each of your devices, or save space with device-optimized versions instead. Either way, you can download your originals whenever you need them. Any organizational changes or edits you make are always kept up to date across all your Apple devices. Learn how to set up and use iCloud Photos.

The photos and videos that you keep in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage. Before you turn on iCloud Photos, make sure that you have enough space in iCloud to store your entire collection. You can see how much space you need and then upgrade your storage plan if necessary.

Import to your Mac

Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac with a USB cable.
Open the Photos app on your computer.
The Photos app shows an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.
If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode. If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust to continue.
Choose where you want to import your photos. Next to "Import to," you can choose an existing album or create a new one.
Select the photos you want to import and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Photos.
Wait for the process to finish, then disconnect your device from your Mac.

Import to your Windows PC

You can import photos to your PC by connecting your device to your computer and using the Windows Photos app:

Update to the latest version of iTunes on your PC. Importing photos to your PC requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later.
Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your PC with a USB cable.
If asked, unlock your iOS or iPadOS device using your passcode.
If you see a prompt on your iOS or iPadOS device asking you to Trust This Computer, tap Trust or Allow to continue.

Then, visit Microsoft's website to learn how to import photos to the Windows Photos app in Windows 10.

If you have iCloud Photos turned on, you need to download the original, full resolution versions of your photos to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch before you import to your PC.

When you import videos from your iOS or iPadOS device to your PC, some might be rotated incorrectly in the Windows Photos app. You can add these videos to iTunes to play them in the correct orientation.

If you want to ensure photos from your iOS or iPadOS device have the best compatibility with Windows 10, try these steps:

On your iOS or iPadOS device, open the Settings app.
Tap Camera, then tap Formats.
Tap Most Compatible. From now on, your camera will create photos and videos in JPEG and H.264 formats.

Visit Microsoft's website to learn how to import photos using Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Published Date: June 17, 2022

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The easiest ways to move photos from a computer to your Android, iPhone, or iPad

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This wikiHow teaches you how to copy or move photos from your computer onto your phone. You can do this with iTunes for an iPhone, or you can connect your phone via a USB charging cable if you have an Android, though you'll need a program to open the Android if you're doing this on a Mac. You can also use a cloud storage service such as iCloud for an iPhone or Google Photos for an Android.

1
Connect your iPhone to your computer. Use the iPhone's charging cable to connect it to one of your computer's USB ports.
- If you're on a Mac that doesn't have a USB port, you will need to purchase a USB-C to USB-3.0 adapter.
2
Open iTunes. If iTunes doesn't open automatically, double-click the iTunes program icon to open it. iTunes resembles a multicolored musical note on a white background.
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3
Click the iPhone icon. This iPhone-shaped icon is at the top of the iTunes window. Doing so opens the iPhone's page.
4
Click Photos. This tab is in the left-hand sidebar below the "Settings" heading.
5
Check the "Sync Photos" box. It's at the top of the Sync Photos page. Doing so will allow you to add photos from your computer to your iPhone.
6
Click the "Copy photos from:" drop-down box. You'll find this option near the top of the Sync Photos page. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
7
Click Choose folder…. It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
8
Select a folder. Click the folder from which you want to upload photos, then click Select Folder.
9
Select subfolders if necessary. If the picture folder you selected has one or more folders in it that you don't want photos from, check the "Selected folders" radio button and then check each folder you want to use to upload photos.
10
Determine whether or not you want to include videos. Check the "Include videos" box in the middle of the page to upload videos in your selected folder, or leave the box unchecked to upload only pictures.
11
Click Apply. Your selected photos will begin uploading to your iPhone. Once the photos finish uploading, they will appear on your iPhone.

1
Connect your phone to your computer. Attach one end of the charger cable to your Android and the other to your computer's USB port. This method will only work with an Android phone, since iPhones require iTunes to transfer photos over a USB cable.
- Tap Media device (MTP) on your Android's screen if prompted.
2
Open Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
3
Open File Explorer
. Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
4
Click your pictures' folder. This will normally be the Pictures folder in the left-hand sidebar, but if you're transferring images from a different location, click that folder in the sidebar instead.
5
Select pictures to move. Click and drag your mouse across a group of pictures you want to select, or hold down Ctrl and click each picture you want to select individually.
6
Click Home. This tab is in the upper-left corner of the window. A toolbar will appear below the Home tab area.
7
Click Copy to. It's a folder-shaped icon in the "Organize" section of the toolbar. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
8
Click Choose location…. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will appear.
9
Click your Android's name. You'll find it in the middle of the window, though you may have to scroll down first.
10
Click the DCIM folder. It's below the Android's name. Doing so expands the DCIM folder to show its contents.
11
Click the Camera folder. This is below the DCIM folder. Click it selects the Camera folder as the copied images' destination.
12
Click Copy. It's a button in the bottom-right corner of the pop-up window. Doing so will begin transferring the selected photos to your Android's internal storage; once there, they will be viewable from your Android's Photos app.

1
Connect your Android to your Mac. Use the Android's charging cable to connect your Android to one of your computer's USB ports.
- If your Mac doesn't have a USB port, you will need to purchase a USB-C to USB-3.0 adapter.
- If your Android prompts you to select a connection type, tap Media device (MTP) on its screen before continuing.
2
3

Open the Finder. This blue-faced icon is in your Mac's Dock.
4
Select your pictures' location. Click the pictures' folder in the left-hand column of folders. This will open the folder in the Finder window.
5
Select pictures to transfer. Click and drag your mouse across a group of pictures you want to select, or hold down ⌘ Command and click each picture you want to select individually.
6
Copy the pictures. Click the Edit menu item, then click Copy in the resulting drop-down menu.
7
Open Android File Transfer. If Android File Transfer doesn't automatically open, click the Launchpad spaceship icon, then click the Android File Transfer icon, which resembles a green Android mascot.
- You can also click Spotlight
  in the top-right corner of the screen, type in android file transfer, and then click the Android File Transfer icon.
8
Double-click the Internal storage or SD card folder. Depending on where you want to store your photos, this step will vary.
9
Double-click the DCIM folder. This will open to another folder.
10
Double-click the Camera folder. It's where your Android's photos are stored.
11

Paste the pictures into this folder. Click anywhere in the folder, then click Edit and click Paste Items in the drop-down menu. Your copied photos will begin transferring over to your Android. Once they finish doing so, you'll be able to view them in your Android's Photos app.

1
2
Log into iCloud. Enter your Apple ID and password that you use for your iPhone, then click →. This will log you into your iCloud account.
- If you're already logged in, skip this step.
3
Click Photos. It's a multicolored pinwheel icon on a white background. Doing so will open your iCloud Photos app.
4

Click the "Upload" button. This icon resembles a cloud with an upward-facing arrow. Clicking it prompts a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window to open.
5
Click the photos' storage folder. Click the folder in which your photos are stored. You'll find a list of folders on the left side of the window, so look for the pertinent folder there.
6
Select photos to upload. Click and drag your mouse across a group of pictures you want to select, or hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac) and click each picture you want to select individually.
7
Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will prompt your photos to begin uploading to iCloud.
8
Wait for your photos to finish uploading. This will take some time depending on how many photos you're uploading. Once the upload is complete, your photos should be accessible on your iPhone.
- In order for the photos to show up on your iPhone, you must have iCloud Photo Library enabled on your iPhone.

1
Open the Google Photos website on a computer. Go to https://photos.google.com/. This will open a page with your Android'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.
2
Click UPLOAD. This blue button is in the top-right side of the page. Clicking it prompts a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window to open.
3
Click your photos' location. Click a folder with photos in it on the left side of the File Explorer or Finder window.
4
Select photos to upload. Click and drag your mouse across a group of pictures you want to select, or hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac) and click each picture you want to select individually.
5
Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
6
Select an upload quality. Check one of the following options:
- High quality - Uploads the photo(s) in high quality resolution at a reduced file size. This does not count against your Google Drive storage limit.
- Original - Uploads the photo(s) in the original resolution, which may be higher than the "High quality" option. This counts against your Google Drive storage limit.
7
Click CONTINUE. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the quality window. Doing so will prompt the photo(s) to begin uploading to your Google Photos account.
8
Open Google Photos on your Android. This app resembles a red, yellow, green, and blue four-point star.
- If you aren't signed into Google Photos, you'll first enter your email address and password when prompted.
9
Tap ☰. It's in the top-left corner of the screen. A pop-out menu will appear.
10
Tap Settings. It's near the bottom of the pop-out menu.
11
Tap Back up & sync. This is near the top of the Settings menu.
12
Make sure the switch is set to "On"
. If it isn't, tap the switch to turn on backup for your photos. This will enable synchronization between your Google Photos account and the Google Photos app, which will put the photo(s) you just uploaded to Google Photos on your Android.

1
Download the Xender app to your phone. Xender is available on different app markets like Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Huawei AppGallery, and Apkpure.
2
On the Xender app, tap on the Connect to PC shortcut at the top right corner of the screen. On the top right corner, there is a laptop icon and a plus icon. The laptop icon is the shortcut to the Connect to PC feature. You can also tap on the plus icon and a list will show up. You can also tap on Connect to PC there.
3
Accept the permissions the Xender app requests like access to storage and location. On Android, apps need permission to access files on the device. Location information is important in detecting the Wi-Fi hotspot your device is connected to.
4
Connect your devices at the same Wi-Fi hotspot. If there is a Wi-Fi hotspot already available, just connect your phone and computer to that Wi-Fi hotspot. You can also use your phone or computer to create a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you cannot create a Wi-Fi link between your devices, you can still transfer files over the internet however this will be slower so using Google Photos or other cloud services is a much better option.
5
Open your web browser and visit the IP address as shown on the Xender app. The IP address shown in the app is the IP address of your phone on the Wi-Fi hotspot. The app automatically finds it for you and you just need to type the address in your browser to connect your browser to your phone. You can also go to web.xender.com and connect your phone using QR code by swiping up the web mode at the bottom of the app and tapping the scan button to scan the QR code.
6
On your computer, click on the Image/Photos icon and you will see an interface where you can download your images directly using Wi-Fi and without the need of a cable or internet. You can also tap specific images on the phone screen and swipe up to automatically download them to your computer.

Add New Question

Question
How do I transfer my pictures from my PC to my phone?

From your computer, compose an email to your own email address with the image(s) attached. Then open the email from your phone and save the image(s).
Question
How can I transfer pictures and video from an iPhone 6+ storage to iCloud storage?

Hold the picture, and a pop up will give you the option to put the picture in cloud storage. Just click the option.
Question
How do I upload photos without a USB cable?

Download Google Photos, upload the photos, and from the Google Photos website, download them to your computer. You could also email yourself the photos from your phone and download them to your computer that way as well.

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Aside from Google Photos and iCloud, there are plenty of neutral cloud storage services (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) that you can use for free on any smartphone, tablet, and computer.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

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Large files will take a while to transfer from your computer to your phone.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To transfer an image from your computer to your Android phone, start by connecting your phone to your computer with a USB cable. Then, open File Explorer and click on your Pictures folder or wherever your images are stored. Once you’ve selected the pictures you want to copy, click “Copy to” in the toolbar and select your phone from the pop-up menu. Choose the folder you want to copy your images to, and click “Copy.” Alternatively, upload your photos to a cloud storage service, like Google Photos. Then, open the app on your phone, navigate to “Settings” and make sure “Backup and Sync” is checked to sync your photos to your phone. For more tips, including how to transfer images from your computer to your iPhone, read on!

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Is this article up to date?

How do I transfer photos from mobile phone to laptop?

With a USB cable, connect your phone to your computer. On your phone, tap the "Charging this device via USB" notification. Under "Use USB for," select File Transfer. An Android File Transfer window will open on your computer.

How do I transfer pictures from my phone to my laptop wirelessly?

Get the Transfer Companion App on your Android phone. Scan the Droid Transfer QR code with the Transfer Companion App. The computer and phone are now linked. Select the files that you'd like to transfer from your Android device and hit "Copy to PC" in Droid Transfer.