How to connect android phone to laptop for file transfer
In this article we will explain you how to connect android phone to laptop for file transfer. You can connect android phone to PC using wired method with USB cable or wireless methods like wifi based apps and with Bluetooth.
If you are looking for how to screen mirror android to Laptop or PC, you can visit our previous post.
If you think there is only one way to transfer file from Android to PC that is using USB cable than you must read this post upto last to see various options of file transfer. There are many ways by which you can transfer or copy the files from Android mobile to laptop or vice versa as per your comfort.
Lets see what are the different methods on how to connect android phone to laptop or PC for file transfer.
How to connect android phone to laptop in traditional way using USB Cable
The easiest way to transfer the files is traditional way using USB cable, connect the USB data cable to PC when prompted on your mobile select as MTP (media transfer protocol) or file transfer.
This will show the mobile storage as disk drive under file explorer. The drawback of this method is that speed of file transfer is very slow, some time connection lost during copying the files.
To connect android mobile to PC, you just need USB cable that come with mobile like USB type C to Type A , micro USB to Type A or Type C to Type C (nowadays this type of cable is more popular).
If in your laptop Type C usb port is not available you have buy Type C female to Type A male USB adapter to connect with PC.
Steps for how to connect Android phone to laptop using USB cable
- First connect USB cable to mobile and Laptop
- Now in Android mobile choose MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) or file transfer option when prompted, or swipe down notification bar to see these options
- Wait for PC to establish connection by installing drivers if required
- In the PC go to “this PC” and your mobile storage will be shown there as a drive
- Open the drive to view files and folders and copy
Generally, Windows 10 does not require any additional drivers, if you have faced any issue with connection you need to install required drivers for your phone.
Some phones like Oneplus having drivers in the phone memory itself, you can also download them using phone manufacturer’s website support section or searching in Google “Phone model USB drivers” to download the drivers.
You can also install respective manufacturer’s PC suite if available for drivers e.g Samsung Kies, Hi Suite etc.
Transfer files using USB OTG or microSD card
Most of Android mobile nowadays supports USB on the Go (OTG) protocol. You need to purchase Type C to Type A OTG dongle, to transfer files using OTG method.
These dongles are available at very cheap prizes on Amazon / Flipkart or in local market. You can easily transfer files from Mobile to PC or vice versa using USB drive.
Another method is copying the files using microSD card, if your mobile having microSD card slot you can transfer files to SD card and thereafter can be copied to PC.
The benefits of these method are that you can transfer files faster compared to traditional USB data cable method.
Transfer files from Android Mobile to PC using USB cable and PC suites
Some manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei / Honor provide PC suite to connect their phones to PC or laptop, Samsung named their PC suite as Samsung Kies and Huawei named as HI Suite.
This PC suite not only supports file transfer but you can also backup your phone into laptop, can update your phone software and other many useful features.
To connect phone with Laptop first you need to install PC suite in your laptop or PC than also install any app if suggested by PC suite in your mobile.
Now connect your mobile to PC using USB cable, this will automatically install require drivers for your mobile in PC as these PC suite come with inbuilt drivers.
If prompted to unlock your phone, unlock the mobile to access the content over Laptop.
How to connect android phone to laptop using third party apps like Airdroid and Pushbullet
These apps are very much popular in Android devices that not only supports file transfer over USB, but you can transfer using Wi-Fi, and internet also.
These app also enable remote access to your your device through PC and screen mirroring your android mobile to PC.
To use all the features of Airdroid and Pushbullet over Laptop you need to enable USB debugging in your mobile.
Steps to enable USB debugging
- First enable developer option in the setting
- For this tap seven times on the built number in the about phone section
- Now in developer options enable USB debugging
How to connect Android to PC using Airdroid
To connect your mobile to Airdroid follow these steps:
- First install Airdroid in you mobile
- Now install Airdroid app in your PC
- Login with your account in both the devices or create one if you don’t have
- Now connect phone to PC using USB cable
- In the mobile select USB connection as MTP / file transfer option
- If prompted in mobile for USB debugging permission, click ok and also check box trust this PC
- Now open Airdroid app in Laptop
- Enable the required permission as prompted on the mobile such as accessibility, draw over other app, file permission, notification access
- Alternatively you can also use Airdroid over their web interface
How to connect Android to Laptop using Pushbullet
The process of Airdroid and Push bullet almost same, you need USB debugging for full features like remote access and screen mirror.
Install Pushbullet in your PC and mobile now connect phone to PC using USB cable. Enable permissions like files, notifications, draw over other apps when prompted over the phone.
Using Pushbullet you can easily transfer files from Android to PC or vice versa.
Transfer Files Android to PC using Wireless methods
Some apps like Airdroid, Pushbullet, Xender also works to tranfer Android to PC over wifi.
Two most popular apps Shareit and Xender are now blocked in India, However Xender can still be installed from the some websites that provide their apk files.
After installing Xender you can browse the Android files over the PC on local Wi-Fi network in any browser by typing the IP address shown on the app.
These apps works on Wi-Fi direct method to transfer files. Transfer of files are also very faster even 10 Mbps or higher.
Disclaimer – Genuine websites of Shareit and Xender app are now blocked in India, so be careful to install their apk file from third party websites.
How to connect android phone to Laptop using Bluetooth
Using Bluetooth you can also transfer files between PC and mobile, but the speed of file transfer is very slow using Bluetooth. In the computer go to settings and search for Bluetooth devices and add your mobile to Windows using passcode if requires. Now you can send and receive files over Bluetooth.
Follow the below steps for how to connect android phone to Laptop using bluetooth.
Steps for conencting your Android phone to PC using bluetooth
- Turn on bluetooth for both Android mobile and Windows Laptop
- Open Windows settings
- Now click on devices, click on + sign to add new bluetooth device
- Select Bluetooth Mice, Keyboard etc.
- Now from the list select your android mobile to pair and connect
- If any passcode requested enter in your mobile or accept
- Now your Android mobile is connected with your Laptop
- In the right side your will found send and receive files via Bluetooth
- Now in mobile select the file you want to send via Bluetooth
- Tap to share icon and select bluetooth
- Now from the list tap over the name of your Laptop
- And the file will be now received on your Laptop
Transfer files using Cloud services
The Cloud method is very faster and efficient way to transfer files between devices, but you need a good quality high speed internet connection for these operations. Otherwise you will frustrated to transferring the files on slow speed.
For example, backup of WhatsApp can be done on Google drive. This backup also don’t consume space on cloud as per the agreement signed between Google and WhatsApp.
So your backup of WhatsApp automatically uploaded on Google Drive time to time as per the setting configure by you.
At the time of you change your phone, you can restore your device settings, apps, preferences as it is if Google backup is enabled. Further photos and videos can be uploaded to Google Photos .
Some of the famous cloud services are Google Drive, Microsoft One drive, Dropbox etc. You can upload and download your files , whenever required also this is the safest way to store and backup of your important files to avoid loss of data in the event of loss of device or malfunction of storage drives.
How to connect Android mobile to Laptop using Microsoft Your Phone
Microsoft Your Phone app allow Android users to many features. You can receive notifications on the WIndows 10 Laptop, send and receive text messages, view and copy files, and even now in some mobile like Samsung and Oneplus you can make call straight from your laptop over bluetooth.
We will tell you how to setup Your Phone app with your Android mobile.
Steps for setting up and conenct Your Phone app with Android
- Open “Your Phone” app from start menu in Windows by searching Your Phone
- If this app is not installed in your Laptop than install it using Microsoft Store
- Click on “Link New Device”
- Select “Android” and continue
- On next screen choose your Microsoft account to link with mobile
- Install Your Phone companion app in Android mobile
- Now in next screen use pair with QR Code on Laptop
- In mobile under Phone Companion app choose link PC
- Now scan QR code from the companion app
- Allow permission as requested on the phone for camera, contacts, Files and Media, phone, sms, call logs, notification etc.
- You are done
Now you can see the Text messages, Photos in the Windows 10 laptop and can also see all the phone notifications on the laptop.
How to setup Calling from Windows 10 laptop
You can also make and receive calls on the Laptop itself using bluetooth if your mobile supported by Your Phone app.
Steps for setting up calling feature using Your phone app
- Click on “Calls” the left side
- Now click Get started
- Now your phone will be setup for calling from Laptop
- Allow Bluetoth pairing option in mobile
- Allow any permission required to make calls
- Now you can make calls from Windows Laptop also
Conclusion
In this post we have shown you various method on how to connect android phone to laptop for file transfer from Android to PC or vice versa.
We have tested various options and found that USB OTG method, Cloud method is faster than native USB cable over MTP protocol to transfer files between Laptop to Android.
Further some apps like Airdroid and Pushbullets works very well for various purposes. Windows Your Phone app is a wonderful solution for receiving messages, calls, notifications over Adnroid phone, however support of Your Phone app is now limited to some phone. That may be incrased with wider coverage of phones in future.