How to Download Photos from Android Phone to PC

Need to transfer photos from your Android phone to your PC? Whether you’re upgrading to a new device, freeing up space, or simply want to view your pictures on a larger screen, there are several easy methods to accomplish this. This guide will walk you through five different ways to download photos from your Android phone to your Windows computer, covering both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Using a USB Cable

The most straightforward method is to connect your phone directly to your PC with a USB cable.

1. Plug your phone into your computer’s USB port.

2. On your Android device, swipe down from the top to access the notification panel. Look for the USB connection notification, which might indicate “Charging this device via USB.”

3. Tap the notification and select “File Transfer” or “Transfer files” from the USB connection options.

![Selecting File Transfer mode on Android](Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET4. Next, open File Explorer on your Windows PC and navigate to your Android device.5. Drill down through the Internal Storage or Internal Shared Storage folder to the DCIM subfolder and then open the Camera folder. You should see all of the phone’s photos here.6. Open another window in File Explorer to a local folder on your PC. You can then copy and paste or drag and drop the photos from your phone to your computer.

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4. Open File Explorer on your PC and locate your Android device under “This PC” or “Computer.”

5. Navigate to the “Internal Storage” or “DCIM” folder, then the “Camera” folder, where your photos are typically stored.

6. Open a second File Explorer window to your desired destination folder on your PC. Copy and paste or drag and drop the photos from your phone to your computer.

Importing with the Windows Photos App

The Windows Photos app offers a streamlined import process.

1. Connect your Android phone to your PC via USB.

![Windows Photos App Import Screen](Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET2. Open the Photos app on your PC.3. Click the Import button and select your Android phone. Allow the app to generate all the photos from the device. 4. Check the box for “Select new” or “Select all.”5. Select the folder on your PC to which you want to transfer the photos.6. When ready, click the Import button.

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2. Open the Photos app on your PC.

3. Click the “Import” button and select your connected Android phone.

4. Choose to import all photos or only new ones.

5. Select the destination folder on your PC.

6. Click “Import” to begin the transfer.

Downloading from Google Photos

If you use Google Photos to back up your pictures, you can download them directly to your computer.

1. Ensure Google Photos backup is enabled on your phone. Check under Settings > Google > Photos > Backup.

on your computer. You should there see the photos synced from your Android phone.

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2. Access photos.google.com on your PC and sign in to your Google account.

3. Select the photos you wish to download. You can select multiple photos by clicking the first photo, holding Shift, and clicking the last photo.

![Downloading photos from Google Photos](Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

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4. Click the three-dot menu icon and select “Download.” The photos will be downloaded as a ZIP file.

Utilizing Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive offers automatic photo uploads and easy access on your PC.

1. Install the OneDrive app on your Android phone and sign in.

![OneDrive Camera Upload Setting](screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET5. After the photos have been synced, open the OneDrive folder on your computer and you should see all the photos.

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2. Enable “Camera upload” in the OneDrive app settings.

3. Once your photos are synced to OneDrive, access them from the OneDrive folder on your PC.

Transferring with Microsoft Phone Link

Microsoft Phone Link provides wireless access to your phone’s photos on your PC.

1. Link your Android phone to your Windows PC using the Phone Link app. For instructions on linking your phone, refer to Microsoft’s support documentation.

![Accessing photos in the Phone Link app](Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
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2. Open the Phone Link app on your PC and select “Photos.”

3. Right-click on individual photos and choose “Save as” to download them.

While Phone Link doesn’t support bulk downloading, it’s convenient for transferring a few pictures quickly. Choosing the right method depends on your individual needs and preferences. Each of these options offers a reliable way to download photos from your Android phone to your PC.