How to Transfer Photos from an Android to Windows

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Getting photos from your Android phone to your PC can be a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. There are many reasons you may want to transfer photos to your PC.

  • Create a backup of your pictures on your PC.
  • Edit you pictures in an advanced editor.
  • Share your pictures on social media.
Android plugged into PC

This guide will walk you though importing your pictures from your Android device to your Windows PC.

2. Version Check

For the next steps, we'll need to determine which version of Windows you're running.

  1. On your keyboard, hold the Windows key then tap Pause/Break.
Keyboard with Windows and Pause keys highlighted.
  1. A System Properties window will appear with your version of Windows.
Windows System properties.
  1. System Properties will also show which edition of Windows you have. Pictured below is Windows 10 Home Edition.
Windows 10 Home edition.

3. Import Pictures and Videos Wizard

The device used in this guide is using Android 8 (Oreo). Steps may vary if you are running different versions of Android.

From The Android Device

  1. Plug in your Android device to your computer via the supplied USB cable.
  2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
Home screen with arrow pointing down
  1. Tap on the USB Notification at the bottom of your notifications.
Notifications with USB Mode highlighted
  1. Tap the expanded USB Notification.
Notifications with USB Mode expanded
  1. Tap on Transfer Photos (PTP).
USB Mode with Transfer Photos circle highlighted

From The Computer

  1. Click on the Start Menu.
Start Menu
  1. Type File Explorer in the Search bar.
File Explorer typed in search bar
  1. Click On File Explorer.
Start Menu with File Explorer highlighted
  1. On the left column in File Explorer navigation pane, click on This PC.
This PC
  1. In the list of devices, find your Android device highlight it by left clicking on it.
File Explorer with Android device highlighted
  1. Right click on the device and click Import Pictures and videos.
File Explorer context menu with Import photos and videos highlighted
  1. Ensure Review, organize, and group items to import is selected and hit Next.
Import pictures and videos screen with Review, organize, and group items to import and the next button highlighted

  1. Import all new items now will automatically import all new photos without the need to review them.
  2. More options will let you change where pictures are saved, how you want to name them, rotate options, and weather or not to delete files from your device after importing them to you PC.
  1. Review the items you want to import and then click Import.
Review Photos with import highlighted
  1. The import process will now start.

4. Import Pictures and Videos Wizard

The device used in this guide is using Android 8 (Oreo). If your device is running a different version of Android, steps may vary slightly.

From The Android Device

  1. Plug in your Android device to your computer via the supplied USB cable.
  2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
Home screen with arrow pointing down
  1. Tap on the USB Notification at the bottom of your notifications.
Notifications with USB Mode highlighted
  1. Tap the expanded USB Notification.
Notifications with USB Mode expanded
  1. Tap on Transfer Photos (PTP).
USB Mode with Transfer Photos circle highlighted

From The Computer

  1. Click on the Start Menu.
Start Menu
  1. Click the Search icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Start Menu search icon
  1. Type File Explorer in the Search bar.
Search bar highlighted with File Explorer typed in the search bar
  1. Click On File Explorer.
Search with File Explorer highlighted
  1. On the left column in File Explorer navigation pane, click on This PC.
This PC
  1. In the list of devices, find your Android device highlight it by left clicking on it.
Devices and drives with Android device highlighted
  1. Right click on the device and click Import Pictures and Videos.
Context menu with Import pictures and videos highlighted
  1. Ensure Review, organize, and group items to import is selected and hit Next.
Import pictures and videos screen with Review, organize, and group items to import and the next button highlighted

  1. Import all new items now will automatically import all new photos without the need to review them.
  2. More options will let you change where pictures are saved, how you want to name them, rotate options, and weather or not to delete files from your device after importing them to you PC.
Import settings window.
  1. Review the items you want to import and then click Import.
Review Photos with import highlighted
  1. The import process will now start.

5. Import Pictures and Videos Wizard

The device used in this guide is using Android 8 (Oreo). Steps may vary if you are running different versions of Android.

From The Android Device

  1. Plug in your Android device to your computer via the supplied USB cable.
  2. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
Home screen with arrow pointing down
  1. Tap on the USB Notification at the bottom of your notifications.
Notifications with USB Mode highlighted
  1. Tap the expanded USB Notification.
Notifications with USB Mode expanded
  1. Tap on Transfer Photos (PTP).
USB Mode with Transfer Photos circle highlighted

From The Computer

  1. Click on the Start Menu.
Start Menu
  1. Type Windows Explorer in the Search bar.
Search bar highlighted with Windows Explorer typed in
  1. Click On Windows Explorer.
Start Menu with Windows Explorer highlighted
  1. On the left column in File Explorer navigation pane, click on Computer.
Computer
  1. In the list of devices, find your Android device highlight it by left clicking on it.
Portable devices with Android phone highlighted
  1. Right click on the device and click Import Pictures and videos.
Context menu with Import pictures and videos highlighted
  1. Ensure Review, organize, and group items to import is selected and hit Next.
Import pictures and videos with Import highlighted

  1. Import all new items now will automatically import all new photos without the need to review them.
  2. More options will let you change where pictures are saved, how you want to name them, rotate options, and weather or not to delete files from your device after importing them to you PC.
  1. The import process will now start.