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How to transfer files between Android and Windows PC

At one point or another, there's a good chance you've had to move files between your phone and PC. Whether you want to see a picture on the big screen, or you have a document you're working on but you need to continue on another device, it's not an uncommon situation. There are a lot of ways to transfer files between Android and Windows, some simpler than others, but they all have pros and cons.www.aka.ms.yourpc
If you’re struggling to transfer a file from Android to Windows, or vice versa, there are a few methods you can use to do so. Let’s start with the methods of file transfer that use a USB cable or require a physical connection to your Android device or Windows PC.
Move files with a USB cable
It's pretty straightforward to transfer files from an Android phone to a Windows PC and vice versa using a USB cable. Typically, you’ll get a USB cable in the box when you buy a new phone, so you already have everything you need.
Unlock your Android phone and connect it to your PC using a USB cable.Your phone will detect the connection and show a notification.Charging notification in Notifications ShadeIf you’ve connected the phone for the first time to a computer, you’ll see something like Charging this device via USB.Tap the notification and you'll see a list of options under Use USB connection for. Select the option called File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol). You can select to choose this option for just one time or always.
File Explorer showing phone contents on PC
Your phone will now start showing up in the computer’s File Explorer, and you'll be able to transfer files between the phone and the PC as you would do with a USB drive.Once you’re done, remove the cable. Just make sure all transfer tasks have been completed.
Using ADB to move files
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is also an option for transferring files between an Android device and a Windows computer. It's not the easiest method for most people, but if you're using to command-line interfaces, it may be a bit more familiar and efficient. To use ADB to transfer files, you’ll need the ADB setup on your computer. If you don’t already have it, use our guide on how to install ADB on Windows.
To use ADB commands, you can either connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable or run the commands wirelessly. While wireless ADB is pretty easy with Android 11 or newer versions, it takes slightly more work with Android 10 or older versions. Google has explained all the steps required to make ADB work wirelessly on the Android developer website.
ADB Push and Pull Commands
To send or receive files using ADB on your phone, you'll be using the following commands.
To get a file from your phone to your phone, use the command below, replacing %path-on-phone% with the path of what you want to transfer, and %path-on-PC% with the destination where you want the files to be saved. You can transfer entire folders or a single file.adb pull /sdcard/%path-on-phone% %path-on-PC%To send a file from your PC to your phone, you use the push command and enter the PC and phone paths in reverse order.adb push /sdcard/%path-on-phone% %path-on-PC%Make sure to use /sdcard/ in the path, even if your phone doesn't have an SD card slot. Also, keep in mind that the phone path will be formatted with forward slashes (/) as shown above, but the path on your PC must be formatted with backslashes (\).
Using USB OTG to transfer files
OTG Pen Drive Connected to Phone
Android has supported USB OTG (on-the-go) since its early days. This USB specification allows devices like smartphones to act as a host to USB devices like flash drives, mice, and keyboards. USB OTG support depends on the hardware present in your smartphone but if it does support OTG, you can use a thumb drive to transfer files from or to your computer. Depending on your phone’s USB port and the port on your USB drive, you may also need an adapter.
Once you have successfully connected your USB flash drive to your phone, you can use any file manager to open it and transfer files between the drive and your phone. Then, you can plug the same drive into your computer and transfer the files copied from your phone. This can be done the other way around as well. You can even connect external hard drives to your phone, given your phone is able to power them and transfer files and folders.
This is actually quite a handy way to transfer a large amount of content to and from your phone. Plus, it's easy to use with any PC without requiring much setup. It makes it easy to share files with other people in a pinch, for example, and there's a good chance you already know how flash drives work.

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