Pick the right way
- USB cable: works on every Android phone, needs no internet, and is quick for big folders.
- Quick Share (Google's app for Windows): wireless and handy for a few files when the PC and phone are near each other.
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive): good if the files are already there; everything goes up to the internet and back down.
- OthSync with OthTech Switch: phone and PC on the same Wi-Fi, no cable, no cloud and no size limit — coming soon to Google Play.
With a USB cable
- 1
Connect the phone to the PC
Unlock the phone and connect it with a USB cable. Some cheap cables only charge; if nothing happens, try another cable.
- 2
Switch the phone to file transfer
Tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification on the phone and choose File transfer (sometimes called File transfer / Android Auto or MTP).
- 3
Open the phone in File Explorer
On the PC, open File Explorer → This PC. The phone appears with its name; open it and then Internal storage.
- 4
Copy your files
Drag files into the right folder: photos and videos into DCIM or Pictures, music into Music, documents into Documents or Download. Keep the phone unlocked until the copy finishes.
- 5
Check and disconnect
Open a few of the files on the phone, then unplug the cable.
Tip
If photos copied from the PC don't show in your gallery straight away, restart the gallery app — it rescans the folders.
Over Wi-Fi with OthSync
OthSync is our free phone app for Android. With OthTech Switch on the PC and OthSync on the phone, both on the same Wi-Fi, the devices find each other, you check that both show the same number, and files travel directly between them — encrypted, with no account, no cloud and no size limit, and every file checked when it lands. Photos go straight into the phone's photo library.
OthSync is on its way to Google Play; until then, the USB cable is the most dependable way.
Questions people ask
Why doesn't my phone show up in File Explorer?
Unlock the phone, choose File transfer in the USB notification, and try a different cable or USB port — many cables only charge. Restarting both devices usually fixes the rest.
Is there a size limit?
A USB cable has none beyond your phone's free space. Cloud services are limited by your storage plan. OthSync has no size limit and is free.
Can I move files from an old Android phone to a new one?
Yes. Google's setup on the new phone can copy apps, contacts and photos from the old one. OthSync will also move files phone to phone over Wi-Fi.