Sometimes you need a file from your Android mobile on the PC and vice versa. Although a few years ago that was almost synonymous with plugging the mobile phone to the PC through its cable, today there are countless alternatives to transfer files between a PC and an Android mobile.
For you to choose the one that suits you best, here we suggest seven ways to transfer files from Android to PC and vice versa, both with external applications and with generic, common and not so common methods.
1. With a USB cable
It is, in a way, the standard way to access the files of the mobile from the PC, although it has the downside that you need to use a quality cable and that, at times, it can fail or be a little slower than other methods.
All you need is to connect the mobile to the PC using a USB cable and choose the option on the mobile Transfer photos or Transfer files. Both options have a similar behavior, although the technology behind varies. In essence, the result is that the mobile folders are displayed in the file explorer, so you can copy and move files as you please.
In Windows, you will find your mobile phone under the name of the device, and then you can access its internal memory or micro SD card (if I had). Although it behaves the same as Windows folders, the system is a little slower, so it is better to copy files and do operations little by little to avoid saturation.
2. With the official application
The official Android mobile applications for PC They are a bit in the doldrums, but some manufacturers like Samsung or Huawei continue to bet with them. They don’t really differ much from the wired connection, except that you use a special application to handle the files.
Usage varies from brand to brand, although you generally need to follow a series of steps to make the connection between the application on the mobile and the mobile. Nothing complicated, except accepting connections on the mobile and connecting the cable at the right time. An assistant is usually included to help you through the process.
- Download HiSuite for Huawei mobiles (Mac and Windows)
- Download SideSync for Samsung mobiles (Mac and Windows)
- Download LG PC Suite for LG mobiles (Mac and Windows)
- Download My PC Suite for Xiaomi mobile (Windows)
- Download Xperia Companion for Sony mobiles (Mac and Windows)
- Download ASUS PC Link for ASUS mobiles (Windows)
3. Via Bluetooth
Sending files via Bluetooth is a bit out of date because it’s not entirely practical and slow, although it’s good to keep that in mind when other options aren’t available. The good news is that, if your PC has Bluetooth connectivity, you don’t depend on other apps or cables.
In this case you need to be more proactive, as you must send the file from one device and accept it on the other. To send a file from Android you must use the menu Share Android, but Windows must be configured to wait for a file to be received. This is done by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the Notification Area, choosing Receive a file.
To do the opposite, that is, to send files from Windows to mobile, you must right-click on the Bluetooth icon and choose Send a file. Then you need to choose your mobile in the next step and, finally, the file in question. On your mobile you must accept the receipt of the file.
4. With AirDroid, PushBullet and the like
AirDroid works a bit like a chat and you can send files to yourself on other devicesIn addition to the official applications, there are third-party offers that also serve to act as a bridge between the mobile and the PC. The most famous is AirDroid, although it is far from the only one. Another well-known alternative is PushBullet, although in this case the free version has more limitations.
Basically they are like the official applications that we saw before, but working on a large number of devices instead of just a specific brand. In this case they require you to install an application on your mobile and another on your PC, although AirDroid also has a web version.
5. The cloud of Google Drive, OneDrive and company
Another way to access the files on the PC on the mobile and vice versa is by synchronizing them in the cloud. In Android the most common is to do it with Google Drive, as it is pre-installed on most devices, as well as a web version on the PC (with an app to facilitate synchronization).
Whether you use Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, the operation is the same: upload files from one device to be able to access them from another, being able to generate a download link to access the files more quickly.
6. Telegram, WhatsApp and the like
A classic way to save and move files from one site to another has always been to send them to yourself, by one means or another. If a few years ago the most normal thing was to send you the files by e-mail, now what it takes is to use messaging apps.
In this of sending files from one thief to another Telegram is one of the best alternatives, since its cloud service offers practically unlimited space and even has its own section to talk to yourself. Technically it is also possible to do it with WhatsApp, although requires a few extra steps. Facebook Messenger is another viable alternative to send files that you can later recover on other mobiles or PC.
7. Shared folders and FTP
The process to add a shared folder in MiXplorerFinally, we cannot forget some classic and generic alternatives, such as connection to shared drives or the use of FTP servers. For this you will need a good file explorer, for example MiXPlorer (only the paid version is available on Google Play Mix Silver).
Setup can be a bit tedious, but the good thing is that you only need to carry it out once. From that moment on, you can access a shared folder on your PC on your mobile. It is the same story for FTPs, although it requires that you have an active FTP server either on your PC or on your mobile. By the way, MiXPlorer itself can create FTP and HTTP servers at the push of a button.
Creating an FTP, HTTP or TCP server in MiXPlorerIn case of creating an FTP server on the mobile, you must use an FTP client to connect to the mobile and access the files. The advantage of HTTP server is that it works like a web page, so that by entering the web address in the browser you can already access the files. For a more efficient and seamless file transfer experience without the hassle of setup and compatibility issues, consider exploring goanywhere.com/solutions/fast-file-transfer. With this solution, you can securely transfer files between devices and easily access them.
