You can transfer files and information from your iPhone or Android to your Windows computer or Mac. The data you can send are photos, videos, notes, contact lists, and more. You can use a USB cable to transfer files and information. You can also use Bluetooth to transfer files from iPhone to Mac or from Android to Windows computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 7: Use an iPhone USB cable
Step 1. Make sure you have iTunes installed
You can easily backup all your iPhone data to your computer with the free iTunes program.
If you don't have iTunes on your computer, download and install it before continuing
Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your computer
Insert the USB end of your iPhone's charger cable into one of the USB ports on your computer and the other end into your phone.
Step 3. Open iTunes
This is the multi-colored musical note icon on a white background.
Step 4. Click on the iPhone icon
This iPhone-shaped icon is located at the top left of the window.
Step 5. Select the This computer check box
It can be found in the "Backups" section of your iPhone page. Check this box to ensure that your phone data will be backed up to your computer and not to iCloud.
Step 6. Select Back Up Now
This gray button is located to the right of the “Backups” section. Click on it to start the backup on your computer.
You can see the progress of your backup in the status bar at the top of the iTunes window
Step 7. Wait for the backup to complete
When the backup is complete, a ringtone will sound and you can disconnect your iPhone from your computer.
Method 2 of 7: Use a USB cable for Android on Windows
Step 1. Connect your Android to your computer
Plug the USB end of your Android's charger cable into one of your computer's USB ports and the other end into your phone.
Step 2. Tap the USB notification on your Android
When prompted, confirm that you want to use the USB connection to transfer files by tapping the most relevant notification. You can then switch to your computer.
Step 3. Open the Start menu
Click on the Windows logo at the bottom left of the screen.
Step 4. Open File Explorer
Click on the folder icon at the bottom left of the start window.
Step 5. Click This Computer
This option is on the left in File Explorer, but you may have to scroll the panel up or down to find it.
Step 6. Double-click on your Android
In the "Devices and Drives" section, double-click on the name of your Android. Your phone's folder will open.
Step 7. Find the file you want to transfer
On most Android devices, you will need to open a storage folder (eg “Internal storage memory”) before you can see the information stored on the phone. You may also need to open other additional folders.
For Android devices with external storage space, you will find most of your files in the “SD Card” or “Removable Storage” folder rather than the “Internal Storage Memory” folder
Step 8. Select the file or folder
Click on the file or folder you want to transfer to your computer. If you want to select multiple files, press the Ctrl key and click on each one.
Step 9. Copy the file or folder
Press Ctrl + C to copy the folders or files you selected.
Step 10. Open the folder where you want to save the copied items
In the sidebar to the left of the file explorer, click on the folder on your computer (for example "Documents") in which you want to place the copied items.
Step 11. Paste the file or folder
Press Ctrl + V and the copied items will appear in the selected folder. The transfer may take longer or shorter depending on their size.
You can also perform this process in reverse order by copying a file or folder to your computer and pasting it to a folder in your Android's internal memory
Method 3 of 7: Use USB cable for Android on Mac
Step 1. Download and install the Android File Transfer program
This program can be downloaded and used free of charge. It is required to browse through your Android files on your Mac. To download Android File Transfer:
- go to this site;
- click on DOWNLOAD NOW;
- double click on the Android File Transfer DMG file;
- check the program if prompted;
- click and drag the Android File Transfer icon to the Applications folder.
Step 2. Connect your Android to your computer
Connect the USB end of your Android's charger cable to one of the USB ports on your computer. Plug the other end into your Android.
If your Mac has USB-C ports instead of USB 3.0 ports, you'll need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter to be able to connect your Android
Step 3. Tap the USB notification on your Android
At the command prompt, confirm to use the USB connection to transfer files by selecting the most suitable notification on your phone. From there, you can switch to your computer.
Step 4. Open Android File Transfer
If Android File Transfer does not open automatically, click Spotlight
in the top right corner of your Mac screen, type android file transfer in the Spotlight search bar and double click on the application icon Android File Transfer.
Step 5. Find the file you want to transfer
Before you can view the contents of your Android, you will need to open a storage folder (e.g. internal storage memory), but you may need to open additional folders.
For Android devices with removable storage space, you will find most of your files in the “SD Card” or “Removable Storage” folder and not in the “Internal Storage Memory” folder
Step 6. Select the file or folder
Click on the file or folder you want to transfer to your computer. To select multiple files, hold down the Command key as you click each one.
Step 7. Copy the file or folder
Press Command + C to copy the files or folders you selected.
Step 8. Go to where you want to save the copied items
On the left in Finder, click on the folder (for example Desktop) where you want to place the copied items.
Step 9. Paste the file or folder
Press Command + V and the copied items will appear in the selected folder. The transfer may take a long time depending on the size of the copied content.
The reverse process can also be done by copying a file or folder from your computer to paste it into a folder in your Android's internal storage space
Method 4 of 7: Use Bluetooth between iPhone and Mac
Step 1. Turn on your iPhone's Bluetooth
Open the app Settings
, Press on Bluetooth then on the white switch "Bluetooth"
. The switch will turn green
If the switch is green, it means that Bluetooth is already activated
Step 2. Turn on your Mac's Bluetooth
Click on the Apple menu
> System Preferences … > Bluetooth then on Activate bluetooth to the left of the window.
- If Bluetooth is already on, this button will indicate Disable bluetooth. In this case, do not click the button.
Step 3. Find the name of your iPhone
You should see it appear in the "Devices" section of the Bluetooth window after a while.
Step 4. Click Pair
This option should be to the right of your iPhone name. Click on it to connect your Mac and your phone.
Step 5. Open the file you want to share
On your iPhone, open the photo, video, or note you want to transfer to your Mac.
Step 6. Tap the share button
You will find it in one of the corners of the screen. Tap it to bring up a menu at the bottom of your screen.
Step 7. Select the name of your Mac
It should be at the top of the menu. Tap on it to transfer the file to your Mac's "AirDrop" folder which you will find by opening Finder and searching the left sidebar.
- You may have to wait a few seconds for your Mac's name to appear.
- You can transfer files from your Mac to your iPhone by opening the AirDrop folder, waiting for your phone's name to appear and then dragging and dropping on that name.
Method 5 of 7: Use Bluetooth between an Android and a Windows computer
Step 1. Activate Bluetooth on your Android
Swipe down on the screen, touch and hold the icon Bluetooth
and slide the switch
to the right. The switch will change color
to indicate the activation of Bluetooth.
- If the switch is blue or green, your Android's Bluetooth is already on.
- On a Samsung Galaxy, the switch is to the right of an OFF header and turns blue or green when pressed.
Step 2. Turn on your computer's Bluetooth in Windows
Go to To start up
> Settings
> Peripheral devices > Bluetooth and other devices then click on the white switch
under the "Bluetooth" heading. The switch will slide to the right.
If you see “On” next to this switch, your computer's Bluetooth is already on
Step 3. Click Add Bluetooth or other device
This option is at the top of the page and opens a menu.
Step 4. Select Bluetooth
This option is in the menu and starts the search for your Android.
Step 5. Click on the name of your Android
It should appear in the menu.
If you don't see your Android's name, find your computer's name in your phone's Bluetooth menu and tap it if you see it. Your Android's name should appear in the Windows Bluetooth menu after that
Step 6. Select Pair
This option can be found under your Android name in the menu.
Step 7. Choose Yes at the command prompt
If the code displayed on your computer matches the one on your phone, click Yes. Otherwise, click No before trying to pair your devices again.
Step 8. Click on the Bluetooth icon
This is a blue icon on the bottom right of your computer screen, but you may need to click on ^ to see her.
Step 9. Select Receive Files
This option is in the context menu and opens a new window.
Step 10. Find the file you want to transfer from your Android
It can be a photo or a video.
If you have a file explorer (like ES File Explorer) installed on your Android, you will be able to browse through the files stored in its memory (for example downloaded applications)
Step 11. Select the file
Long press on the file you want to select. If it's a photo or video, you can tap it to open it instead.
Step 12. Press the menu button
Most of the time, this is the button ⋮ Where ⋯, but on some Samsung Galaxy phones you will see a button MORE. Tap on it to open a drop-down menu.
Step 13. Tap the share option
The appearance and name of this option will vary depending on the Android you are using.
Step 14. Select the Bluetooth option
Again, the appearance of this option will vary depending on the device you are using.
Step 15. Tap your computer name
In the menu that appears, choose your computer.
Step 16. Click on the confirmation message on your computer
If you are asked to accept or decline the file transfer to your computer, click Yes.
Step 17. Follow the on-screen instructions
Once you have accepted the file on your computer and specified a destination folder, the transfer should begin.
- You can also send files to your Android by clicking on Send files in the contextual menu, by dragging the files to transfer into the transfer window, following the instructions on the screen and pressing Accept (or something similar) on your Android.
Method 6 of 7: Download Contacts to iPhone
Step 1. Sync your contacts to iCloud
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name at the top of the page.
- Select iCloud.
- Press the white switch next to Contacts. If it's green, you won't need to press it again.
Step 2. Open the iCloud website
Go to the iCloud site in your web browser. If you're already signed in, you'll see your iCloud dashboard.
If you're not yet signed in, enter your Apple ID email address and password
Step 3. Click Contacts
This is the silhouette of a person. Click on it to open your contact list.
Step 4. Select a contact
Click on any contact in the middle column.
Step 5. Select all contacts
Press Ctrl + A (or Command + A on Mac) to select all contacts.
Step 6. Click ⚙️
This button is located at the bottom left of the page and opens a context menu.
Step 7. Choose Export vCard…
You will see this option in the context menu. Your contacts vCard file will be downloaded to your computer.
Method 7 of 7: Upload data to the cloud on Android
Step 1. Back up your Android data
Before you can download things like contact information, you need to backup your Android data to Google Drive.
Be sure to use a Wi-Fi connection rather than a mobile data plan
Step 2. Open Google Drive
Go to the Google Drive site from your browser. Your Google Drive account will open if you're signed in.
- If you are not yet signed in to your Google Drive account, enter your email address and password.
- This must be the account you backed up your Android to. If this is not the case, click on your initial at the top right of the page then click on Logout before logging into the correct account.
Step 3. Click the Backups tab
It's at the bottom left of the Google Drive page.
Step 4. Select your backup
Click on the backup file you want to download to your computer.
Step 5. Click ⋮
This button is located at the top right of the page and opens a drop-down menu.
Step 6. Select Download
You will see this option in the drop-down menu. Click on it to download your Android backup.
Advice
- If your phone cannot connect to your computer, use a different USB port.
- Another way to transfer data between your phone and your computer is to use the cloud (for example iCloud or Google Drive). You can upload a file to your online storage from your phone, open the online storage site on your computer, and download the file.
- Android contacts are automatically backed up to Google. You can manage them on the Internet.
Warnings
- Certain types of data are incompatible with certain platforms (for example certain Apple data cannot be displayed on Android).
- You cannot use iPhone to transfer files to Windows 10 computer using Bluetooth.