How copy large files from your phone to your computer. There are many ways to transfer large files between Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices, including AirDrop, Google Photos, Bluetooth transfer, and third-party programs.
You must copy a huge file from your phone to a computer. Maybe you have to copy n long video or large document. If the file is too large to be transferred directly by email, cable, or other conventional means, how can you copy that large file to your computer?
How to copy large files from phone to computer
How to copy files from Android to PC (and vice versa)
If you're using a Mac and an iPhone or iPad, you can use Apple's AirDrop for transfer the file to your computer. However, neither Windows nor Android support AirDrop. If so, there are other options that work between Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, including Google Photos, Bluetooth transfer, and third-party programs like Snapdrop and Documents by Readdle.
Copy large files from phone to computer using AirDrop
If you haven't used AirDrop for transfer files between iPhone, iPad or Mac, it's quite simple. On your phone or tablet, open the large file you want to copy. Tap the Share icon and select AirDrop. On the AirDrop screen, select your Mac.
You should see an AirDrop notification on your Mac, at which point the file is copied automatically. Open the Downloads folder on your Mac to access it. For more detailed help, check out our AirDrop guide.
Using Google Photos
On an Android phone, a photo or video should be automatically saved and synced to Google Photos, which means you can access it from your mobile device and your computer. If that doesn't work for you, open the app and go to Settings. Turn on the switch for backup and sync.
You can also use Google Photos on an iPhone or iPad if you download the app from the Apple App Store. Within the app, tap the hamburger icon and select Settings> Backup and sync, then turn on the switch for Backup and Sync.
If you use Google Photos to sync and store all the photos and videos you take on your phone, keep an eye on your Google Photos storage. If you agree to store 16-megapixel photos and 1080p videos, Google offers unlimited storage, but for something bigger, you may need to buy more storage.
Transfer large files using Bluetooth
Android devices can use Bluetooth to send files to your Windows 10 computer, but it won't work with iPhone or iPad. You need to connect and pair your Android phone to Windows 10 first, so make sure Bluetooth is turned on on both devices.
On your Windows 10 computer, go to Settings> Devices. In the Bluetooth and other devices section, click on the link on the right that says Send or receive files via Bluetooth.
On your Android phone, go to the file you want to transfer to your PC. Using the Files app is a handy way to do this. Press the file down, tap the Share icon and select Bluetooth. On the next screen, select your PC name. This is another method for copy large files from your phone to your computer.
The Bluetooth file transfer screen on the computer should show the file to be transferred. You have to be patient; the larger the file, the longer it will take. Once the transfer is complete, you will be able to save the file and choose the destination.
The downside to Bluetooth is slow transfer speeds, especially for large files. Google is working on a file transfer feature for Android known as nearby sharing, but it is not yet possible to know when that feature will be available.
In the meantime, there are some third party programs that will allow you to send files from any device to any computer.
snapdrop
Snapdrop is a tool for transfer files from phone to computer web-based that can copy photos, videos and other files between different devices and computers. Open the site on both your computer and mobile device. Your computer screen should identify your phone or tablet, while your mobile device identifies the browser on your PC.
To transfer a file from your phone to your computer, tap the icon on the phone screen. You now have three choices. You can take a new photo or video and transfer it, or you can search your photo library for an existing file to transfer. For other file types, tap the Browse option to capture a file saved on your phone or stored on an online storage site.
Once you have chosen the files you want to move, the transfer will begin. You will then be able to watch the transfer status on your phone and computer. When the transfer is complete, a message appears prompting you to skip or download the file. Click Download. You can then open or download the file to your computer.
Documents by Readdle
Available for iOS and iPadOS, Documents by Readdle lets you view the folders and files on your computer from a mobile device. You can then select the files you want to download to your PC. This can be done by first downloading the app, then opening the Docs Transfer website.
From the mobile app, open Connections> Computer to view a four-digit passcode. Enter the number on the Docs Transfer website from your PC and wait for both devices to confirm the connection.
Your PC will then display certain folders and files from your phone, for example your photo library. On your PC, drill down to the folder that contains the file you want to transfer. Check the box for the file you want, then click the Download link and it will begin transfer large files from phone to computer.
In the Save file box, click OK to download the file and then choose a location to store it. When done, tap the Disconnect button in the mobile app to disconnect.
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Further Reading:
- How to send large files for free
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- Unable to open JPG files on Windows 10 and Windows 11, 6 solutions
- How to unzip a file on a Mac
- Windows cannot be installed on this drive, how to fix
