"Greetings! I am trying to help a friend with Samsung Galaxy phone, and I only have experience with iOS myself. She has every photo she's ever taken just in her phone, not even on a cloud account anywhere, and she wants to get them all backed up."
If you want to transfer photos from Samsung to PC with ease, there are 7 practical ways to do it. Whether you prefer a wired connection or a wireless solution, you have several excellent options. Follow one way, and you can move your photos easily.
- Way 1: How to Transfer Pictures from Samsung to PC via USB Transfer
- Way 2: How to Transfer Photos from Samsung to PC via iReaShare Android Manager
- Way 3: How to Load Photos from Samsung to Computer via OneDrive
- Way 4: How to Download Pictures from Samsung Phone to Computer via Google Photos
- Way 5: How to Get Pictures Off Samsung Phone to Computer via AirDroid
- Way 6: How to Send Photos from Samsung to PC via Bluetooth
- Way 7: How to Upload Photos from Samsung Phone to Computer via Phone Link
- Tips: FAQs About Transferring Photos from Samsung to PC
Take a quick look at these methods first:
| Feature/Method | Way 1: USB Transfer | Way 2: iReaShare Android Manager | Way 3: OneDrive | Way 4: Google Photos | Way 5: AirDroid | Way 6: Bluetooth | Way 7: Phone Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Excellent (Fastest) | Excellent (Fast) | Good (Depends on internet) | Good (Depends on internet) | Good (Depends on Wi-Fi) | Poor (Slowest) | Good (Via Wi-Fi/direct) |
| Ease of Use | Very High (Plug & Play) | High (Requires software install) | High (Once set up) | High (Once set up) | Medium (App & web/desktop client) | Medium (Pairing required) | High (Seamless integration for Windows) |
| Requires Cable? | Yes | Yes (If you choose USB connection) | No | No | No | No | No (Initially for setup, then wireless) |
| Requires Internet? | No | Yes (If you choose Wi-Fi connection) | Yes | Yes | Yes (for initial setup & remote access) | No | No (for local access) |
| Storage Limits | Limited by PC/Phone storage | Limited by PC/Phone storage | Varies by plan (Free/Paid) | Varies by plan (Free/Paid) | Limited by PC/Phone storage | Limited by PC/Phone storage | Limited by PC/Phone storage |
| Automation | Manual | Offers one-clcik backup and selective transfer | Yes (Auto-upload) | Yes (Auto-backup) | Can sync, but primarily manual transfer | Manual | Offers recent photo access, not full automation |
| Best For | Large transfers, no internet, reliability | Organized management, batch processing | Cloud backup, accessibility | Cloud backup, sharing, AI features | Wireless transfer, managing other files | Small, quick transfers, no Wi-Fi | Windows users, quick access to recent photos |
| Security | High (Direct connection) | High (Local software) | Moderate (Cloud security) | Moderate (Cloud security) | Moderate (Network dependent) | Low (Easily intercepted) | Moderate (Microsoft integration) |
Way 1: How to Transfer Pictures from Samsung to PC via USB Transfer
The most straightforward method for transferring photos from Samsung to PC is using a USB cable. This creates a direct connection, allowing for fast and reliable transfers, especially when both your devices support USB 3.0 or higher.
Here are the steps:
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Connect your Samsung phone to your PC using a compatible USB cable. On your phone, you'll likely see a notification asking what you want to do with the USB connection. Select "File transfer/Android Auto" or "Transfer files".
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On your PC, open "File Explorer" (Windows key + E). Your Samsung phone should appear under "This PC" or "Devices and drives".
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Double-click your phone's icon to open its internal storage. Then navigate to the "DCIM" folder, then the "Camera" folder. This is where most of your photos are stored.
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Select the photos you want to transfer, then copy them (Ctrl + C) and paste them (Ctrl + V) to a desired folder on your PC. Once finished, securely eject your phone from your PC.
Way 2: How to Transfer Photos from Samsung to PC via iReaShare Android Manager
If you want to not only move your pictures from a Samsung phone to a computer but also organize them on the computer, such as deleting unwanted photos, creating new albums to sort out photos, you will need iReaShare Android Manager, a comprehensive photo transfer program. It allows you to preview your Samsung photos on your PC or Mac, and manage them with different features, making your photos more organized.
Main features of iReaShare Android Manager:
* Transfer pictures from Samsung to a PC without losing quality.
* Enable you to preview the thumbnails of your Samsung photos on the computer.
* Back up all your photos from Samsung to your computer.
* Directly import pictures from a computer to Android.
* Make new albums to manage your photos.
* USB and Wi-Fi connections are available.
* Export videos, music, apps, documents, contacts, call logs, messages, etc.
* Support Android 6.0 and higher, compatible with most Samsung Galaxy and other Android devices, like Samsung Galaxy S25/S24/S23/S22/S21/S20/S10/S9/S8, Galaxy A/F/M/Z Flip/Z Fold/Tab, OnePlus, Honor, Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, Tecno, etc.
Download the Android to PC transfer software below.
Download for Win Download for Mac
Here's how to move photos from Samsung to PC:
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Download and install iReaShare Android Manager on your PC, open it, and connect your Samsung Galaxy device to the computer with USB.
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The software will detect your mobile device. Then it will prompt you to follow the on-screen instructions to enable the USB debugging mode on your phone. Once done, the connection will be established.
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Choose "Photos" to view your Samsung photos. Then select the desired pictures by checking, and click "Export" to save the photos to your PC.
You can watch the video guide to transfer your photos:
Way 3: How to Load Photos from Samsung to Computer via OneDrive
Cloud storage services like OneDrive offer a convenient way to sync and access your photos from anywhere. You can use it to download your Samsung photos to your computer with a stable network.
Here's how to do it:
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On your Samsung phone, open the Gallery app, and click "Menu".
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Choose "Settings", and turn on "Sync with OneDrive". Then your photos will be synced to your OneDrive account.
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On your computer, go to the OneDrive website and log in to the same account.
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You will see your photos. Now, select and download the photos on your computer.
Way 4: How to Download Pictures from Samsung Phone to Computer via Google Photos
Google Photos is another popular cloud-based option, offering 15GB of free storage for every user to back up their quality photos. You can use it to upload your photos to your computer.
To transfer pictures from Samsung to computer via Google Photos:
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On your Samsung phone, open the Google Photos app and sign in with your Google Account.
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Click your profile image, and choose "Photos settings". Then enable "Back up & sync" in the app's settings. Your photos will start uploading to your Google Photos library.
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On your PC, open your web browser and go to photos.google.com. Log in with the same Google Account. You can select individual photos or albums and then click the three-dot menu at the top right to choose the "Download" option.
Way 5: How to Get Pictures Off Samsung Phone to Computer via AirDroid
AirDroid allows you to manage your Android phone from your PC wirelessly, including transferring files. You can use it to send your photos from your Samsung Galaxy device to your computer with the same Wi-Fi network.
Here's the guide:
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On your Samsung phone, download and install the AirDroid app. On your PC, download the AirDroid desktop client.
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On your phone, open the AirDroid app and scan the QR code displayed on your PC's browser or desktop client to establish a connection.
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Once connected, click the "Transfer" tab on your phone, and choose your PC device.
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Tap the "Photo" icon at the bottom, and select the pictures from your Samsung device. Then send them to your PC. On your computer, save the sent photos to a local folder.
Tips: If you want to get off photos from an iPhone, there are effective solutions as well.
Way 6: How to Send Photos from Samsung to PC via Bluetooth
Bluetooth can be used for transferring smaller batches of photos, though it's generally slower than a USB connection or Wi-Fi. However, it is useful when the network and USB cable are not available around you.
To transfer photos from Samsung to a computer with Bluetooth:
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On your Samsung phone, go to the Settings app > "Connected devices" > "Bluetooth" and ensure "Bluetooth" is turned on and discoverable.
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On your PC, go to "Start" > "Settings" > "Devices" > "Bluetooth & other devices" and ensure "Bluetooth" is turned on.
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Pair your phone and PC. On your PC, click "Add Bluetooth or other device", select "Bluetooth", and then choose your Samsung phone from the list. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm pairing on both devices.
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On your Samsung phone, open your Gallery app, and select the photos you want to send. Next, tap the "Share" icon and choose "Bluetooth", and select your PC from the list of available devices.
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On your PC, you'll receive a notification asking to accept the incoming files. Accept the transfer. The photos will typically be saved in your PC's "Downloads" folder.
Way 7: How to Upload Photos from Samsung Phone to Computer via Phone Link
Microsoft's Phone Link app allows Windows users to seamlessly connect their Android phones to their PC, offering features like photo access. Besides, this app supports Android 8.0 and later, and Window 10 and higher.
To import photos from Samsung to PC via Phone Link:
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On your Samsung phone, ensure the "Link to Windows" app is installed (it's often pre-installed on Samsung devices).
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On your Windows PC, search for and open the "Phone Link" app. Follow the on-screen instructions to link your phone and PC. This usually involves scanning a QR code or entering a code.
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Once connected, navigate to the "Photos" tab within the Phone Link app on your PC. You'll see recent photos from your Samsung phone. You can right-click on a photo and choose "Save as" to download it to your computer.
Tips: FAQs About Transferring Photos from Samsung to PC
Q1: Why isn't my Samsung phone showing up on my PC when connecting via USB?
If your Samsung phone isn't showing up on your PC via USB, it's a common issue with several possible causes. Here are the main reasons and how to fix them:
- When you connect your phone, it may default to "Charging only". Please select "File Transfer" (MTP).
- Some cables are charging-only and don't support data transfer. Please use the original Samsung cable, if possible; try a different USB cable; Avoid cheap aftermarket cables.
- Your PC might need specific drivers to recognize the device. Please install or update Samsung USB Drivers from the official Samsung website; restart your computer after installation; on Windows, open Device Manager to check if your phone shows with an error.
- Some USB ports (especially on desktops or hubs) can be finicky. Please use a different USB port on your PC (preferably a direct port on the back).
- If your phone is locked when you connect, the PC might not recognize it properly. Please unlock your phone before or after plugging it in.
Q2: Where are my photos stored on my Samsung phone?
Your photos on a Samsung phone are typically stored in specific folders depending on how they were taken or received. In general, you can find them in these locations:
- Internal Storage > DCIM > Camera
- Screenshots are in Pictures > Screenshots
- Internal Storage > Downloads > Images
Q3: What's the fastest way to transfer a large number of photos?
The fastest way to transfer a large number of photos from your Samsung phone to a PC is typically via a USB 3.0 or higher cable using File Explorer or iReaShare Android Manager, especially if both phone and PC support USB 3.0 or USB-C.
Conclusion
With these various methods, you have ample choices for transferring your cherished photos from your Samsung phone to your PC. Whether you prioritize speed, convenience, or wireless freedom, there's a solution that fits your needs. If you want a multifunctional tool to transfer and manage your Samsung phone, try iReaShare Android Manager. It will provide you with importing/exporting photos between devices, deleting, copying, and moving pictures, and creating new albums for photos.
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