Transfer files between phone and computer (USB)

About USB transfers

You can transfer music, photos, and other files between your phone's storage and computer (in either direction). Use a USB cable that's capable of data transfer and isn't for charging only.

When you connect the phone and computer with the USB cable, the phone’s USB connection type is set to charging mode, which charges your battery but prevents your computer from seeing files on your phone. Before transferring files, change the USB connection type to allow transfer of:

  • Any type of file
  • Only photos and videos

Connect phone to transfer files

  1. With the phone and computer turned on, connect the phone and computer with a USB cable.

  2. Unlock the phone.

  3. Change the USB connection type to allow file transfers:

    1. Swipe down from the top of your home screen and touch the Charging this device via USB notification.

    2. To transfer any type of file, touch File transfer.

      Or, to transfer only photos and videos, touch PTP.

Transfer files

On a Windows computer:

  1. Ensure the phone is properly connected to the computer using the steps above.

    If you don't unlock the phone and change the USB connection to allow file transfers, you won't see any files on your phone.

  2. On your computer, open File Explorer, click the name of your phone, and navigate to its internal storage or SD card.
  3. If you selected PTP when you connected the phone, in File Explorer choose whether to import pictures and videos automatically or manually.
  4. Open a second File Explorer window to see your computer folders.
  5. Navigate to the folders or files to transfer, then drag and drop them to and from the open phone storage and computer folders.

On a Mac:

  1. Ensure the phone is properly connected to the computer using the steps above.

    If you don't unlock the phone and change the USB connection to allow file transfers, you won't see any files on your phone.

  2. On your computer, download the Android File Transfer application from www.android.com/filetransfer and follow the onscreen instructions.

Location of files

Files are stored in these folders on your phone:

  • DCIM: (Digital Camera Images) Photos and videos taken with the Camera app
  • Pictures: Photos you edited and photos from apps other than Camera
  • Download: Files downloaded from the internet
  • Music: Files for apps that play music
  • Ringtones: Sound files for ringtones
  • Notifications: Sound files for notifications
  • Alarms: Sound files for alarms

Fix an issue

If you’re having issues, try these troubleshooting steps.