Written by: Captain Save-A-Photo (Your Memory Preservation Expert)
Got hundreds of photos stuck on your phone? You’re not alone. This is the number one request we get at Teach Me Tech OC here in Orange County.
Your phone takes amazing pictures. But they’re all trapped on that little device, and you know they should be backed up somewhere safer. Plus, looking at photos on a big computer screen beats squinting at your phone any day.
Moving photos from your phone to your computer is actually straightforward once you know the steps. We’ll show you the easiest methods, and you pick what works for you.
Don’t want to read all this? Totally fair. Sometimes you just want someone to sit down with you and handle it in person. That’s what we do at Teach Me Tech OC. We come to your home anywhere in Orange County, or we meet online through Google Meet. We’ll move your photos, organize them, and make sure everything’s backed up properly. Just reach out.
Quick Overview: Ways to Move Photos from Phone to Computer
Using a Cable:
- Most reliable method
- No internet needed
- Works for everyone
Using Cloud Storage:
- iCloud for iPhone users
- Google Photos for everyone
- Automatic and convenient
Using AirDrop:
- iPhone to Mac only
- Super fast and wireless
Let’s break down each method.
Method 1: Using a Cable to Move Photos from Phone to Computer
This is our favorite method for moving photos from phone to computer. It’s reliable, works without internet, and once you do it once, it’s easy every time.
You need the charging cable that came with your phone. That’s it.
iPhone to Windows Computer
Steps:
- Plug iPhone into computer
- Phone asks “Trust This Computer?” Tap Trust
- Open File Explorer (press Windows key + E)
- Find iPhone’s name under “This PC,” click it
- Navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM > folders like “100APPLE”
- Select photos you want (Ctrl + A selects everything)
- Right-click, choose Copy
- Go to Pictures folder, right-click, choose Paste
Done. Your photos are now on your computer.
iPhone to Mac
Steps:
- Plug iPhone into Mac
- Photos app should open automatically (if not, open it yourself)
- See all photos from iPhone that aren’t already on Mac
- Click “Import All New Photos” or select specific ones
- Click “Import Selected”
Photos are now in your Mac’s Photos library.
Android to Windows
Steps:
- Plug Android phone into computer
- On phone: tap USB notification, choose “File Transfer”
- Open File Explorer on computer
- Find phone’s name under “This PC”
- Open DCIM > Camera
- Select photos (Ctrl + A for all)
- Right-click, Copy
- Go to Pictures folder, right-click, Paste
Android to Mac
Steps:
- Download Android File Transfer from android.com/filetransfer
- Install it
- Plug phone into Mac
- Choose “File Transfer” on phone
- Android File Transfer opens on Mac
- Navigate to DCIM > Camera
- Drag photos to wherever you want on Mac
Tips for Cable Transfer Success
If your computer doesn’t see your phone, check that the cable is fully plugged in. Try a different USB port. Some cables are charge-only and won’t transfer data, so try a different cable if nothing works.
Photos can take a while to copy if you have a lot. A thousand photos might take 15-20 minutes. Don’t unplug the cable while it’s transferring.
We helped a guy in Newport Beach who had three years of photos (over 4,000) stuck on his iPhone. Plugged it in, copied everything over. Took 30 minutes but now his memories are safe.
Method 2: Using Cloud Storage to Move Photos from Phone to Computer
Cloud storage means your photos upload from your phone to the internet automatically, then you can access them from your computer (or any device). Set it up once and forget about it.
iCloud Photos (iPhone Users)
On your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Photos
- Turn on iCloud Photos
- Photos start uploading automatically when on WiFi
On Windows computer:
- Download iCloud for Windows from Microsoft Store
- Sign in with Apple ID
- Check box for Photos
- Photos download to computer automatically
On Mac:
- Go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud
- Make sure Photos is checked
- Open Photos app, everything’s there
The catch with iCloud: you only get 5GB free. If you have lots of photos, you’ll need a paid plan. 50GB is $1/month, 200GB is $3/month.
Also, when you delete a photo from your phone, it deletes from your computer too. Everything stays synced. There’s a Recently Deleted folder that keeps things for 30 days, but after that, they’re gone for good.
Google Photos (Works for iPhone and Android)
Setup:
- Download Google Photos app
- Sign in with Google account (or create one)
- Open app, tap profile icon
- Go to Settings > turn on “Back up & sync”
- Choose quality: “Storage saver” (compresses slightly, more free space) or “Original quality” (uses your 15GB free Google storage)
- Photos upload automatically when on WiFi
On computer:
- Go to photos.google.com
- Sign in with same Google account
- All photos are there
- Download individual photos or select multiple
Google Photos is great because it works on any device with a web browser. Also, you can search for things like “beach” or “birthday” and it finds relevant photos. Pretty smart.
We set up a couple in Mission Viejo with Google Photos on their Android phones. Now everything backs up automatically and they can view their photos together on their computer. No cables, no hassle.
Cloud Storage: The Good and the Tricky
Cloud storage for moving photos from phone to computer is convenient because it’s automatic. Take a photo, and within minutes (or hours) it’s backed up.
The downside is it requires internet. If you have slow internet, uploading thousands of photos can take days. Also, you’ll eventually need to pay for storage if you take lots of photos.
But the peace of mind is worth it. Your photos are safe even if you lose your phone.
Method 3: AirDrop (iPhone to Mac Only)
If you have an iPhone and a Mac, AirDrop is the fastest way to move photos from phone to computer. Wireless, no internet needed, and it takes seconds.
Steps:
- Make sure WiFi and Bluetooth are on for both devices
- They need to be close (within 30 feet)
- On Mac: Open Finder, click AirDrop, set to “Everyone” or “Contacts Only”
- On iPhone: Open Photos, select photos you want
- Tap share icon (square with arrow)
- Tap AirDrop, select your Mac’s name
- Mac asks if you want to accept, click Accept
- Photos appear in Downloads folder
That’s it. We’ve seen 50 photos transfer in under 30 seconds.
AirDrop can be finicky sometimes. If your devices don’t see each other, try turning WiFi and Bluetooth off and back on. Or restart both devices.
A gentleman in Laguna Beach wanted to move vacation photos to his Mac for a photo book. Showed him AirDrop and he was blown away. Now he uses it constantly.
Email Works for Just a Few Photos
Need to move one or two photos quickly? Email yourself.
Steps:
- Open Photos on phone
- Select photo
- Tap share
- Choose email app
- Send to yourself
- Open email on computer
- Download attachment
Easy for a couple photos. Tedious for more than that. Most email has attachment limits, so you can’t send 50 photos in one email anyway.
Use email for quick one-off transfers. Use one of the other methods for moving lots of photos from phone to computer.
Organizing Photos Once They’re on Your Computer
Getting photos onto your computer is half the battle. Keeping them organized is the other half.
Create organized folders:
- Make main Photos folder
- Inside: folders for each year
- Inside each year: folders for events or months
- Name clearly: “2024-06 Sarah Graduation” not “Photos 1”
Delete the junk:
- Blurry photos
- Accidental photos
- Duplicates
- They’re taking up space
Use built-in tools:
- Windows and Mac have Photos apps
- Help you organize, edit, search photos
- Use them
Back up your computer:
- Now that photos are on computer, what if computer dies?
- Need another backup
- External hard drive, cloud backup service, something
- Multiple copies in multiple places
Why This Actually Matters
Moving photos from phone to computer isn’t just about freeing up space on your phone. It’s about protecting memories.
Those photos are your grandkids growing up, family vacations, everyday moments that matter. When they’re only on your phone and your phone gets lost or stolen or just stops working, those memories are gone forever.
We’ve worked with too many people who lost years of photos because everything was on their phone and nowhere else. The heartbreak is real.
By moving photos to your computer and backing up your computer, you’re protecting what matters. You’re making sure that even if something happens to your phone, you still have those pictures.
Plus, photos on a computer are just easier to enjoy. You can print them, make photo books, create slideshows, share them with family, or just look through them on a nice big screen instead of squinting at your phone.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Move those photos now.
We Can Help You Move Photos from Phone to Computer
If you’re in Orange County and want help moving your photos from your phone to your computer, that’s exactly what we do at Teach Me Tech OC.
What we’ll do:
- Come to your home (or meet online via Google Meet)
- Walk through process step by step
- Use whichever method makes sense for your devices
- Organize your photos
- Clean up duplicates
- Create system that works for you
- Set up automatic backup so you never worry again
Cities we serve:
- Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point
- Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita
- Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa
- San Clemente, Tustin, Foothill Ranch, Laguna Beach
- And everywhere else in Orange County
Your memories matter. Let’s make sure they’re safe and accessible. Reach out to Teach Me Tech OC, and let’s get those photos properly backed up where they belong.