This article shows you how to copy or move images from a computer to a smartphone. In the case of an iPhone, you can use iTunes or you can use the supplied USB cable, the same one used to recharge the battery (the latter option is valid for any mobile device). In the case of an Android device, if you want to connect it to a Mac, you need to install a special free software. Alternatively, you can use a clouding service, such as iCloud for iPhone or Google Photos for Android.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Using iTunes
Step 1. Connect iPhone to computer
In this case, use the USB cable supplied with the device and connect it to one of the free USB ports on your computer.
If you want to connect it to a Mac that lacks USB ports, you'll need to purchase a USB-C to USB-3.0 adapter to work around the problem
Step 2. Launch iTunes
If the program does not open automatically, double-click its icon. The latter is characterized by a multicolored musical note on a white background.
Step 3. Select the iPhone icon
It features a small stylized iPhone and should be located at the top of the iTunes window. This will display detailed information about the iOS device.
Step 4. Go to the Photos tab
It's located on the left sidebar of iTunes in the "Settings" section.
Step 5. Select the "Sync Photos" checkbox
It is located at the top of the main pane of the iTunes window. This way you will be able to copy photos from computer to iOS device.
Step 6. Access the "Copy photos from:" drop-down menu
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It's located at the top of the "Sync Photos" tab. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Select the Choose folder… option
It should be the first option on the menu.
Step 8. Choose a folder
Select the directory where the images you want to copy to the iPhone are stored, then press the button Select folder.
Step 9. If necessary, also include subfolders
If the images you want to transfer are organized in multiple folders, but you need to exclude the ones you don't need, select the "Selected folders" radio button and proceed with choosing the directories you want to include in the transfer.
Step 10. Choose whether or not to include the videos as well
If within the selected folder there are also video files that you want to include in the transfer, select the check button "Include video" or deselect it if you do not have this need and you want to copy only the images.
Step 11. At the end of the selection press the Apply button
All the chosen items will be copied to the iPhone. At the end of the data transfer you can view them directly using the iOS device.
Method 2 of 5: Use an Android USB Cable on a Windows System
Step 1. Connect the Android device to the computer
Plug the smaller end of the USB cable into your Android phone's communication port (the same one you use to charge it), then plug the other end into a free USB port on your computer. This procedure is dedicated exclusively to Android devices, since in the case of an iOS product it is mandatory to use iTunes.
If prompted, select the option Multimedia Device (MTP) appeared on the screen of the Android device.
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Open the "File Explorer" window by clicking the icon
It features a small folder and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Navigate to the folder that contains the images
This is usually the directory Images located inside the left sidebar of the window. If you need to transfer photos from another folder, select it using the same tree menu.
Step 5. Select the images to transfer
Drag the mouse cursor over the set of photos you want to copy while holding down the left button. Alternatively, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting each individual item to transfer.
Step 6. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left corner of the window. A toolbar related to the tab will appear Home.
Step 7. Press the Copy to button
It is located within the "Organize" group of the "Home" tab. This will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 8. Choose the Select Path… option
It should be the last item on the menu starting from the top. A new dialog will appear.
Step 9. Select the name of the Android device
It should be placed in the middle of the menu inside the window pane that appeared. In order to choose it, you may need to scroll down the list.
Step 10. Access the DCIM folder
It is listed under the menu node characterized by the name of the Android device. To consult the contents of the folder expand the item DCIM of the menu.
Step 11. Select the Camera folder
It is stored within the directory DCIM smartphone. In this way the folder Room will be selected as the destination for copying the chosen images.
Step 12. Press the Copy button
It is located in the lower right corner of the dialog box. All selected images will be automatically copied to the indicated folder of the Android device. At the end of the copying process you can consult them using the Photos or Gallery app on your smartphone.
Method 3 of 5: Use a USB Cable for Android on Mac
Step 1. Connect the Android device to the Mac
Use the USB cable you normally use to charge your device by plugging the larger end into a free USB port on your computer.
- If your Mac does not have USB ports, you will need to purchase a USB-C to USB-3.0 adapter to remedy the problem;
- If the Android operating system prompts you to select how to use the USB connection, choose the option before continuing Multimedia Device (MTP).
Step 2. Download and install the "Android File Transfer" program
Follow these simple instructions:
- Access the web page
- Push the button DOWNLOAD NOW;
- Install the "Android File Transfer" program on the Mac.
Step 3. Launch Finder
It features a blue stylized face icon and is located on the System Dock.
Step 4. Choose the folder where the images to be transferred are stored
Use the tree menu on the left of the appeared window. This will show the contents of the folder inside the main pane of the Finder window.
Step 5. Select the photos to transfer
Drag the mouse cursor over the set of images you want to copy while holding down the left button. Alternatively, hold down the ⌘ Command key while selecting each individual item to transfer.
Step 6. Copy the chosen images
Access the menu Edit and choose the option Copy.
Step 7. Launch the "Android File Transfer" program
If the "Android File Transfer" application window did not open automatically, click the "Launchpad" icon (characterized by a small spaceship), then choose the "Android File Transfer" program icon which features the classic robot Android green.
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Alternatively, you can search using the Spotlight text field by clicking the icon
placed in the upper right corner of the screen and typing the keywords android file transfer. At this point, select the program icon from the search results list displayed on the screen.
Step 8. Double-click the item Internal storage or SD card, depending on where the photos to be transferred are stored.
Step 9. Double click on the DCIM folder
The contents of the directory under examination will be displayed.
Step 10. Go to the Camera folder
This is where the Android operating system stores images.
Step 11. Paste the photos selected in the previous steps into the Camera folder
Select an empty spot inside the folder, access the menu Edit and choose the option Paste elements. All selected images will be automatically copied to the indicated folder of the Android device. Once the copying process is complete, you will be able to browse them using the Photos or Gallery app on your smartphone.
Method 4 of 5: Using iCloud
Step 1. Log in to the iCloud website
Use the URL "https://www.icloud.com/" and one of the internet browsers installed on your computer.
Step 2. Log into your iCloud account
Enter your Apple ID and its security password, then press the → button. Remember that you will need to use the same Apple ID that the iPhone is connected to. In this way you will have access to the iCloud service linked to your profile.
If you have already logged in before, you can skip this step
Step 3. Choose the Photo option
It features a multicolored circular icon on a white background. This will launch the iCloud Photos app.
Step 4. Press the button to transfer the photos
It features a stylized cloud icon with an arrow pointing up. The "File Explorer" window (on Windows systems) or Finder (on Mac) will open.
Step 5. Select the folder where the photos to be transferred are stored
Inside the sidebar on the left of the window there is a tree menu relating to the file system of the entire computer. Use it to select the folder containing the images to be copied.
Step 6. Choose the photos to upload to iCloud
Drag the mouse cursor over the set of images you want to copy while holding down the left button. Alternatively, hold down the Ctrl key (on Windows systems) or ⌘ Command (on Mac) while selecting each individual item to transfer.
Step 7. Press the Open button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window. All the chosen images will be automatically uploaded to the indicated iCloud account.
Step 8. Wait for the data transfer process to complete
The time required varies according to the number and size of the selected images. After the upload is complete, all the chosen photos should be accessible directly from the iPhone.
To be able to view and consult the photos in iCloud directly from the iPhone, you need to activate the "iCloud Photo Library" feature on the iOS device
Method 5 of 5: Use Google Photos
Step 1. Access the Google Photos website from your computer
Use the URL "https://photos.google.com/" and one of the internet browsers installed on the system. In this way you will have access to the web page where the images on the Android device are stored (as long as you have synchronized them).
If this is your first time accessing the Google Photos service, you may need to log in using the email address and password associated with your account
Step 2. Press the Upload button
It is located at the top right of the page. The "File Explorer" (on Windows systems) or Finder (on Mac) dialog will appear.
Step 3. Select the folder where the photos to be transferred are stored
Inside the sidebar on the left of the "File Explorer" or Finder window there is a tree menu relating to the file system of the entire computer. Use it to select the folder containing the images to be copied.
Step 4. Choose the photos to upload to Google Photos
Drag the mouse cursor over the set of images you want to copy while holding down the left button. Alternatively, hold down the Ctrl key (on Windows systems) or ⌘ Command (on Mac) while selecting each individual item to transfer.
Step 5. Press the Open button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 6. Choose the image quality
Refer to the following options:
- High quality - the selected images will be loaded with an optimal resolution to ensure visual quality and will have a reduced size. This option does not affect the amount of storage tied to the account's Google Drive service.
- Original - the selected images will be loaded with the original resolution which may even be higher than the one used by the "High quality" option. In this case the images will be stored in the Google Drive archive linked to the account in use and the related free space will be modified accordingly.
Step 7. Press the Continue button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Upload Size" dialog box. All the images you choose will be automatically uploaded to the Google Photos service of your account.
Step 8. Launch the Google Photos application on the Android device
It features a red, green, blue and yellow four-pointed star icon.
If you haven't signed in to your Google Photos account through the app yet, you'll need to enter your email address and password when prompted
Step 9. Press the ☰ button
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. The main menu of the application will be displayed.
Step 10. Choose the Settings option
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared.
Step 11. Select the Backup and Sync item
It is located at the top of the menu Settings.
Step 12. Make sure the "Backup and sync" slider is active
It must look like this:
. Otherwise, move it to the right in order to activate its functionality. This will synchronize your account's Google Photos web service with the Google Photos app installed on your device. In other words, all the images just uploaded to the Google Photos account via the computer's internet browser will be automatically transferred to the Android device.
