How to transfer files from phones to PC

There are a lot of different ways to transfer files between your smartphone and Desktop, and sometimes, it’s not immediately clear which one you should go for. Not to worry. Here are four easy ways to transfer files from phones to PC.

1: Using a USB cable

Supported platforms: iOS, Android

Transfer method: Wired, offline

Transfer speed: approx. 480 mbps (USB 2.0) to 5 gbps (USB 3.0)

This is the fastest (and most reliable) way to transfer files from phones to PC. All you require is a compatible USB data cable. Here’s the steps involved.

• Step 1: Connect the USB cable to your phone and PC.
• Step 2: Select ‘Trust this Computer on iOS’, or ‘USB File Transfer’ on Android.
• Step 3: Your PC will then display a folder view of your device storage. Transfer the necessary files and disconnect the USB cable.

2: Bluetooth file transfer

Supported platforms: iOS, Android

Transfer method: Wireless, offline

Transfer speed: approx. 25 mbps (Bluetooth 3.0)

When you have a requirement to transfer smaller files quickly, Bluetooth file transfer is a good option. Here are the steps involved.

• Step 1: Enable Bluetooth on both the devices.
• Step 2: Choose your device from the list of available devices and confirm pairing.
• Step 3: Select the files to share and click on the ‘Bluetooth’ option.
• Step 4: Select your device from the list of paired devices, and click ‘Send’.

3: Using AirDrop

Supported platforms: iOS

Transfer method: Wireless, offline

Transfer speed: approx. 33 mbps

When transferring files from iPhone to Mac, you can use the AirDrop feature. Compared to Bluetooth, this method offers a far more streamlined UI and faster file transfer process. Here’s the steps involved.

• Step 1: Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your Mac and iPhone. Make sure both the devices are connected to the same network (an internet connection is not mandatory).
• Step 2: Turn on AirDrop and make the device discoverable
• Step 3: Select the files you want to transfer and click on ‘Share’.
• Step 4: Select your device from the list of pop-ups, and click ‘Send’.

4: Using Cloud storage

Supported platforms: iOS, Android

Transfer method: Wireless, online

Transfer speed: Varies depending on the network

When connected to the Internet, you can use Cloud services (such as iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, and more) to store and transfer files from your phones to PC.

• Step 1: Upload the file to the Cloud server.
• Step 2: Assign and manage access privileges for the file (as required), and enable the option for users to download the file.
• Step 3: Copy the file URL and share it with the required devices.

As an enterprise admin, approving the use of traditional methods of file transfer on your devices gives you zero control over the flow of data. You will have no visibility into the files and folders being transferred. This opens your business to a host of vulnerabilities.

Adopting a UEM solution like Hexnode enables admins to restrict unauthorized file transfer and enable transfer only through approved channels. In-addition, Hexnode offers a unified content management repository that helps admins securely deploy files to the right users.