Until now, if you’ve been using a USB cable to transfer files between your Android phone and PC, it’s time to say goodbye to the cable. In this article, I’ll show you different ways to transfer files wirelessly from an Android phone to a PC. Let’s get started.
Before we dive into detailed analysis, here’s a quick overview of different tools and their file transfer speed performance.
| Methods | Photos and Videos (476 MB) | Zip and Documents (4.65 GB) |
|---|---|---|
| LocalSend | 50 sec | 8:42 min |
| Solid Explorer (FTP) 🏆 | 38 sec | 4:40 min |
| Quick Share | 1:17 min | 11:15 min |
| ToffeShare | 3:02 min | 34:08 min |
Table of Contents
1. LocalSend (Using Wi-Fi Network)
Use Case: When you want to share files between different OS devices using the same Wi-Fi network.
This is my favorite app for transferring files between my phone and computer. When one of my colleagues introduced me to it, I was amazed by its performance and ease of use. The best part is that LocalSend is completely free with no ads and works on all devices, whether Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, or Linux.
You need to ensure that your Android phone and Windows PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Next, select the files on your phone, tap the Share button, choose the LocalSend option, and select the computer you want to share your files with.
This app is so efficient that here at TechWiser, we have it installed on all our devices, and it’s our go-to method for transferring files. The only inconvenience is that we need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to share files.
Download LocalSend (Android | Windows)
2. Solid Explorer (Using FTP)
Use Case: When you need to transfer large files from your phone to your PC quickly.
One time, I needed to transfer multiple files between my phone and laptop, but there was one issue – time. While I typically use the above method for transferring files, sharing large files could be time-consuming. That’s when the Solid Explorer app came to the rescue.
Solid Explorer may initially appear to be a standard file management app. However, it offers a feature called FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which can transfer large numbers of files much faster than other methods mentioned in this guide.
Enough chit-chat; let’s dive straight into the process:
1. Download the app from the Play Store, then open the app and tap on the Hamburger menu (3-Bar Icon).
Download: Solid Explorer
2. Select the FTP Server and tap the Start button.
Note: Ensure your Android phone and Windows PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open File Explorer on your Windows device, enter the FTP/server address in the address bar of File Explorer, and then hit Enter key.
It will look something like this: ftp://192.168.xx.xxx:xx99.
You can access all your Android files from your Windows system. This makes transferring files between your devices seamless and super fast.
Use Case: Ability to transfer files between Android and PC using a cellular network or Wi-Fi.
The main downside of the previous apps was that we had to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to transfer files between devices. To address this issue, let me introduce you to Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) which uses Wi-Fi direct to transfer files. It’s already pre-installed on Android phones, so you just have to add it to your Windows computer.
Download: Quick Share on Windows
After that, it’s smooth sailing. Pick the files you want to transfer from your Android mobile, tap the Share icon, and select Quick Share.
When Quick Share detects your PC, tap on it. Then, simply accept the transfer request on your PC, and the file transfer process will begin.
I noticed that sometimes Quick Share can be a bit slow or get interrupted during transfer. The upside is that we’re not limited to Wi-Fi; we can even transfer files without it.
Pro Tip: If you can’t find your PC in the share list, check the Device Visibility setting on the left sidebar of the Quick Share app on Windows and ensure it’s set to Receive from everyone. That will do the trick.
Use Case: When you want to transfer files from your phone to a distant PC, such as an office computer or a friend’s PC.
So far, I’ve been discussing ways to transfer files when your devices are nearby. But what if you need to send files to a friend who lives far away? That’s where the ToffeShare web app steps in.
ToffeShare offers a fresh approach for sending large files over long distances. Unlike typical file-hosting services that store your data on their servers, ToffeShare uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) method. This means your files move directly between your device and your friend’s, making for a quicker and more private transfer.
Here’s how it works:
1. Download the ToffeShare app from the Play Store, add the files you want to share, and it will generate a unique link.
Download: ToffeShare
2. Then, Share the link with your friend. Once they open the link in their browser, a direct connection will be established between both devices and the file transfer will begin.
The speed of the file transfer depends on how fast you and your friend’s internet can upload data.
Transfer Files From Android to PC
Because Windows and Android are two distinct operating systems, you can’t expect the same seamless file-transfer system that is found between iPhone and Mac. But we think the above solutions are good enough to make sharing your files from Android phone to PC effortless.
