How to transfer files wirelessly between Windows and Android

Moving files between a Windows PC and an Android device is easy, and you don’t need a USB-C cable to do it. There are many ways to do this, some better than others. Here’s how to do it wirelessly between an Android device and a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.

How to Transfer Files from Windows to Android

To transfer files from a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC to an Android smartphone or tablet, we recommend using Google’s Near Share app, sending the files via Bluetooth in File Explorer, or using a cloud storage service .

Sharing near Windows to Android

You can download Google’s Near Share app to wirelessly transfer files to Android in a similar way to Apple’s AirDrop. To get started, download near share Application for Windows.

After you install the app, you’ll want to sign in with the same Google account you signed in with on your Android device.

Next, make sure to enable Nearby Sharing on your Android device and set the device visibility to “Your Devices.”

Now back in the Windows app, click “Select Files” or “Select Folders” and choose what you want to send to your Android device.

Unlock your Android device, then select it in the Windows app.

Tap “OK” on your Android device to complete the process.

That’s all about it! This is a pretty straightforward process for sending files from your PC to an Android device, and it can be used in the opposite direction as well (see below).

Transfer files from PC to Android with Bluetooth

Bluetooth is the old reliable method of transferring files between devices and it works from Windows to Android without additional configuration. However, it works better from Windows to Android; Android to Windows is not recommended.

First, on your PC, open the Settings app and go to Devices > Bluetooth and other devices in Windows 10 or directly to “Bluetooth and devices” in Windows 11. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and click “Add device.”

Next, take your Android device and open the Settings app. Go to the “Connected devices” or “Bluetooth” section, make sure Bluetooth is turned on, then tap “Pair new device.”

Find your PC in the list and select it to pair the two devices.

You will see a prompt on each device, asking you to confirm that the code is the same. If the code matches on each device, accept it to complete the pairing process.

With the paired devices, we can use Bluetooth file transfer. Right-click any file you want to send and select Send To > Bluetooth Device. In Windows 11, click “Show more options” to see “Send to.”

You will then see a list of Bluetooth devices that have been connected to your PC. Select your Android device from the list and click “Next”.

An “Incoming File” notification will appear on your Android device. Tap on it and select “OK” on the popup window.

The transfer will take place and the file will now be on your Android phone or tablet!

Transfer files using cloud storage

Cloud storage will allow you to upload a file to your Windows PC and download it from the companion app on your Android device. Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are popular cloud storage services for this task. Both will work similarly, but for this guide, we’ll demonstrate it with OneDrive.

First, download the OneDrive app from the Play Store on your Android device. Make sure you’re signed in to the app with the same Microsoft account as your Windows computer.

Next, open a web browser on your Windows PC (such as Edge or Chrome) and navigate to the OneDrive website.

Select the “Upload” dropdown menu and choose “Files.”

The file manager will open and you can select the file you want to transfer.

Now go back to your Android device and open the OneDrive app. Select the file you just uploaded.

Tap “Save” to download the file to your Android device.

OneDrive will save files by default to the “Download” folder on your phone or tablet. You can tap “Save” to insert it there or tap the back arrow to see more folders.

That’s all! The file will be saved in the folder you selected.

Android to Windows File Transfer

To transfer files from an Android device to a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, we recommend using Google’s Near Share app or transferring the files via the cloud storage service of your choice.

Share near Android to Windows

You can easily transfer files from your Android device to a Windows PC with Google’s Near Share app. Before you do anything, download Nearby Application for Windows.

After installing the app, sign in with the same Google account you signed in with on your Android device.

Next, change the visibility to “Receive from your devices.”

Now prepare your Android device by making sure to enable nearby sharing on your Android device and set the device visibility to “Your devices”.

Find the file or photo you want to send to Windows and tap the Share button.

Select “Nearby” in the sharing menu. It may be anchored at the top of the menu.

Choose your Windows device from the nearby Share menu.

Back in the Windows app, you’ll see the file appear in the “Nearby devices” sidebar. Touch “Open” to view the file.

That’s all about it! This method works great and is fast when you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The Windows app stays open in the background, ready to receive files.

Transfer files using cloud storage

If Near Share isn’t an option, you can upload files to a cloud storage service and access them on your Windows device. Google Drive is a popular option for cloud storage, and we already demonstrated that with OneDrive in the previous section, so that’s what we’ll use here.

First, download the Google Drive app on your Android device and sign in with your Google account. Tap the plus button in the bottom right to upload a file to Drive.

After uploading the file to your drive, go to your Windows PC and sign in to drive.google.com in a web browser. The recently uploaded file will be at the top of your drive.

With the file open, click the download button in the upper right corner of the browser.

You have successfully transferred the file to your Windows PC!

Transferring files between devices can be a hassle, but there are easy methods to do it with Windows and Android. Near Share is the most direct method, but the “Phone Link” app is another option to consider. If you have two Windows devices, you can use Microsoft Nearby Sharing: Similar Name, Different Function.