Getting photos from my phone

TraderGary · Jun 19, 2023

James said:
Phone link works - and does its job, but not without it being buggy. Microsoft should invent a more refined solution, like Apple have. Instead of having the app, just one place for your phone to be - and it feel separated, have a messaging application, a section in file explorer / photos for the photos, and an airdrop sort of thing integrated into the taskbar, perhaps.

Apple has a closed walled garden with complete control of both hardware and software. Microsoft has to have a solution that encompasses literally thousands of hardware and software variations. It's actually amazing that Microsoft does as well as they do.

James · Jun 19, 2023

TraderGary said:
Apple has a closed walled garden with complete control of both hardware and software. Microsoft has to have a solution that encompasses literally thousands of hardware and software variations. It's actually amazing that Microsoft does as well as they do.

Yes, I can totally agree. I understand that there are not as many apple lovers on this forum - considering it is based on Microsoft Windows, however I think, keep in mind I am not saying apple are the best, but that apple have managed to integrate their products seamlessly. Anyway - I don’t want to take this off topic so that’s that from me on the apple discussion.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 19, 2023

Looks like I opened a can of worms here LOL!! I have got it to work using some connecting app on the phone and via Blutooth. However in Explorer I get no joy there as it shows up as empty. Just seems to me that they have gone out of their way to make it as convoluted and complicated as they can as it had me jumping through hoops trying.

MisterEd · Jun 19, 2023

Did you unlock your screen? It will show up as blank in Explorer unless you do.

Have you tried MyPhoneExplorer? You can use it to connect to your phone with USB, Bluetooth, or WiFi. I have tried it and can confirm that all three methods work for my phone. BTW, I have a Samsung S21 5G with Android 13. Your Google Pixel 6 Pro should also be running that.

MyPhoneExplorer

MyPhoneExplorer | Functions

www.fjsoft.at

1. MyPhoneExplorer app on phone

2. MyPhoneExplorer program on Windows PC

ICIT2LOL · Jun 19, 2023

Ok Ed mate I have got the pictures to,load albeit in a very small thumbnail fashion and I now need to be able to save the photos to Pictures on the computer A right clcik on open gives me a few options but only one that I can see of any use isa paid for software by NCH. This is proving to be such a run around and is getting to the point of just not bothering because the deeper you do the cloudier the water gets.
Edit: Have got it now and it just took soemm more fiddling around but at least I have one way of getting the photos off the phone and onto the laptop.

MisterEd · Jun 19, 2023

I still don't understand why you just don't connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable. It is a very simple thing to do.

Transfer files between your computer & Pixel phone

You can use your Google Account or a USB cable to move photos, music, and other files between your computer and Android device.
Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Option 1: Move files with your Google Account

Upload files to your Google Account to use them on both your computer and device.

Files: Learn how to upload files and folders to Google Drive.

Music: Learn how to get started with YouTube Music.

Photos: Learn how to back up photos and videos to Google Photos.

Option 2: Move files with a USB cable

Windows computer

Unlock your device.

With a USB cable, connect your device to your computer.

On your device, tap the "Charging this device via USB" notification.

Under "Use USB for," select File Transfer.

A file transfer window will open on your computer. Use it to drag files.

When you're done, eject your device from Windows.

Unplug the USB cable.

Transfer files between your computer & Pixel phone

Transfer files between your computer & Pixel phone - Pixel Phone Help

You can use your Google Account or a USB cable to move photos, music, and other files between your computer and Android device. Important: Some of these steps work only on Android 9 and up.

support.google.com

CharmaineK · Jun 19, 2023

I have Onedrive so I just select and share to my Onedrive and choose the photo folder. I also copy and paste the photos into my C:users picture folder. Or yes, connect phone using cable and use Windows Link to laptop. My laptop automatically saves photos as soon as I connect phone to laptop.

Edwin · Jun 19, 2023

Jeebus!
I think an old fashioned camera, a roll of film and a darkroom was less hassle than this!

ICIT2LOL · Jun 19, 2023

MisterEd said:
I still don't understand why you just don't connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable. It is a very simple thing to do.

Yes Ed I did do just that but the phone would not show up as a "drive" and being unable to open the files found going round the houses to get the photos a tad frustrating but that is the system eh?? I think now too the phone is paired with the laptop via Blutooth.

wabbit · Jun 20, 2023

Edwin said:
Jeebus!
I think an old fashioned camera, a roll of film and a darkroom was less hassle than this!

I have a good old flatbed scanner I've used to copy those to my PC.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 20, 2023

wabbit said:
I have a good old flatbed scanner I've used to copy those to my PC.

Yes wabbit mate I have a digital Fuji camera and it is so much easier to transfer photos from the SD card to my desktop computer but my laptop unfortunately does not have a SD slot only a micro one which is so annoying.

Ghot · Jun 20, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
Yes wabbit mate I have a digital Fuji camera and it is so much easier to transfer photos from the SD card to my desktop computer but my laptop unfortunately does not have a SD slot only a micro one which is so annoying.

Cheap, external SD card reader... reads all sizes...

External SD card reader - USB

James · Jun 20, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
Looks like I opened a can of worms here LOL!!

Yes, sorry about that… probably my fault taking it off topic

Dru2 · Jun 20, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
Ok Ed mate I have got the pictures to,load albeit in a very small thumbnail fashion and I now need to be able to save the photos to Pictures on the computer A right clcik on open gives me a few options but only one that I can see of any use isa paid for software by NCH.

I can't speak on a Pixel Pro, but with my Samsung Android devices (both Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and my new S23 Ultra), I can easily copy an entire folder of images from phone to PC. It's as simple as copying any other folder. And just as fast.

Simply connect with a USB cable, ensure the phone is viewed as a drive and copy/paste away.

James said:
Phone link works - and does its job, but not without it being buggy. ....

I love that I can take a picture with my phone and drag them from PhoneLink to the desktop with ease. Very convenient there

Stigg · Jun 20, 2023

Edwin said:
Jeebus!
I think an old fashioned camera, a roll of film and a darkroom was less hassle than this!

I can honestly say, I've never developed photos in a darkroom.
What was it like? I bet there were no cables involved.

Try3 · Jun 20, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
Looks like I opened a can of worms here LOL!! I have got it to work using some connecting app on the phone and via Blutooth. However in Explorer I get no joy there as it shows up as empty. Just seems to me that they have gone out of their way to make it as convoluted and complicated as they can as it had me jumping through hoops trying.

Did you try one of the procedures in post #11, the procedures Google suggest?

Denis

kelper · Jun 20, 2023

All my photos appear in Google Photos on my Windows 11 laptop I have an Android 10 phone.

Does that not work on a Pixel?

Kees · Jun 20, 2023

For organizing and editing photos I use the freeware program FastStone Image Viewer.
In that program there is an option (button on the command bar) "Load from Memory Card".
All photos that are situated at any via USB connected device like camera or tablet will appear in the window that opens when you press the button. No matter in what folder on the device they are situated. There you can choose which photos you want to load, rename them consisting the date the picture was taken, etc.
Very convenient!

The disadventage is, it only functions for photos, not for videos. But I rarely make videos on my camera.

I never tested if it functions with smart phones as well, as I don't use a smart phone for taking photos...

Edwin · Jun 20, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
... I did do just that but the phone would not show up as a "drive"...

When you attach a USB cable, swipe down the notification panel and choose "Tap for other USB options"...

... then choose "Transferring files..."

... you will see the drives automatically appear in File Explorer...

Fabler2 · Jun 20, 2023

James said:
The method if you use iPhone

This post is only related to the subject for iPhone users- but I have just set up icloud Photos in the new Photos app, on windows, and I am finding it good to use with good reliability and linkage. To set up, you download the icloud app on your PC from the MS store. It is used to sign in, and choose what you want to sync. I only chose photos. Then, in the Photos app you will find all of your iCloud photos from all of your Apple devices, and you can even upload photos from your PC to go to your iPads, iPhones, Apple TV or whatever.

I only have 5GB of cloud storage with iCloud, and with many images and a few documents I have used 1.6GB. I may upgrade to the 50GB of storage for just £0.79 / month, which is the iCloud+ package, adding other features too, like custom domain email. For under £10 per year, this is not a bad deal at all, considering I use a lot of apple tech.

If you don't want to use cloud see this fonetool free version, (AEOMI)

FoneTool | Best iPhone Backup & Transfer Software Download

Free download iPhone backup and transfer software, protect your iOS device data and easily migrate all your data, including photos, contacts, music, messages.

www.fonetool.com