How to Access Your Android from Your PC

This How.com.vn teaches you how to access and interact with your Android's files from your Windows computer. The easiest way to do this is by connecting your Android to your computer via the Android's USB charging cable, but you can also use Bluetooth to send and receive files between your Android and your computer. If you want to be able to make changes to your Android while away from it, you can use a free app and PC program called AirDroid.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using the USB Cable

Plug the rectangular USB end of your Android's cable into one of your computer's free USB ports.
The other end of the cable should plug into your Android's charging port.
Unlock your Android if it isn't already unlocked, then tap ALLOW or OK when asked if you want to allow your computer to access the Android's folders.
4
Enable USB access if necessary. If your Android didn't ask you for permission to connect to the PC or you notice that your Android appears empty when you go to open it on your computer, do the following:
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Tap the Android file system or MTP notification.
- Select File transfer or Transfer files (you may first have to tap the current option under the notification's heading).
Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Type in this pc, then click the computer monitor-shaped This PC option at the top of the Start window.
7
Double-click your Android's name. You'll find it below the "Devices and drives" heading in the middle of the This PC window.
- If you don't see anything listed under the "Devices and drives" heading, double-click the heading to expand it.
8
Double-click your Android's storage. This should be the only folder in the Android's folder; it will most likely be named something like Phone or Internal.
- If your Android uses an SD card in addition to an internal hard drive, you'll see an option for the SD card here as well.
You can double-click any of the folders in the window to open them. For example, double-clicking the "Download" folder will display a list of your Android's downloaded files.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Bluetooth

1
Turn on your Android's Bluetooth. Swipe down from the top of your Android's screen, then tap the Bluetooth
icon in the resulting drop-down menu.
- If the Bluetooth icon is blue or highlighted, your Android's Bluetooth is already enabled.
Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
Click the gear-shaped Settings icon in the lower-left corner of the Start menu. This will open the Settings window.
It's at the top of the window.
5
Click Add Bluetooth or other device. This option is at the top of the page. Doing so opens a drop-down menu.
- If Bluetooth isn't already enabled, you'll first need to click the "Off" switch below the Add Bluetooth or other device option to turn it on.
Click your Android's name in the drop-down menu. Your computer will begin attempting to connect to your Android.
7
Verify that your computer's PIN matches the Android's PIN. If the number in the Bluetooth menu on your computer matches the number on your Android's alert, you may proceed.
- In the unlikely event that the two numbers don't match, close and re-open the Bluetooth menu on your computer, then try pairing it with your Android again.
This will give your computer permission to connect to the Android.
Doing so allows your computer to finish connecting to your Android.
It's at the bottom of the Bluetooth window on your computer. At this point, your Android has successfully been paired with your computer.
11
Send a file to your Android. Now that your Android is connected to your PC via Bluetooth, you can send files from your PC to your Android by doing the following:
- Click the Send or receive files via Bluetooth link on the right side of the Bluetooth page on your PC.
- Click Send files.
- Select your Android's name, then click Next.
- Click Browse... in the middle of the window.
- Select a file to send, then click Open.
- Click Next, then tap ALLOW or ACCEPT when prompted on your Android.
12
Receive a file from your Android. You can send a file from your Android to your PC by doing the following:
- Click the Send or receive files via Bluetooth link on the right side of the Bluetooth page on your PC.
- Click Receive files.
- Go to the file you want to share on your Android.
- Tap the Share button or icon
  .
- Tap Bluetooth in the menu.
- Select your computer's name, then confirm by tapping OK or SEND if prompted.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using AirDroid

1
Create an AirDroid account. AirDroid is a free service that allows you to browse your Android's files while not physically connected to it. To start using AirDroid, you'll first have to create an account:
- Go to https://www.airdroid.com/en/signup/ in your computer's web browser.
- Enter your email address, a password, and a nickname in the labeled text fields.
- Click Sign up.
2
Install AirDroid on your PC. To do so:
- Click Download below the "Windows" heading.
- Wait for the AirDroid setup file to finish downloading.
- Double-click the downloaded setup file.
- Follow the installation prompts, then click Finish when prompted.
Enter your AirDroid email address and password in the "Email" and "Password" text boxes on the right side of the AirDroid window, then click Sign in.
You'll see this at the bottom of a Windows Defender Firewall notification if it appears. Doing so will allow AirDroid full access to your computer.
5
Download AirDroid onto your Android. To download the AirDroid app onto your Android, do the following:
- Open your Android's
  Play Store.
- Tap the search bar.
- Type in airdroid, then tap AirDroid: Remote access & file in the drop-down menu.
- Tap INSTALL, then tap ACCEPT when prompted.
Tap OPEN in the Play Store, or tap the green-and-white AirDroid app icon in your Android's App Drawer.
Tap SIGN IN OR SIGN UP at the bottom of the screen, type your email address and password into the "Email" and "Password" text boxes respectively, and tap SIGN IN.
On the left side of the AirDroid window on your PC, click the folder-shaped tab. Doing so will bring up your Android's list of folders.
9
Review your Android's list of files. You can view a list of your Android's files and folders in the AirDroid window even when your Android is locked.
- AirDroid must be running on your Android in order for you to see the most up-to-date version of your Android's files, and your Android must be connected to either Wi-Fi or cellular data.
10
Enable desktop mirroring. If you want to receive notifications from your Android on your desktop, do the following:
- Tap the Tools tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Desktop Notif.
- Tap Enable.
- Tap the grey switch to the right of the "AirDroid" heading.
- Tap ALLOW or OK if prompted.
11
Send messages from AirDroid on PC. You can use AirDroid to send messages from your Android even when you're away from it:
- Click the speech bubble-shaped "Messages" tab on the left side of the AirDroid window.
- Select a recipient from the text box at the top of the window.
- Enter your message.
- Click Send in the bottom-right corner.
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Question
How do I access Android files if the phone is empty?
Community Answer
You can't access any files if your phone doesn't have any.
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Tips

TeamViewer is another way you can link your PC to your Android.
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Warnings

Unfortunately, you can't use Bluetooth to view your Android's files and folders the same way you can when you use a USB cable.
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