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May 23, 2023

How to transfer videos from your phone to your Windows computer

If you want more editing and sharing flexibility, transferring videos from your phone to your computer is the first step. There are a few methods for transferring videos to your Windows 11 PC using Microsoft services, including Phone Link, OneDrive, and using a USB. Below, we’ll walk you through the steps of using each of these options for video transfer.

Using Phone Link to transfer videos from your phone to your Windows 11 PC

Phone link is a Windows 11 feature that allows you to connect your smartphone to your Windows PC, laptop, or 2-in-1 device. You can use Phone Link to send videos from your smartphone to your Windows computer without using cords. To transfer videos using Phone Link:

Download the Phone Link app on your PC.
Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your smartphone to your Windows PC.
After your smartphone is linked, select the option for Photos in the Phone Link app on your PC.
Right-click on the loaded video(s) you want to download and choose Save as to download the video on your Windows PC.

Using Microsoft OneDrive to transfer videos from your phone to your Windows computer

OneDrive is a personal cloud storage service that allow users to upload files—including videos—and access them from any device. As long as you’re connected to the internet, transferring videos from your phone to your computer using OneDrive only takes a few steps:

Open the OneDrive app for iOS or Android.
Select the + button at the top of the screen.
Select Upload.

Once your file has been uploaded from your phone to OneDrive, you can access it from any device, including your computer. To access photos from OneDrive on your computer:

Open OneDrive on your PC.
Select the video files you want to download by clicking the circular check box next to the file.
Select Download from the top navigation menu.
Your browser should prompt you to select a location on your PC to save the files.

Using a USB cable to transfer videos from your phone to your computer

If you’d rather transfer photos without using the cloud, you can also plug your phone into your computer using a USB cable to transfer photos and videos.

In Windows 11:

Plug one end of a USB cable into your mobile phone and the other into your PC.
Open the Photos app on your PC.
Select Import from the top navigation menu. Your phone should automatically appear in the list of available devices.
Select your device.
Once the available content from the connect device appears onscreen, select the videos you want to import.
Select a location for your imported content.
Select Confirm.

Transferring your video content from your mobile device to your computer allows you to access a new world of video editing and content sharing options. Once your video content is uploaded to your Windows PC, you can experience the full capabilities of video editing software and easily share your videos on social media or your personal website.

DISCLAIMER: Features and functionality subject to change. Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.