Connect to computer from android

How to Connect an Android to a PC

Corded and wireless options to connecting your phone to your computer

What to Know

• Connect the devices with a USB cable. Then on Android, select Transfer files. On PC, select Open device to view files >This PC.
• Connect wirelessly with AirDroid from Google Play, Bluetooth, or the Microsoft Your Phone app.

This article explains how to connect an Android to a PC by using a USB cable or a wireless connection via AirDroid, Bluetooth, or the Microsoft Your Phone app.

How to Connect an Android to a PC

If you want to connect an Android to a PC, there are several options. The most common approach is to use a USB cable, but there are a number of wireless solutions that’ll work just as well, and often offer a faster connection.

Most Android devices come with a USB charging cable, with the charger end connected via the USB end of the wire. If you unplug the USB end from the charger, you can plug that end into your PC to initiate a connection with your computer.

However, if you don’t have your USB cable with you, or prefer a wireless solution, these are the ways you can connect an Android to a PC without a cable:

• Using AirDroid: This popular app uses your home network to establish a connection between your computer and Android device and transfer files.
• Bluetooth: Most modern computers have Bluetooth available. You can use Bluetooth to transfer files from your Android.
• Microsoft’s Your Phone App: Microsoft now offers a new app for Windows 10 users called Your Phone, which provides an easy connection with your Android.

Connect an Android to a PC With USB

Using a USB cable to connect your Android to your PC is easy, but it only allows you to transfer files back and forth. You can’t remotely control your Android using this connection.

First, connect the micro-USB end of the cable to your phone, and the USB end to your computer.

When you connect your Android to your PC via the USB cable, you’ll see a USB connection notification in your Android notifications area. Tap the notification, then tap Transfer files.

On your computer, you’ll see a notification asking what you’d like to do with the new USB device. Select this notification.

This will open a window to select how you’d like to use the device. Select Open device to view files.

Now, when you open Windows Explorer, select This PC and you’ll see your device available. Select the device to expand it and browse through all of the folders and files on your phone.

Connect an Android to a PC With AirDroid

AirDroid is an impressive app because it allows you to not only transfer files to and from your Android, but it also includes a number of remote control features.

Install AirDroid from Google Play onto your Android device.

Open the app and enable the features you plan to use. You may need to create a new AirDroid account if this is the first time you’re using the app.

Some features, such as remotely controlling your Android screen, requires root access to the device. Additionally, some features are disabled unless you purchase the Premium plan.

Visit AirDroid Web, and log into the same account you created above.

Once you connect, you’ll see the main dashboard. On the right, you’ll see a toolbox with a summary of information about your phone storage. On the left, you’ll see all of the apps that let you control your phone.

Select the Files app to browse files on your phone and transfer files back and forth.

Select the Messages app to review stored messages on your phone or to launch a new SMS session with anyone in your contacts list.

You can even use the Camera app to remotely view and control the camera on your Android phone.

Connect an Android to a PC With Bluetooth

If you only need a connection to transfer files, bluetooth is an excellent option because it requires no wires and the transfers are fast and easy.

Make sure bluetooth is turned on for both your Android device and your computer. When it is, you’ll see the computer show up on your Android as an available device to pair with.

Tap this device to pair with it. You should see a pair code appear on both the PC and on your android device. Tap Pair to complete the connection.

Once connected, on your PC right-click the bluetooth icon on the right side of the taskbar, then select either Send a File or Receive a File.

Next, browse to the file on your PC that you want to transfer and select Next.

This will initiate the file transfer from your PC to your Android.

Connect an Android to a PC With Microsoft Your Phone

Another convenient cloud bases service that’ll let you access your phone’s files, texts, and notifications is a new service provided by Microsoft called Your Phone.

The Your Phone app is ideal for those situations when you’ve forgotten your phone at home. From your laptop, you can still see all messages and notifications you might have otherwise missed.

Install the Microsoft Your Phone app from Google Play onto your Android. You’ll need to accept all of the requested security permissions.

Install the Your Phone app from the Microsoft Store onto your Windows 10 PC.

Launch the Your Phone app on your computer and select Android as the phone type that you want to connect to. Then select Get started.

Your computer will connect to your Android phone. Select Photos from the left panel to view all photos on your phone.

Select Messages to view messages, or send and receive new messages, from your computer through your Android phone.

Select Notifications to view all recent notifications on your Android phone.

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How to Access a PC From Your iPhone or Android Device

With the Remote Desktop app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android, you can connect to and control a remote Windows computer to work with your files and applications.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to work from home. This has included the need to access computers remotely with Microsoft’s Remote Desktop tool, which most people will use to connect their computer at home to the one in the office. But if you’re on the go, you can also access a remote PC from an Apple or Android device.

You can view the screen, open files, and work with applications on your mobile device as easily (though maybe not as quickly) as if you were right in front of that computer. Here’s how to use the Remote Desktop mobile app to access a remote computer.

Allow Remote Access

In order to access a computer remotely, it must first be set up properly. Go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the computer you wish to access and make sure the Enable Remote Desktop switch is turned on.

By default, the options for Keep your PC awake for connections when it is plugged in and Make my PC discoverable on private networks to enable automatic connection from a remote device may both be enabled. To view or modify either option, click the corresponding Show settings link, but you can leave both turned on at this point.

Click the Advanced settings link and make sure the box for Configure Network Level Authentication is checked. This feature provides an extra layer of protection to ward off uninvited guests and malicious users.

If you’ll be connecting to the computer on the same network at home or at work via a VPN or other means, ignore the section for External connections. The section for Remote Desktop port shows the default port to listen for and accept a remote connection.

While you’re here, note the name of the PC, as you’ll need it when you set up the connection.

By default, any user who has an administrative account on the remote PC can access it. Assuming you’re using a Microsoft Account or company account to sign into Windows, your best bet is to use that account to sign in remotely.

If you want to give remote access to a different account, click the Select users that can remotely access this PC link at the bottom. Click Add and enter the username for the account you want to use.

Set Up Remote Access From iPhone or iPad

Now, you can turn to your mobile device. To access the computer from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, download and install the Remote Desktop app from Apple’s App Store. Open the app, tap the + button in the top-right corner, and choose the option Add PC.

At the Add PC window, enter the computer name or IP address in the PC Name field. Type the account name you want to use in the User Account field, or leave the field set to “Ask When Required” if you’d rather enter the name each time for security reasons.

Type a name in the Friendly Name field to add a more convenient label for this connection. Turning on the switch for Admin Mode connects you to a console session to manage a Windows server; normally you would leave this turned off. The option for Swap Mouse Buttons swaps the left and right mouse buttons.

In the Gateway section, you would need to enable and set up the option for Gateway only if your organization uses a Remote Desktop Gateway to secure remote connections.

Swipe down to the Device & Audio Redirection section to enable any features on your device that you wish to use during a remote connection. You’d likely want to direct the sound to play on this device. You may also want to enable the clipboard if you plan to copy and paste back and forth. You can enable the microphone, camera, and remote storage as well. When finished, tap Save in the upper-right corner.

An icon for the computer you want to access will appear in the app. Tap that icon to make the connection. The first time you try to access the computer, Remote Desktop may ask to verify the connection to that computer. Enable Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer and then tap Accept.

You should then be connected to the remote computer. You can now open apps and windows, manage the desktop, and do just about everything you can do if you were sitting in front of the computer.

To help you control your remote session, the app displays a small toolbar at the top that lets you zoom in and out on the screen, display your device’s keyboard, or jump to another remote connection.

Tap the middle icon to view all your remote connections. Select a remote connection to jump to another session. This page has its own toolbar at the top. Tap the Home icon to return to the home screen, where you can set up or access another connection. Tap the Hand icon to switch to touch-screen mode and tap the Mouse icon to switch to mouse mode.

Tap the X button in the thumbnail of a remote connection to sever the connection for that session. Otherwise, tap Disconnect All PCs to end every current session.

Set Up Remote Access From an Android Device

Remote Desktop for Android works similarly to its iOS/iPadOS counterpart, though the setup process differs slightly. Download and install the app from Google Play. After you launch the app, tap the + icon and choose Add PC.

If you happen to be near the remote computer, the app will scan for it at this point. If the PC is detected, its name will show up on the screen. Otherwise, tap the Add Manually link.

Type in the computer name or IP address. For User name, tap the field that says Enter every time and then either leave that option as is or tap the Add user account and type the username and password. Tap Show additional options, then enter a friendly name if desired.

You can add the gateway if your organization uses a Remote Desktop Gateway. Opt to play sound from the remote PC on your device. Unless you need to adjust the options for display resolution, mouse buttons, admin session, and local storage, you can leave those turned off. When done, click Save.

Tap the name and icon for the remote session you just created. If you receive the message that the certificate can’t be verified, check the box Never ask again for connections to this PC and then tap Connect.

Once you are connected to the remote desktop, use the toolbar at the top of the screen to zoom in and out, display the onscreen keyboard, or view other remote sessions. Tap the hamburger icon to display the sidebars.

From there, you can tap the Start New icon to start another remote session to a different computer. Tap the Home button to return to the app’s home screen. Hit the Mouse Pointer icon to display a mouse pointer. Tap the X in the thumbnail window of your computer to disconnect the current remote session.

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