Alex Ruben
How To Transfer Photos and Videos from Honor Android Phone to Windows PC Quickly
Transferring photos and videos from your Honor Android phone to a Windows PC can be surprisingly straightforward, but of course, it’s never as smooth as it sounds. Sometimes your PC just won’t show the phone unless you do a little nudge or tweak some settings. Whether you’re backing up your memories or trying to free up some storage, here’s the rundown based on real-world quirks.
Prerequisites
Make sure you’ve got:
- An Honor Android phone with photos/videos you want to move.
- A compatible USB cable (not the cheap knockoffs, they often cause connection issues).
- A Windows PC with File Explorer (no, not complicated).
- Basic familiarity with navigating your PC’s folders.
Step 1: Connect Your Honor Phone to Your PC
If your PC refuses to recognize your phone right away, don’t get discouraged. Try this:
- Plug in the USB cable into both your Honor device and your computer. (Use a different port if needed — sometimes one port just doesn’t play nice.)
- Swipe down on your phone’s notification panel—yes, that little pull-down area that’s always full of stuff—and look for the USB options notification.
- Tap it, then select File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol). If you don’t see that, your phone might be stuck on charging mode, so try reconnecting or switching cables.
Sometimes Windows gives a silent treatment if the phone isn’t unlocked, so unlock that device first before plugging in. Kind of weird, but that’s tech for you.
Step 2: Access Your Phone on the PC
Once you’ve convinced your PC that yes, it’s okay to see the phone, you’ll want to find it in File Explorer:
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Look under This PC—you should see your Honor phone listed there, maybe as “Honor 90” or whatever model you have.
- Double-click on your device’s name. If it’s not showing up at all, try reconnecting, restarting your PC, or even reinstalling drivers (more on that below).
On some setups, the device won’t show immediately — a reboot or plugging into a different port can kickstart Windows into recognizing it.
Step 3: Locate Your Photos and Videos
With access granted, head for the usual suspects:
- Open the DCIM folder for your camera shots and videos (that’s where most Android cameras save media).
- Check the Pictures or Movies folders if you’re after screenshots, downloads, or other media.
Forgot where you saved that video? Look through those folders. Sometimes, apps drop files into weird subfolders, so it’s a bit of a wild goose chase.
Step 4: Transfer Files to Your PC
This is where the real work begins. Select the files you want to move, and here’s what usually works:
- Hold Ctrl and click to select multiple files. Or click and drag to select a bunch.
- Right-click and choose Copy. Yep, kind of obvious but it’s easy to forget when in a hurry.
- Navigate to your preferred save location on your PC (desktop, Documents, or a dedicated folder).
- Right-click in that folder and hit Paste, or just press Ctrl + V.
On some stubborn setups, dragging and dropping works better. Either way, be patient—large files might take a minute.
Step 5: Safely Disconnect Your Phone
Once all files are transferred, don’t just yank the cable out like a caveman. Windows needs to be told to eject safely:
- Right-click your device in File Explorer and select Eject.
- Wait for the confirmation message, then unplug the USB cable.
If your device isn’t ejecting properly, try closing File Explorer or disconnecting from another port. Windows occasionally likes to hold onto devices for no good reason.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here’s the lowdown on what trips people up:
- If your device isn’t listed, double-check the USB connection—try a different cable or port. Sometimes, Windows just refuses to see the device until you reboot or reinstall the drivers.
- Make sure your phone is unlocked and you’ve set the connection mode to File Transfer.
- If transfer speeds are sluggish, disable any battery saver modes on your phone; they throttle data transfer.
- For those who keep fighting with recognition issues, head over to Device Manager (press Windows + X > Device Manager). Look under Portable Devices and see if your phone shows up. If it doesn’t, or has a yellow warning, right-click and try updating drivers or uninstall/reinstall them.
Conclusion
Honestly, moving files from Honor phones to Windows PCs is doable but can be a pain until you figure out what’s throwing it off. Patience and trying different ports or cables usually fix the most common hiccups. After all, your device’s connection settings and drivers play a big role — Windows isn’t always helpful about that, so sometimes you have to do the manual driver dance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer files wirelessly?
Sure, you can upload stuff to Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar cloud services and then download on your PC. That’s handy if a cable isn’t handy or keeps disconnecting, but it’s not the fastest for large files.
What if my PC doesn’t recognize my phone?
Check if your device pops up in Device Manager—maybe you need to install or update drivers. Also, toggle the USB connection mode on your phone or switch to another USB port. Sometimes, Windows just needs a kick to wake up to new hardware.
How do I transfer large videos without messing up?
For big files, consider compressing them first (using something like 7-Zip) or breaking them into smaller chunks. This helps avoid interruptions or failed transfers, especially on slower connections.
Summary
- Use a reliable USB cable and change ports if needed.
- Make sure to select File Transfer mode on your phone.
- Access your device via This PC in File Explorer.
- Locate your media in DCIM or other folders.
- Copy/paste or drag/drop the media to your PC.
- Always eject properly before unplugging.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Nothing’s more frustrating than figuring out tech on your own. Fingers crossed this helps.