How to Connect Phone to Laptop: iPhone and Android

Both wired and wireless connections can be made between an Android or iPhone smartphone and a Windows or macOS laptop. Once you Connect Phone to Laptop, you can move files from a Windows or Apple laptop to a smartphone or from a smartphone to a Windows or macOS laptop. So let’s have a closer look at the steps to Connect Phone to Laptop.

Since Apple devices have a closed platform, you would need a special program like Air File Transfer to connect an iPhone to a Windows laptop or an Android phone to MacBook. You can also use AirDroid, a cross-platform program that lets you transfer files quickly over the air.

It’s convenient to be able to use your phone as a modem to get online from anywhere, but what if your laptop doesn’t have internet access and you need to move files or photos from your phone to the laptop?

How to Connect iPhone to Mac Laptop

How to Connect Phone to Laptop: iPhone and Android

Via Bluetooth

  • Make sure that your iPhone and Mac are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Use Bluetooth to link your iPhone to your Mac. If you haven’t paired the devices before, go to the upper-right menu of MacOS and click on the Bluetooth icon. Then click on Bluetooth preferences. Keep your iPhone close and turned on, and wait for your MacOS to notice it. Then, choose Connect to pair the two devices. Enter any credentials you need.
  • Go to Setting > General > AirPlay & Handoff on your iPhone. Check to see that Handoff is turned on. Now, you can switch to your iPhone from any app that works with Handoff by clicking on the Handoff icon in the dock of your Mac.
  • If you want to use AirDrop, you don’t need a Bluetooth connection. Just make sure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Then, on a device like an iPhone, tap the Share button, and you should see all of your options. AirDrop will have an icon that looks like a radar next to devices that can use it.
  • To use Continuity features, open an app that works with them and Control-click where you want content to go. This will bring up a menu to insert: Choose the “Import from iPhone or iPad” option.

Using Cable

  • Connect your phone to your computer and open the Finder program.
  • Choose your iPhone from the list of locations in the sidebar.
  • You might be asked to Trust the device or update your iPhone to the latest iOS version if you haven’t already. Just follow the instructions to do these things.
  • Then, use the different tabs at the top of Finder, right below the information about your iPhone, to work with the content you need.
  • Every time you want to sync data on your iPhone, you have to plug it in. Apple has added a way to switch to Wi-Fi syncing after you’ve set up everything the first time.
  • Make sure that your iPhone is still chosen in Finder and that you are in the General section.

How to Connect iPhone to Windows Laptop

With iTunes

  • Open iTunes on your PC running Windows 10. If iTunes is not already on your computer, you can download and install it by going to apple.com.
  • Connect your iPhone to your computer with the USB cable. Click the picture of an iPhone.
  • If you set iTunes to “Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi,” you can also sync your iPhone to this PC without a USB cable by using Wi-Fi. But syncing will take a lot longer.
  • If you chose “Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected,” your iPhone will be synced to this PC as soon as you connect them. If the option to sync automatically is not checked, you can sync it by clicking the “Sync” button.
  • Click the “Back up now” button if you want to back up your iPhone. Check the box next to “This computer” if you want to back up to this PC. Check the box next to “iCloud” if you want to back up your iPhone to iCloud.

With USB cable

  • Take out the USB cable for your iPhone that came with it when you bought it.
  • Connect the big end to your PC device, and then connect the small end to your iPhone.
  • When you connect your iPhone to your computer, the computer will give you tips. When you unlock your iPhone, you’ll see a message that says “Allow this device to access photos and videos?” Tap “Allow” to let it do so.
  • If you are connecting your iPhone to this PC for the first time, it will need to install a USB driver. But don’t worry, Windows will find your iPhone and install the driver for it automatically.
  • If your Windows 10 PC doesn’t recognize your iPhone, unplug the USB cable and then plug it back in several times.
  • If you go to your Windows 10 computer, click “This PC,” then click “Devices and drives,” then “iPhone,” then “Internal Storage,” you can copy the photos from your iPhone to this computer.

Via Bluetooth

  • Click on Actions Center Notification, look for Bluetooth, and click on it to turn it on.
  • Or, click “Start,” “Settings,” “Devices,” and then move the bar to the right under “Bluetooth” to turn it on.
  • Swipe from the bottom of the iPhone screen to the top to find the Bluetooth icon. Tap it to turn it on.
  • When your iPhone finds your PC and you tap on it, it will send you a message asking if the passkey on your PC is the same as the one on your iPhone. If it matches, click the “Yes” button.
  • When your Windows 10 computer is connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth, you can share photos and other files between the two devices.

How to Connect iPhone to Chromebook

Using AirDroid

  • First, get the free AirDroid app and make an AirDroid account on your iPhone.
  • Next, go to the section called “My Device” and tap “AirDroid Web.” Tap “Scan QR code” and then scan the QR code I’ll show you in the next step.
  • If you click on this link, your Chromebook will open AirDroid Web. After that, you can connect your iPhone by scanning the QR code on the homepage. Now, you can also sign into your AirDroid account on Chromebook.
  • At last, all of your photos, videos, and other files from your iPhone will be on your Chromebook. All of this is done on-site, so no data is sent to servers in the cloud.

Via USB

  • With a USB lightning cable, you can connect your iPhone to your Chromebook, just like you would with a Mac or Windows PC. Right away, a pop-up will appear on your iPhone asking you to allow media access. If you tap “Allow,” you’re almost done.
  • Now, open the Files app on your Chromebook. On the left side, you’ll see “Apple iPhone.” Just open it more, and there it is. All of your iPhone photos and videos will be accessible on your Chromebook.

How to Connect Android Phone to Mac Laptop

Via Bluetooth

  • Ensure Bluetooth is turned on for both devices.
  • On Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth. Ensure Bluetooth is on, and you should see “Now discoverable as” and your device name.
  • On your Android device go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure it is toggled on.
  • You should see your Mac listed.
  • Check the pairing codes match then click Pair on both devices.
  • To send files from Android to Mac, go to System Preferences > Sharing and ensure the box next to Bluetooth Sharing is checked.
  • Click the Share icon on your Android device.
  • Select the files you wish to share.

With USB

This is the easiest way to connect a Mac to an Android device. Just connect the phone to the Mac using a USB cable, preferably the one that came with your device. You can then start moving files.

  • Download and install HoRNDIS.
  • Connect phone to Mac computer using USB.
  • Open system preference and then click network on Mac. Then select your android phone’s icon.

How to Connect Android Phone to Windows Laptop

With USB

  • First, connect your phone to the micro-USB end of the cable and your computer to the USB end.
  • When you use the USB cable to connect your Android to your PC, you’ll get a notification in your Android’s notifications area. Tap the alert, then tap the “Transfer files” button.
  • You’ll get a message on your computer asking what you want to do with the new USB device. Choose this warning.
  • This opens a window where you can choose how you want to use the device. Choose Open device to look at the files.
  • Now, when you open Windows Explorer and choose This PC, your device will be shown. Select the device to expand it and look through all of the folders and files on your phone.

With AirDroid

  • Put AirDroid on your Android device from Google Play.
  • Start up the app and turn on the features you want to use. If this is the first time you’ve used AirDroid, you may need to make a new account.
  • Go to AirDroid Web and use the same account you made above to sign in.
  • Once you’re connected, the main dashboard will show up. On the right, you’ll see a toolbox with a summary of your phone’s storage information. On the left, you can see all of the apps that let you control your phone.
  • Choose the Files app to look through your phone’s files and send and receive files.
  • Choose the Messages app to look at your phone’s saved messages or start a new SMS conversation with anyone on your contacts list.
  • You can even use the Camera app to look at and control your Android phone’s camera from afar.

Via Bluetooth

  • Make sure that both your Android device and your computer have Bluetooth turned on. When it is, your Android will show the computer as a device you can pair with.
  • Tap this item to connect it to it. Both your PC and your Android device should show a pair code. Tap Pair to finish the pairing.
  • Once you’re connected, right-click on the Bluetooth icon on the right side of your PC’s taskbar and choose Send a File or Receive a File.
  • Next, look for the file you want to move on your PC and click Next.
  • This will get your PC to send the file to your Android.

How to Connect Android Phone to Chromebook

With Phone Hub

  • In the bottom right corner of your Chromebook, click on “time.” Then, click the cog icon to open the ChromeOS Settings app.
  • Now, choose “Connected devices” and click “Set up” next to the Android phone.
  • Continue setting up, and when asked, enter your Google password. ChromeOS will automatically choose the device where your Google account is signed in.
  • Click on it and turn on the switch next to “Recent photos.”
  • Open the System settings app on your phone. Here, scroll down and click on “Google.”
  • On the page where you set up Google, choose Devices and sharing. Then choose Chromebook from the list.
  • Here, turn on the switch next to “Photos and media.”

With USB

  • Use a USB cable to link your Android phone to your Chromebook.
  • On Android, you will get a pop-up. Choose the File Transfer option to let your devices share files with each other.
  • Now, open the Files app and choose your phone from the list of devices on the left. Here is where you should be able to see the files on your Android phone.

FAQs

How do I connect my Android phone to my laptop?

Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. Tap the “This device is being charged via USB” message on your phone. Select File Transfer under “Use USB for.” On your computer, an Android File Transfer window will open.

  1. Get AirDroid Personal and sign up for an AirDroid account. Click “Download Now” to put AirDroid Personal on both your Android phone and your computer.
  2. Hook up the device to the PC….
  3. Install AirDroid Personal, and then start controlling your phone from your computer.
George Southwell
George Southwell
George Southwell is a seasoned content editor at Bollyinside, renowned for his expertise in simplifying complex tech topics. Specializing in "Tips and Tricks" articles, he excels in breaking down iPhone, Android, hardware, and software insights. George's insatiable curiosity fuels his hobby of testing the latest tech updates, keeping him on the cutting edge.

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