How do I transfer photos from my phone to my computer?

A USB cable is the fastest, most reliable way to move photos. On Android, unlock your phone, plug it into your computer, and tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification. Select “File Transfer,” then open your phone on the computer and drag the DCIM or Pictures folder where you want them. On iPhone, connect via USB and use Finder on a Mac or the Photos app on Windows — both give you an import option.

If you prefer wireless, the easiest route is cloud sync. iCloud Photos and Google Photos automatically upload from your phone, and you can download everything from icloud.com or photos.google.com on your computer. The trade-off: cloud transfers eat data and take longer with big libraries. A USB cable moves gigabytes in minutes with no compression and no middleman. For a one-time bulk transfer — like clearing space before a trip — the cable wins every time.