What "transfer files" means and why you'd do it
Transferring files means moving or copying documents, photos, videos, or other data from one place to another — from your computer to a cloud service, from your phone to your computer, from one cloud service to another, or from an old device to a new one. You might transfer files to back them up, to share them with someone else, to switch to a new device, or to organize them across different services.
The method you use depends on what you're transferring from and to. Moving a photo from your phone to Google Drive works differently than moving a spreadsheet from your computer to Dropbox, which works differently than copying files from an old laptop to a new one. This guide covers the most common routes and what each one actually involves.
Key Takeaways
- Cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive each have their own upload buttons and folder structures, so you'll need to know which service you're using before you start.
- Transferring files between different cloud services usually means downloading from one and uploading to another, because the services don't automatically sync with each other.
- Moving files from a phone or tablet to a computer often requires a cable, a wireless connection, or an email to yourself, depending on your device type.
- When you transfer files, you can usually choose whether to move them (remove from the original location) or copy them (keep in both places).
- Large files or many files at once may take longer to transfer and could fail if your internet connection drops, so check your connection before starting.
Uploading files from your computer to a cloud service
Most cloud services work the same way: you log in through a web browser, find an upload button, and select the files from your computer. In Google Drive, you click the "New" button on the left side, then "File upload" or "Folder upload" depending on whether you're moving one file or a whole folder. In Dropbox, you click "Upload files" in the center of the screen. In OneDrive, you click "Upload" at the top.
After you click upload, your computer opens a file browser window. You navigate to the folder where your files are stored, select the ones you want, and click "Open" or "Upload." The service then copies those files to its servers. While the upload is happening, you'll see a progress bar. Don't close the browser tab or turn off your computer until it finishes — if your internet cuts out, the upload may fail and you'll have to start over.
Once the upload is done, the files live in that cloud service. You can access them from any device by logging into that service. If you delete the files from your computer afterward, they stay in the cloud. If you want to keep them in both places, just leave them on your computer — uploading doesn't remove the original.
Transferring files between two different cloud services
Cloud services don't talk to each other directly, so you can't move a file from Google Drive straight into Dropbox. Instead, you read the file from the first service to your computer, then upload it to the second service. This takes longer than a direct transfer, but it's the standard method.
In Google Drive, right-click the file and select "read." Your browser saves it to your computer's Downloads folder. Then log into Dropbox, click "Upload files," find that same file in your Downloads folder, and upload it. Repeat for each file you want to move. If you're moving a lot of files, you can select multiple files at once in most services — hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click each file, then right-click and read them all together.
Some people use third-party tools that claim to move files between services automatically, but these require you to give them access to both accounts, which carries security risks. The read-and-upload method is slower but safer because you control the files the whole time.
Moving files from your phone or tablet to your computer
The easiest method depends on your device type. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can email the file to yourself, then read it on your computer. Open the file in the app where it lives, tap "Share," select "Mail," type your own email address, and send it. Then check your email on your computer and read the attachment.
For Android phones, you can do the same thing, or you can connect the phone to your computer with a USB cable. When you plug in the cable, your phone usually shows a notification asking what you want to do — select "File Transfer" or "Transfer Files." Your computer then shows your phone's storage as a folder, and you can drag files from the phone into a folder on your computer, just like moving files between two computer folders.
Another option for both iPhone and Android is to upload the files to a cloud service from your phone, then read them on your computer. Open Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive on your phone, tap the upload button (usually a plus sign or up arrow), select the file, and wait for it to finish. Then log into that same service on your computer and read the file.
Moving files from your computer to your phone or tablet
If you have an iPhone or iPad, the most reliable method is to use iCloud Drive or another cloud service. Upload the file to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive from your computer, then open that app on your iPhone or iPad and read the file. The file then appears in the app you're using.
For Android phones, you can connect the phone to your computer with a USB cable, just as you would to move files from phone to computer. Select "File Transfer" when the notification appears, then drag files from your computer into the phone's storage folder. The files appear in your phone's file manager or in the app that handles that file type.
You can also email files to yourself and open them on your phone, though this works better for small files. Large videos or image collections transfer faster through a cable or cloud service.
Transferring files when you get a new device
If you're switching to a new computer, phone, or tablet, the transfer process depends on whether you're staying with the same type of device or switching. If you're getting a new iPhone and you had an iPhone before, Apple offers an automatic setup process during the first startup that copies your files, apps, and settings. If you're getting a new Android phone, Google offers the same thing. Follow the prompts during setup and choose to restore from your previous device or from a cloud backup.
If you're switching from Windows to Mac, or from iPhone to Android, there's no automatic transfer. Instead, upload your important files to a cloud service from your old device, then read them on your new device. You can also use a cable to copy files from your old computer to your new one if both are computers — plug them together with a USB cable or use your network to share folders between them.
Before you transfer anything, make sure you have enough storage space on the new device. If you're moving hundreds of gigabytes of files, the transfer might fail if the new device runs out of room partway through. Check how much space the files take up on the old device, then check how much free space the new device has.
What to do if a file transfer fails or gets stuck
If an upload or read stops in the middle, the first thing to check is your internet connection. Open a web page to confirm you're still connected. If the connection dropped, wait a few seconds for it to come back, then try the transfer again. Most services will resume where they left off, though some require you to start over.
If your connection is fine but the transfer is still stuck, try closing the browser tab or app and starting again. If you're uploading a very large file and it keeps failing, try breaking it into smaller pieces — compress it into a .zip file, or split it into multiple files. Some cloud services have limits on how large a single file can be, so check the service's help page if you're moving something unusually big.
If you're moving files with a USB cable and nothing appears on the other device, make sure you selected "File Transfer" mode when you plugged in the cable. Some phones default to "Charge only" mode, which doesn't let you move files. Unplug the cable, plug it back in, and select the right mode from the notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move files between cloud services without downloading them to my computer first?
Not directly — Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and similar services don't sync with each other. You have to read from one and upload to the other. Some third-party tools claim to do this automatically, but they require access to both accounts, which is a security risk. The read-and-upload method is slower but safer.
What happens to the original file when I transfer it?
That depends on whether you move or copy it. When you upload a file to a cloud service, the original stays on your computer unless you delete it yourself. When you use a cable to transfer files between devices, you usually choose "move" or "copy" before the transfer starts. Moving removes it from the original location; copying keeps it in both places.
How long does it take to transfer a large file?
It depends on the file size and your internet speed. A 1 GB file might take a few minutes on a fast connection or 20+ minutes on a slow one. If you're transferring many files, upload them in batches rather than all at once — this reduces the chance that a single connection drop will fail the entire transfer.
Can I transfer files while my phone or computer is in sleep mode?
No. If your device goes to sleep, the transfer usually pauses or stops. Keep your device awake while transferring files — disable sleep mode in your settings, or just keep using it while the transfer happens. Once the transfer is done, you can let it sleep normally.
What if I don't have enough storage space on my new device?
Delete files you don't need on the new device first to make room, or transfer files in smaller batches. You can also keep some files in a cloud service instead of on the device itself — this saves space and you can still access them whenever you need them.