I'm trying to copy several years' worth of photos and videos from an old Samsung Galaxy A51 to a Windows 11 PC. Cloud backup isn't syncing the Gallery, Quick Share isn't working with my computer, and USB transfers disconnect after a few minutes. The phone's charging port is physically damaged, so the connection only works when the phone and cable are held in a very specific position. The phone is also several Android versions behind, which makes many newer apps and cloud services difficult to use. I have more than 1,000 files to transfer and would prefer a reliable bulk-transfer method rather than sending small batches. What approach should I try?
4 Answers
If the phone’s software is still usable, Android debugging tools can provide another fallback. Enable Developer options and USB debugging, authorize the computer on the phone, then use an ADB file-copy command to pull folders such as DCIM to the PC. This still needs a stable USB connection, so it won’t solve a port that constantly loses contact, but it can be more dependable than the Windows Photos importer once the connection is steady.
The easiest option may be the phone’s microSD card slot. Put a sufficiently large microSD card in the phone, copy the photos and videos to it in batches, then remove the card and use a USB card reader on the PC. This avoids relying on the damaged charging port. Copy the files rather than moving them until you’ve confirmed the PC has everything.
A wireless transfer over your local network should work if the phone and PC can use Wi-Fi. An app such as CX File Explorer can connect to a shared folder on Windows, letting you copy the files in bulk without using the charging port. Another option is MyPhoneExplorer, installed on both devices, which can transfer files over the same network. These may be slower than USB, but they’re better suited to a large library than email or Bluetooth.
For USB, try a different short, sturdy data cable and clean the phone’s port carefully with the phone powered off. Pocket lint can prevent the plug from seating properly. Unlock the phone before connecting it, choose “File transfer” from the USB notification, and then copy the DCIM and Pictures folders directly through File Explorer instead of importing through the Photos app. Once it connects, keep the phone and cable completely still.
I had the same problem with a damaged port. After cleaning it, I could transfer everything as long as the phone stayed in one position and nobody touched the cable.