How can I safely view photos stored on my computer from my Pixel phone?

You can share the photo folders over your home network and use an Android file manager that supports Windows network shares, such as File Manager +. The folders need to be shared on the computer, and your phone can browse them while connected to the same Wi-Fi. Don’t expose ordinary Windows file sharing directly to the public internet; use a secure VPN such as Tailscale if you need access while traveling.

For a larger collection, a NAS is another good route. It stores the photos separately from the computer and can provide an app for browsing them on your phone. A NAS costs more upfront, though, and it should still be backed up because it isn’t automatically protection against hardware failure. For most people, syncing the most important or frequently viewed albums to a cloud service is easier and less maintenance.

The simplest option is cloud storage. Install Google Drive or OneDrive on the computer and place your photo folders in the synced directory. The files remain on the computer and can still be backed up, while the phone app lets you browse them without downloading everything. You only use phone storage when you choose to save or share a photo. Google Drive may feel especially convenient with a Pixel, although free storage is limited.