Google begins rolling out photo copying from Android to Windows

The new feature arrived with the November update to Google Play system services. Once enabled, photos and videos from the phone will automatically be copied to the PC. The files transfer directly from device to device, meaning an internet connection is not required.

To set up the copying, users install the latest version of Quick Share for Windows on their computer, log into the same Google account as on their phone, and then enable the option in the application's settings. The program runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and newer versions; computers with ARM processors require Windows 11. The smartphone must run Android 6 or newer. Bluetooth, as well as Wi-Fi or Ethernet, must be enabled on both devices. Google recommends that the phone and computer be no farther than five metres apart.

In addition, at the Android Dev Summit 2026 conference, Google introduced the Quick Share SDK, a set of tools enabling third-party developers to embed file transfers into their applications. Currently, doing so requires opening the system "Share" menu and navigating to a separate Quick Share interface; with the SDK, a bottom sheet with file previews will appear within the app. The release is planned for the first half of 2027, with a separate version to be released for iOS. The company highlights end-to-end encryption, uncompressed photo and video transfer, and operation without the internet or mobile networks among its advantages.