How to upload a photo from my phone

Emailing pictures from a smartphone is quite simple. You will normally use two apps, one for the email and one for browsing your gallery of pictures. If you are using an Android phone, you can use the Outlook or Gmail app and the Photos app (or any other photo gallery app that you use to see photos in your phone). If you are using an iPhone, you will be using the Outlook or Mail app and the Photos App.

If you need to send photos from your phone to a computer, you can use email, Google Photos, or even a direct cable connection. However, you may find it quicker and more convenient to transfer them wirelessly from phone to PC.

Microsoft once offered an app called Photos Companion, which allowed iPhone and Android users alike to transfer photos to Windows 10 PCs, but it has been discontinued. In its place, Android users can use Microsoft’s Your Phone app, while iPhone users will need to find third-party options that can perform the task.

Your Phone

To get started with Your Phone, first open Settings > Phone and click the Add a phone button in Windows 10.

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, Popular Science, Time, Fortune, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

You can use Samsung Link or Google+™ to instantly upload photos and videos captured with your device.

Instant Upload to Samsung Link

You will be required to login to your Samsung account.
From the Home screen, touch Apps > Samsung Link .
2. Touch Sign in and enter your email address and password, and then
touch Sign in again.
3. Touch > Settings > Auto upload.
4. Touch the slider to turn Auto upload on .
5. Touch None and select your PC or Storage service from the list.
6. Touch either Photos or Photos/Videos, depending on what you would
like to be uploaded automatically.
7. To allow your device to upload over mobile data, touch the slider to
turn Use mobile networks on

Instant Upload to Google+
When you add your Google+ account to your device, you can set your device to upload your photos and videos to Google+.
1. To open the Google+ application, touch Apps > Google+ .
2. If you have not opened the Google+ application previously, select the Google™ Account to upload photos to.
3. Select the desired Google+ settings for Contacts and touch Next.
4. You will then be prompted to enable Instant Upload. Select the method to upload your photos/videos.
Choose from Over Wi-Fi or mobile network or Over Wi-Fi only.
5. Touch Done to continue.

If you need to modify the Instant Upload settings, follow the steps below. To open the Google+ application, touch Apps > Google+ . Touch Menu > Settings > Instant Upload.

As someone who takes photos and screenshots every day, Google Photos has been a lifesaver. All images backed up and synced to Google Photos are accessible anywhere, from any device. Knowing how to upload your photos to Google Photos is a pretty good place to start.

READ MORE: Beginner’s guide to Google Photos

THE SHORT ANSWER 

To upload photos to Google Photos from your iPhone or Android device, open a browser and go to the Google Photos website. Here, you will find an upload button in the top right corner. Alternatively, you can turn on Back up and sync from within Photos settings in the Google Photos app to automatically upload the photos and videos on your device.

To upload photos to Google Photos from your computer, open a browser and go to the Google Photos website. The upload button is located in the top right corner. Alternatively, you can drag photos and videos directly onto the page from File Explorer.

KEY SECTIONS 

When you require quick access to photos or screenshots you’ve taken on your phone on another device, Google Photos is invaluable. 

For example, when I take mobile screenshots for articles such as this one, I don’t connect my phone to my computer to transfer the screenshot files. Instead, those screenshots are automatically backed up and uploaded to Google Photos, so I can head over to the Google Photos website and easily access them there.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

You get 15GB of free storage with your Google account, shared across Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail. If you need more than that, you will need to pay for a Google One subscription for extra storage.

How to upload photos to Google Photos (Android and iPhone)

The Google Photos application on your Android or iOS device functions identically to your Gallery app. All photos, videos, and screenshots you take are accessible from Google Photos.

Usually, you would have to activate Back up and sync from within the app to “upload” your photos and videos. However, you don’t have to turn that on. You could instead upload each piece of content manually.

In this case, open up your mobile browser and go to photos.google.com. This will take you to the Google Photos mobile website.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

You should find a little Upload button in the top right corner on the Google Photos website. It’s an upwards arrow with a horizontal bracket underneath it. Select this, and a small menu will open up, allowing you to choose the location of your content to send to Google Photos.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Select what you would like to upload, and then, if prompted, Choose your upload size. You can choose Original quality or Storage saver, which will reduce the quality slightly.

Press Continue to finish and upload your photo or video to Google Photos.

Back up and sync

The easiest way to upload photos and videos to Google Photos is to turn on Back up and sync. On mobile devices, turning this feature on ensures that, as soon as you take a photo, screenshot, or video, you can find it on Google Photos.

Open the Google Photos app on your Android or iOS device. Tap your profile picture or initials in the top right to open the Google Photos menu.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

In the Google Photos menu, select Photos settings.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

In Photos settings, select Back up and sync. This option typically appears at the top of the list.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

Tap the Back up and sync button to turn the function on or off.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

How to upload photos to Google Photos (computer)

Uploading content from your computer, PC, or Mac, is quick and easy. First, open up your browser and go to photos.google.com. This will take you to the Google Photos website.

From here, you can open up File Explorer and drag the photo or video onto the webpage to start uploading it. Or you can click the Upload button in the top right corner.

Curtis Joe / Android Authority

If you opt to click the Upload button, you must click Computer in the UPLOAD FROM dropdown to open File Explorer. Select whichever photos or videos you would like to upload, and then upload them.

Alternatively, you can click Automatically back up photos from your computer in the UPLOAD FROM dropdown. You must download Google Drive to your computer to continue and finish setting this up.

However, if you have many photos and videos on your computer, you may need to upgrade your Google One subscription for more cloud storage space. Remember that if you are using the platform without a subscription, you only get 15GB of storage for free.

READ MORE: How to delete photos from Google Photos

Can I upload all of my photos to Google Photos?

Yes, you can upload your photos from your mobile device and computer. You can enable Back up and sync to ensure all your pictures and videos are automatically uploaded to Google Drive from your device. However, you are limited to 15GB across all of Google’s services, including Gmail and Google Drive. If you know you will surpass that limit, you will have to purchase a Google One subscription for more storage.

What is the fastest way to upload photos to Google Photos?

The fastest way to ensure your photos are uploaded to Google Photos is to turn on Back up and sync.

Can I manually upload photos to Google Photos?

Many believe that you must turn on Back up and sync to upload content to Google Photos. This is not the case, however. If you visit the Google Photos website from your browser, an Upload button is available in the top right corner. You can manually upload photos this way.

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