MacDroid short-guide series

How to transfer photos from Android to Android easily

Olga Weis Sep 1, 2021

There are many different ways to transfer files Android to Android, Android to iOS, iOS to Windows, and the list can go on with many operating systems and interfaces. However, when it comes to transferring from and to the same operating system, the job should be easy enough.

This situation usually appears when you get a new Android phone, and you want to transfer photos from Android to Android so you don’t lose any of those precious memories. However, if this is your first time attempting to transfer files between two Android devices, we have you covered with a complete list of solutions that do the job perfectly.

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Learn how to transfer photos from Android to Android:

How to transfer photos from Android to Android using MacDroid
Using Bluetooth to transfer photos from Android to Android
How to transfer photos from one Android phone to another using Android Beam
Using Google Photos to transfer photos from Android to Android

1. How to transfer photos from Android to Android using MacDroid

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We’ve promised you a full list of apps and solutions that will help you transfer photos from Android to Android as well as other files that you may want to move from one device to another. We’re starting the list with the tool we found most effective - MacDroid.

This app allows you to transfer files from Android to Android by connecting your phone to the computer via USB. You can use MacDroid to connect Mac to Android, make a backup of all your files and folders and then move them to the new phone with ease.

More than just photos, images, or music, MacDroid allows you to transfer entire folders easily. Thanks to its friendly interface, you will have a great time navigating the app and choosing the exact files to transfer. MacDroid gives you full control over whenever you want to transfer files from Android to Android.

Pros:

Friendly user interface
Can transfer entire folders at once
You can also use it as a sync tool from Android to Mac.

Cons:

The more complex features of MacDroid are only available in the PRO version.

Supported OS: macOS

Price: $19.99 per year

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to transfer photos from Android to Android with MacDroid:

1

Download MacDroid from the App Store and add it to your Mac.

2

Connect the Android phone that has the photos you want to transfer to the other phone via USB.

3

Open MacDroid and choose MTP ( it may require access on your phone as well, if that happens just select "File transfer" in the dialogue box showing on screen).

4

Your Android phone should now be visible in the device list in MacDroid, click on it and press "Mount".

5

After mounting the phone, you get access to all the internal files, including photos, music, videos, and everything else.

6

You can save the files you want to move on your Mac and then connect your new phone to finish the transfer by moving them from Mac to the new device.

7

Connect the new phone to your Mac via MacDroid and finish the transfer.

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2. Using Bluetooth to transfer photos from Android to Android

If you don’t want to use an app to transfer photos from Android to Android, you can rely on the phone’s Bluetooth communication system. Even though you may think it’s faster because you don’t have to install any other software or use your computer, there are some downsides to this practice as well.

First off, the transfer speed is quite slow and you will only be able to move photos one by one. Nonetheless, Bluetooth is a valid answer to how to transfer photos from Android phone to Android tablet, and here’s how it works:

1

Start by turning on Bluetooth on both of the Android devices you’re going to use for the transfer. Pair the two phones by connecting one to the other via Bluetooth to get them ready for the transfer procedure.

2

Select the photos you want to share via Bluetooth.

3

Once the selection is complete, tap on "Share" or click on the distinctive sharing icon and select Bluetooth from the list of available file transfer environments (you can access this menu by pressing longer on one of the selected photos on your Android smartphone).

4

Wait for the files to be successfully transferred via Bluetooth to the other device. Remember, it will take some time as the files are sent one by one, there’s no possibility to transfer entire folders via Bluetooth.

3. How to transfer photos from one Android phone to another using Android Beam

As mentioned in the introduction, there are a lot of ways to transfer photos from Android to Android. The next one we’re focusing on is Android Beam. This is a software allowing users to send various content by simply putting the two devices back to back. It works via NFC and it’s faster than Bluetooth but still not as fast as using MacDroid.

So, if you are looking for an answer to how to transfer photos from Android to Android without computer, Android Beam can be the perfect solution. Here are the steps to complete a photo transfer between two Android devices using Android Beam:

1

Before attempting the transfer, make sure that both of the devices support NFC. Even though it’s a pretty standard feature for some years now, older models may not have NFC technology integrated in them. To check for NFC, just go to Settings -> Wireless & Networks, and tap "More".

2

If both phones support NFC, make sure to activate it as well Android Beam from the menu we mentioned in Step 1.

3

Open the gallery and choose the photos you want to share. After selecting all the photos you are ready to start the Android Beam transfer.

4

Make sure that both devices are turned on, have enough battery and there’s no lock screen or password to prevent them from being turned on.

5

Put the two Android smartphones back to back and you will be prompted to start the transfer for the selected photos.

6

Enjoy your favorite photos on the new Android phone.

4. Using Google Photos to transfer photos from Android to Android

Another answer to how to transfer photos from old Android to new Android can come from Google. Since you’re using an Android smartphone, chances are you’re already using a Google Account. Well, in the suite of helpful apps offered by Google, you’ll also find Photos.

This service allows users to easily share, categorize, create albums, and modify their photos and videos on an Android device. As you may have already guessed, Google Photos acts as a reliable Android photo transfer tool as well. Here’s how to use it to get your content from one Android smartphone to another:

1

Install Google Photos from the Play Store in case you don’t have it on your phone already.

2

Open the app on the old device and sign in with your Google account.

3

Upload the photos from the Gallery to Google Photos. You can choose between High Quality and Original before going to "Back up & sync" to turn the feature on.

4

Wait for the sync between the phone’s gallery and Google Photos to complete on the old phone.

5

Open Google Photos on your new Android smartphone, sign in with the same Google Account and tick High Quality before turning "Back up & sync" on again.

6

Now you have access to all the photos on your old phone almost in real time.

7

If you want to download the photos to your new Android device as well go to Menu -> Settings -> tick "Auto add" under "Google Photos".

8

Locate and access the Google Photos folder, select all photos and then tap "Download" to get the photos on your new device as well.

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Now that we’ve been through the most suitable ways to transfer photos from Android to Android, you are free to try the one that seems like the best fit. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, of course. However, if you want a thorough job and being able to move entire folders with lightning speed and ease, MacDroid remains the best solution for the job.

Using your phone’s Bluetooth or Android Beam is an alternative as well. However, that works best when you have just a few photos to transfer, and for Android Beam, you’ll need to have NFC support on the old phone as well. Since it doubles as a sync tool as well, MacDroid remains our top choice for getting the job done.

Android smartphones

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How do I transfer everything from my old Android to my new Android?

No matter if we’re talking about the situation when you transfer files from phone to tablet or between two smartphones, if you want a total transfer, there’s only one tool for the job. MacDroid allows you to move entire folders so you can make sure to complete the transfer in one go and without having to select thousands of individual files.

2. How do I transfer multiple photos from Android to Android?

There are multiple ways to transfer bulk photos from Android device to another. You can do so via Bluetooth or Android Beam after manually selecting the photos you want to send. However, if you want to be able to move the entire gallery at once, MacDroid gives you a straightforward way to do so with minimum time spent.

3. How do I transfer photos from Android to Android using Bluetooth?

Using Bluetooth to transfer photos between Android smartphones is a facile operation. You just need to turn on Bluetooth on both devices and connect them. Next, go on your old device, select the photos you want to transfer, and then share them via Bluetooth. Keep the two phones in range until the transfer is completed.

4. How can I transfer photos from Android to Android via WI-FI?

Using a WI-FI connection to transfer photos from Android to Android is another viable way to get the job done. You can use Google Photos to first upload the photos from the old phone in the Google Cloud. Next, over WI-FI, download the pictures from Google Photos on the new phone.

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Jenny Smith 2022-04-29T11:25:59

So … why would I go through the trouble of installing an app on my Mac, connect the Android phones to the Mac when I can just do it through Google Photos?
Thomas Loos 2022-04-13T08:35:39

Never thought the answer to how to transfer photos from one Android to another would imply using a Mac software. Just sounds like extra steps to me but will give MacDroid a go to see what this is all about …
Harold Robinson 2022-03-14T15:57:58

I used Google Photos to get the job done. However, using this app to transfer photos from Android to Android really reduced the time spent on the process. You just install it once and you save lots of time with syncing and uploading / downloading.
Lorna Dickinson 2022-02-21T14:00:21

I’ve never managed to make Android Beam work even though both phones have NFC. I just want to transfer photos from Android to Android and MacDroid was extremely helpful.
John Barry 2021-10-27T09:30:02

I never asked myself how to transfer photos from Android to Android because I used the microSD card to do so. It’s good to know there’s dedicated software for that or I can even use Google Photos. Thanks a bunch!