Transfer Videos from Samsung to PC: Full Guide

This guide walks you through every reliable way to move videos from a Samsung Galaxy phone to a Windows PC, whether you want to free up storage, back up memories, or edit footage on a bigger screen. You’ll learn the fastest cable method, the wireless options, and what to do when a transfer fails halfway.

What You’ll Need

A Samsung phone (Galaxy S, Note, A, or Z series) with the videos stored on it.
A Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11 recommended).
A USB cable that supports data transfer — many included charging cables only carry power. If in doubt, try a different cable.
Your phone unlocked and the screen on during the transfer.
Optional: a Wi-Fi network for wireless methods, and the Link to Windows app if you prefer that route.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: USB Cable (Fastest and Most Reliable)

Unlock your Samsung phone and connect it to your PC with the USB cable.
On your phone, a notification will appear saying “Charging via USB.” Tap it.
In the pop-up that appears, select File Transfer (sometimes labeled “Transfer files” or “MTP”). If you don’t see it, check the notification shade again — it may be under “USB options.”
On your PC, open File Explorer (Windows key + E). Your phone should appear as a drive under “This PC” — usually named “Phone” or “Galaxy.”
Double-click the phone drive, then navigate to Internal Storage (or SD card if you saved videos there).
Go to DCIM > Camera for videos shot with the camera app. Videos downloaded or received may be in Download, Movies, or Pictures folders.
Select the videos you want (hold Ctrl to pick multiple, or Ctrl+A for all).
Right-click and choose Copy, then navigate to a folder on your PC, right-click and choose Paste.
Wait for the transfer to finish. Large 4K videos can take a few minutes — don’t unplug the cable until the progress bar disappears.

Method 2: Link to Windows (Wireless)

On your PC, open the Link to Windows app (pre-installed on Windows 10/11) or go to phone link in the Start menu.
On your Samsung phone, swipe down to open Quick Settings and tap Link to Windows. Sign in with the same Microsoft account on both devices.
Follow the on-screen pairing prompts — you’ll get a code on your PC to enter on the phone.
Once connected, click Photos in the Link to Windows app on your PC.
Browse the gallery, select the videos you want, and click the download icon (downward arrow) to save them to your PC’s default Pictures folder.
Note: This method works best over Wi-Fi and may compress or slow down for very large 4K files. For big batches, use the USB cable.

Method 3: Samsung Smart Switch (Backup-Style)

Download and install Smart Switch on your PC from Samsung’s official site.
Open Smart Switch, connect your phone via USB (as in Method 1), and select Backup.
Choose Custom and make sure Photos and Videos are checked.
Click Back up. This creates a single backup file on your PC, not individual video files.
To get individual videos, you’d need to restore the backup to another device — so this method is best for full backups, not single-file access.

Common Mistakes

Using a charge-only cable: Many cables that come in the box or with accessories don’t carry data. Try a different cable before troubleshooting anything else.
Leaving the phone locked: Windows won’t see your phone’s files if the screen is off or locked. Keep it unlocked and awake.
Selecting “Charging” instead of “File Transfer”: If your PC shows the phone but no folders, you likely left it in charging mode.
Looking in the wrong folder: Videos from WhatsApp, Instagram, or screen recordings aren’t in DCIM. Check Movies, Download, Pictures/Screenshots, and Android/media subfolders.
Unplugging mid-transfer: This can corrupt the file on your PC. Always eject the phone (safely remove hardware) before unplugging.

Tips

For very large video collections, create a folder on your PC like D:\Videos\PhoneBackup\ before you start, so you don’t scatter files.
If you have hundreds of videos, copy them in batches of 50–100 rather than all at once — this reduces the chance of a hang or crash.
Use a USB 3.0 port (often blue on the inside) for faster speeds if your cable supports it.
To save space on your PC, consider compressing videos with a free tool like HandBrake after transfer, especially if they’re 4K.
If you transfer via Link to Windows, make sure your phone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi network and close to the router for a stable connection.

Troubleshooting

Phone not showing up in File Explorer: Try a different USB port, a different cable, and restart both devices. On the phone, go to Settings > Developer options (if enabled) and toggle USB debugging off and on. If Developer options are off, skip this.

Phone shows but folders are empty: You’re probably in “Charging” mode. Unplug, reconnect, and tap the USB notification to select File Transfer.

Transfer stops halfway or is slow: Large 4K videos can take several minutes. Close other apps on the phone and PC, and disable Wi-Fi on the phone to free bandwidth. If it keeps failing, copy files one at a time.

“Device not accessible” error: This often means the phone’s screen locked during transfer. Keep it awake by changing the screen timeout to 10 minutes in Settings > Display, or just tap the screen occasionally.

Link to Windows won’t connect: Ensure both devices are signed into the same Microsoft account, Bluetooth is on, and the Link to Windows app is updated. Restart the app on both ends.

Videos are in an unusual format (e.g., .heic or .insv): Samsung may save in HEVC (high-efficiency) format. Windows 10/11 can usually play these, but if not, install the free HEVC video extensions from the Microsoft Store, or convert with VLC or HandBrake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where are my videos stored on the Samsung phone?
A: Camera videos are in Internal Storage > DCIM > Camera. Downloaded or received videos are usually in Download or Movies. Screen recordings are in DCIM > Screen Recordings or Movies depending on your phone model.

Q: Can I transfer videos without a USB cable?
A: Yes, use Link to Windows (wireless) or Samsung Smart Switch. You can also upload to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud and download on your PC, though that uses internet data.

Q: Why does my PC only see photos but not videos?
A: Videos are larger and sometimes stored in a different folder. Check DCIM > Camera for both — if videos are there but don’t appear, your phone may be in “Charging” mode. Re-select File Transfer.

Q: How long does it take to transfer 1GB of video?
A: Over USB 3.0, roughly 30–60 seconds. Over Wi-Fi via Link to Windows, expect 2–5 minutes. Over USB 2.0, closer to 2–3 minutes.

Q: Will transferring videos delete them from my phone?
A: No, copying leaves the originals on the phone. To free space, you’ll need to delete them manually after confirming they’re on your PC.

Q: Can I transfer videos from an SD card?
A: Yes. If your videos are on the SD card, navigate to SD Card > DCIM > Camera in File Explorer after connecting. Alternatively, remove the SD card and use a card reader on your PC.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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