Pairing a mobile and a desktop computer to share images

[TusharSuradkar]

This technique applies only when composing posts in a browser on a desktop computer or a laptop.

When inserting images into a post, the file selection dialog provides a handy option to acquire photos from your mobile device.

I tested this using the Microsoft Edge browser and an Android mobile device.

Click the button Upload from mobile at the bottom of the dialog.

This will open a window with a QR code.

From your mobile device, scan this QR code.
Then select the option Open in browser.

After this select to pair the devices if prompted.

After successful pairing, the Upload files button becomes available.

On your mobile device, under the tripe dot … menu. selecting photos from Google Photos is also available from the cloud media app.

Finally, the mobile device will start sending files to your desktop computer.

Alert:

The images from your mobile will be directly inserted into the post. So make sure your cursor is at the right place, preferably on a blank line, and not in the middle of a sentence or worse in the middle of a word.
This will mess up the BBCode and the images will not appear correctly.

Note:

On your computer, the photos received from the mobile will be downloaded into the Downloads\UploadFromMobile folder.

Further, read How to fine-tune the photo display in the new Connect.

Also read how to create a photo collage, crop photos, add captions, and special effects to images.

[Rahul001]

That’s easy method to upload from mobile through desktop. Before I know this, I used to upload it on Google Photos and then re-download it in desktop. Thanks for sharing this tip @TusharSuradkar .

[TusharSuradkar]

Thanks @Rahul001
Same here, I used to resort to a 3rd party storage route.
But this method has limitations too.
As mentioned in one of the images in my posts, there seem to be only 10 free uploads available.

[Rahul001]

Pairing and connecting desktop to mobile and vice versa may be solvable for the limitation of 10 photo. Through this method, photo will be also in your “downloads”, as you mentioned.

[MohanG]

@TusharSuradkar
NICE INFORMATION

[TusharSuradkar]

Thank you @MohanG

[SarathUpendran]

@TusharSuradkar is it possible to use link to windows app. Usually we use it transfer photos and access phone remotely but it has unlimited image transfer.

[TusharSuradkar]

That is a good idea @SarathUpendran
Which Windows app would you prefer to pair with?

[SarathUpendran]

Link to Windows @TusharSuradkar
Is the one I suggested but i haven’t checked if it will work with connect

[TusharSuradkar]

Wow!
This app looks promising @SarathUpendran
Sharing photos is one of the features listed.
And best of all, it is from Microsoft.

Although the feature I discussed in this post is a feature available directly in Connect.
Currently, I upload photos to Google Photos and access them on my desktop.

But if we can integrate ‘Link to Windows’ into Connect, that will be awesome!

[SamanthaSheehy]

This is a KILLER little tip/trick my friend! Thanks so much for sharing!

[Shaunak]

Thanks for this valuable information @TusharSuradkar Ji

[AdrianLunsong]

To summarise the above:
The Upload from mobile option is an Edge browser (desktop) specific feature. To bypass the 10 images limitation, you will have to install the Edge browser on your mobile as well.

If you go down the Link to Windows app route, your Windows desktop should already come pre-installed with Phone Link (Windows 10 and 11) and then you will need to install the Link to Windows app on your phone. There won’t be any limitation in file size or quantities.

Both Edge and the Link to Windows app are owned by Microsoft so it’s no big surprise that they are using the same sharing tech in both their OS and browser.

Here’s an alternative:
If you’re an Android mobile phone user, you can also consider Nearby Share. This tech is built directly into Android and ChromeOS so there’s no need to install any app as it’s available natively. You do have to install the Quick Share app on your Windows desktop.

Note: The Windows app is called Quick Share but the feature is called Nearby Share! I can only hope that in the future they will use the same name to avoid any confusion!

I use the Chrome browser and in the past I have used the Link to Windows app. Currently, I use Quick/Nearby Share mainly because I am trying to reduce the number of apps on my phone as I constantly run out of space! Either options work perfectly fine.

If you use the Edge browser on desktop, you should probably use it on mobile too so that you can share bookmarks, browsing history etc. And the direct integration in the browser to pull images from your phone is a really nifty feature as it simplifies the process.