AirDrop stops at Apple devices, so moving files from a Mac to Windows means file sharing setup, a USB drive in the right format, or a cloud upload. Photos are also where quality quietly gets lost: chat apps shrink them and email caps how many fit in one message.
Transfer photos from Mac to PC
Pick the photos on your Mac, download them on your PC. No cable, no app, original quality.
Keep for
Clipboard
Press ⌘V / Ctrl+V anywhereClips are visible to devices on your Wi-Fi for 30 minutes. Avoid sending passwords.
On your network
liveLooking for files…
The quick way, with fdrop
- 1
Open fdrop.cc on the Mac
Open fdrop.cc in Safari or Chrome and drag photos straight out of the Photos app onto the page.
- 2
Open fdrop.cc on the PC
On the same Wi-Fi, the photos appear under “On your network” automatically. Anywhere else, send yourself the link fdrop gives you.
- 3
Download
Downloads go to your Downloads folder.
Other ways, and their catch
Shared network folder
Turn on File Sharing on the Mac (System Settings → General → Sharing), then type \\ and the Mac’s IP address into File Explorer on the PC.
Good: Good for moving lots of files regularly. Catch: Both on the same network, plus passwords and firewall settings that are easy to get wrong.
USB drive
Copy onto a USB stick or external drive formatted as exFAT, which both Windows and macOS can read and write.
Good: No network needed. Catch: You need a drive at hand, and older FAT32 drives can’t hold files over 4 GB.
iCloud Photos
Turn on iCloud Photos on the Mac, wait for it to upload, then sign in at icloud.com or install iCloud for Windows on the PC.
Good: Automatic once it’s set up. Catch: Only 5 GB free, uploads can take a long time, and you have to sign into your Apple ID on the other device.
Email it to yourself
Attach it (or paste it) in an email to yourself and open the email on the PC.
Good: Works on every device. Catch: Gmail attachments stop at 25 MB and Outlook.com at 20 MB, so most videos won’t fit.
Good to know
- Select several photos at once: each becomes its own download, and nothing is resized.
Questions
How do I transfer photos from Mac to PC without a cable?
Open fdrop.cc on both devices, pick the photos on the Mac and download them on the PC. No app or account needed. Of the built-in options, Shared network folder is the closest, with the trade-offs listed above.
Will the photos lose quality?
No. fdrop doesn’t compress, resize or re-encode anything. The receiver gets the same file you uploaded.
Do the Mac and PC need to be on the same Wi-Fi?
Only for the automatic “On your network” list. If the PC is somewhere else or on mobile data, copy the link fdrop gives you and open it there.
Do I need to install an app?
No. fdrop runs in Safari or Chrome on the Mac and Edge or Chrome on the PC. Nothing to install and no account.
How long do the files stay online?
2 hours by default. Pick 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days or 30 days before uploading, or delete them yourself at any time from the device you uploaded on.