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How to Fix Phone Pictures Not Transferring to Computer and Extract Excel Images

Elise Williams Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to transfer photos from a phone to a computer without unexpected disconnections and extract images embedded in Excel files, while confirming if Microsoft 365 is necessary.

How to Fix Phone Pictures Not Transferring to a Computer

Product: Windows PC, Mobile Device, Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Transferring a batch of photos from a mobile phone to a desktop computer or extracting embedded image files from a spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: The file transfer process starts but disconnects before the pictures finish downloading. The user is unsure if a Microsoft 365 subscription is required to complete the transfer or extract the images.

Before you start

Ensure that your phone is unlocked, the screen is kept awake during the transfer process, and you are using a functioning data-capable USB cable rather than a charge-only cable.

Solution 1Recommended

Troubleshoot Phone-to-Computer USB Transfer Settings

Resolve disconnection issues by checking hardware connections and phone settings. Microsoft 365 is entirely unnecessary for this basic file transfer.

Transferring photos from a smartphone to a computer is an operating system function that relies on physical hardware connections and correct device permissions. If the transfer drops, it is usually a connection issue.

Unlock the device

Keep your phone unlocked and the screen awake. Many security settings terminate data connections if the device goes to sleep.

Check the USB connection

Use a different USB cable or plug the cable directly into a USB port on the computer's motherboard (back of a desktop PC) instead of a front panel or USB hub.

Select File Transfer mode

When you plug in the phone, tap the USB connection notification on your phone screen and select 'File Transfer' or 'MTP' instead of 'Charge only'.

Troubleshoot Phone-to-Computer USB Transfer Settings

No Office Subscription Needed: You do not need Microsoft 365 or any other office software to copy standard pictures (like JPG or PNG) directly from a phone's storage to a PC.

Solution 2

Extract Images Embedded in Excel Workbooks

If the pictures you are trying to download are actually embedded inside an Excel spreadsheet, use these built-in methods to extract them.

Seamlessly Sync and Extract Images

Use WPS Office to Sync Files and Extract Images Without USB Cables

Bypass frustrating USB disconnections by using WPS Cloud to wirelessly sync your documents and images between your phone and computer. Additionally, WPS Office makes extracting embedded pictures from spreadsheets effortless.

1. Install WPS Office on both devices: Download and install the WPS Office app from the official website or app store on both your mobile phone and your computer.
2. Sign in to WPS Cloud: Log in with the same account on both your mobile device and PC to enable seamless file and image synchronization.
3. Sync or Extract Images: Upload photos directly to your WPS Cloud from your phone to access them on your PC. Alternatively, open any spreadsheet in WPS Office and right-click to instantly extract embedded pictures.

Wirelessly sync files and images across your mobile phone and PC using WPS CloudEasily extract embedded pictures from documents with a single clickFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formatsLightweight, fast, and completely free to use

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Microsoft 365 subscription to transfer photos from my phone to my PC?

No, transferring photos from a mobile device to a computer is a basic operating system function managed by File Explorer (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac). It does not require Microsoft 365 or any Office subscription.

Why does my phone disconnect during a large photo transfer?

Disconnections during large data transfers are typically caused by hardware issues like faulty USB data cables, loose computer ports, power-saving settings putting the phone to sleep, or outdated USB drivers. Switching to a high-quality cable and a direct motherboard USB port usually resolves the problem.

How can I bulk extract pictures from an Excel file without saving them one by one?

You can extract all pictures simultaneously by saving your Excel file as a Web Page (.html). When you do this, a companion folder is automatically created on your computer that contains all the original image files embedded within the spreadsheet.

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