How to Convert an Old Laptop Hard Drive into an External USB Drive: DIY Guide

29 December 2025

If you have an old laptop lying around, its hard drive doesn’t have to go to waste. With a few inexpensive tools, you can recycle that unused drive and turn it into a fully functional external USB drive for backups, file storage, or data transfer.

This DIY approach not only saves money but also helps extend the life of your hardware. Whether you’re upgrading a laptop or repurposing an old HDD, the process is simpler than most people expect.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to convert a 2.5 inch laptop hard drive into an external USB drive safely, step by step, with practical tips along the way.

How to Convert an Old Laptop Hard Drive into an External USB Drive: DIY Guide

Here's a complete DIY (Do It Yourself) guide that lets you use any 2.5 inch laptop hard drive HDD or SSD as a portable external hard drive.

Tools Required

To repurpose an old laptop hard drive safely and reliably, you’ll need the following:

• A 2.5-inch internal laptop HDD or SSD
  Salvaged from an older laptop. Most laptop drives use the SATA interface and typically support SATA II (3 Gbps) or SATA III (6 Gbps) speeds. Both are fully compatible with modern USB-to-SATA solutions. Here, hard drive brands do not matter. Your hard drive may be from WD Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba or Hitachi.

• A 2.5-inch external hard drive enclosure (recommended for beginners)
  An enclosure protects the drive, requires no technical setup, and usually offers tool-free installation, making it the safest option if you have limited PC hardware experience.

• A SATA-to-USB 3.0 adapter cable (for experienced users)
  Suitable if you’re comfortable handling bare drives. This option offers flexibility but requires careful handling of the exposed drive.

Important: Whether you choose an enclosure or a SATA-to-USB adapter cable, ensure it uses a reliable USB-to-SATA bridge controller such as the ASM1153 or ASM225CM. Cheap enclosures or cables with older or unbranded controllers may fail to deliver expected USB 3.0 transfer speeds and can cause connection or stability issues.

Steps to Connect The Internal Laptop Hard Drive to PC Through USB

After getting the required tools, let's now learn to connect the laptop hard drive or SSD to PC/Mac over USB.

1. Make sure you don't have anything important on the laptop hard drive that you're going to use as external.
2. Connect the laptop hard drive either to the USB to SATA cable or the 2.5 inch enclosure.
3. Now connect the hard drive to PC or a different laptop to a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on your laptop or PC.
4. After connecting the hard drive or the SSD to PC over USB, you may see multiple partitions from the previous OS installation.
5. We have to delete these partitions from the hard drive and use the entire drive's storage as a single partition only.
6. To create, delete and manage disk partitions, we'll use disk management console on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
7. To open disk management console, press the Windows key + R to open the run prompt, then type 'diskmgmt.msc' and hit the 'Enter' key.
8. In the 'Disk Management' console you'll see 'Disk 0' which is PC/laptop's main internal drive that contains the operating system and your files. You do not have to touch 'Drive 0'.

Warning: Never touch 'Disk 0' in the disk management console. 'Disk 0' is the main disk containing the operating system, your personal files, apps, installed programs and system partition. Make sure to have a backup of your laptop/PC's main disk on a different drive or external storage.

9. If your PC/laptop has only one internal hard disk or SSD, then the 2.5 inch hard drive you connect to your laptop via USB will appear as 'Disk 1' in disk management console.

10. Just next to 'Disk 1' you will see separate partitions. Right click on every partition and select 'Delete Volume' to delete that partition.
11. Once you delete all the volumes/partitions on your 2.5 inch external USB HDD, you will see unallocated space on that drive.
12. See the image below, I am using a 500 GB internal laptop drive as external drive over USB 3.0. I have also deleted all the partitions on this 'Disk 1' and I am now left with 465.76 GB on this drive.

13. Right click on the unallocated space in 'Disk 1' and click 'New Simple Volume.' A 'New Simple Volume Wizard' will open, click 'Next' to proceed.

14. In this step, you will be asked to specify the drive size. But because we are using entire drive's storage space in a single partition, then we do not have to specify the size, because by default the volume creating wizard picks up the entire storage size in MBs (Mega Bytes). Click 'Next' to proceed.

15. In this step, you will be asked to assign a letter to your drive. The system automatically assigns the best letter for your hard drive, so you don't have to choose manually. Click 'Next' to proceed.

16. Now we have to format the HDD/SSD. In the 'File system' option, make sure to select 'NTFS' or 'exFAT'. If you use this 2.5 inch hard drive primarily with your Windows PC, Linux and Android TVs then select 'NTFS' only. If you're using an SSD instead of internal HDD then you can choose exFAT partition scheme to make it work even with smartphones: Android and iPhones. SSDs have low power consumption so, they're safe to work with smartphones with an exFAT partition scheme. Also read: How to Transfer Files Between Android and Windows PCs — Step-by-Step Guide

17. In the 'Volume label:' type a name such as 'External Storage' as this will help you identify this hard drive/SSD in 'My PC' when connected.
18. Make sure 'Perform a quick format' option is checked, then click 'Next' to proceed and then finally click 'Finish.'
19. Now open 'My PC' and you will see your laptop's 2.5 HDD or SSD with a label name 'External Storage.'
20. We've successfully converted an internal 2.5 laptop hard drive or SSD to an external storage device connected via USB. But this is not it as we have to check the disk's health before moving or copying data to it.

How to Check Internal Hard Drive For Bad Sectors Before Using It As External Storage

Now that you have learned to use 2.5 inch internal hard drives as external storage, we must ensure that the concerned HDDs are free from any bad sectors and read write errors. If the hard drive reports any bad sectors then we won't use it to store important data.

Hard drives with bad sectors can fail any time and over time such a drive will develop more bad sectors. Bad sectors are a clear sign of mechanical wear and an early warning that at some time the drive would definitely fail.

Warning: A hard drive or SSD with bad sectors must not be used to store important data. You also never use such a HDD as your primary backup drive. Eventually, it will fail at some point. Storing important data on such a drive will result in data loss and file corruption beyond recovery. You can use this drive just for storing unimportant data such as movies.

Now, let's move on to check the 2.5 inch hard drive for errors and bad sectors.

How to Use CHKDSK to Check Hard Drive's Health and Identify Bad Sectors

In this section, we're using chkdsk command on Windows 10/11 to check the hard drive's health. Our purpose here is to find out whether the drive we're about to use is reliable to be used as an external storage device.

1. Connect the 2.5 inch internal HDD to your Windows PC by using the SATA to USB cable or enclosure.
2. Make sure the drive is visible in 'My PC' with a label 'External Storage' that we created earlier.
3. Note the drive label for this externally connected internal hard drive. 'F:' is the drive letter in my case.
4. Open command prompt (CMD) with administrator privileges. To do this, type 'CMD' in Windows search box, once you see 'Command Prompt,' right click on it and select 'Run as administrator.'
5. In the command prompt type: chkdsk X: /r. Replace X: with your drive's letter. After correctly typing the command, hit enter and let chkdsk perform a thorough scan of the hard drive.

6. For a 500 GB hard drive, chkdsk will take about more than an hour to finish the drive scan before returning the results.
7. If chkdsk reports no bad sectors or errors then you can use this drive as an external storage.

I used CHKDSK on my 12-year-old 2.5-inch internal hard disk from Hitachi HGST and it reported 8 KB in bad sectors. This means a very small portion of the disk’s physical surface has become unreadable and has been permanently marked as unusable by the file system.

In practical terms, 8 KB is an extremely small amount of space, but its presence confirms that the drive has started to suffer from physical wear, which is expected at this age. While the operating system will avoid using these damaged sectors, their appearance indicates that the disk is no longer in perfect health and may continue to degrade over time.

The drive may still function for light or non-critical use, but it should not be trusted with important data, and maintaining regular backups—or planning a replacement—is strongly recommended.

How to Find Hard Drive Errors and Early Signs Of Failing Using SMART (S.M.A.R.T) Data

Every internal hard drive or SSD or even external hard drives come with S.M.A.R.T technology. S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) is a hard drive health monitoring system.

By analysing SMART data we can detect the early warning signs of a hard disk failure. A hard disk won't fail suddenly in many cases, therefore we always have time to transfer data to a new drive.

So, let's see how can we analyze the SMART data for your 2.5 inch internal hard disk to detect read/write errors, bad sectors and early signs of failing.

1. Download and install CrystalDiskInfo. If you don't wish to install it, you can also download the portable .zip package.
2. CrystalDiskInfo is only available for Windows 10/11. If you're using a Mac then you can use Apple's Disk Utility.
3. Make sure to connect your 2.5 inch internal HDD/SSD to your PC/laptop using the SATA to USB cable or enclosure.
4. After downloading CrystalDiskInfo, open it by double clicking DiskInfo64.exe.
5. In CrystalDiskInfo, click the drive with only one partition. You can also check the name of your 2.5 inch HDD in CrystalDiskInfo that'll help you identify it.
6. If CrystalDiskInfo shows no warnings and displays the status as 'Good' then you can use this hard drive/SSD as an external storage device.
7. But if you see any warning or status as 'Caution' then it is an early warning sign of hard drive or SSD failure.

The same Hitachi hard drive now shows a Current Pending Sector Count of 100 in CrystalDiskInfo. This means there are many sectors on the disk that the drive is struggling to read and has not yet been able to repair or permanently mark as bad.

Unlike confirmed bad sectors reported by CHKDSK, pending sectors indicate ongoing instability and a much higher risk of sudden data loss. At this level, the drive is clearly in poor health and may degrade quickly with continued use.

While it might still operate for short periods, it should no longer be considered reliable, and replacing the drive is strongly recommended. Therefore, I'm not using this drive for regular backups. I'll use this drive to store only unimportant data.

How to Use 3.5 Inch HDD As External?

So far, I have talked about an SSD and a 2.5 inch internal hard drive in this post. But does this post apply to 3.5 inch desktop hard drives? Yes! this post is equally applicable to desktop hard drives.

However, you need the right tools to use your desktop hard drive as external storage. A 3.5 inch desktop hard disk requires 12V supply which a USB port can't do. Therefore, you need a 3.5 inch hard drive bay with a dedicated 12V power supply.

Once you gather the required tools, you can start converting your old desktop hard drives to external storage.

Conclusion

Repurposing old laptop or desktop hard drives is an easy, cost-effective way to create reliable external storage while reducing electronic waste. By following this step-by-step guide, you can safely convert 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives into USB-ready devices for backups, file transfers, or extra storage. Remember to check for bad sectors and monitor drive health to protect your data. Don’t let unused drives gather dust—take action today! Gather your tools, follow the instructions, and turn your old drives into practical, portable storage solutions that make your digital life more organized and efficient.

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How to Delete Invisible Photo and Video Backups on Samsung Android Phones

21 December 2025

Samsung Android smartphones come with ample internal storage space options. On average, almost every Samsung Android phone features the standard 128 GB onboard storage.

Though 128 GB may seem a big storage option to many but we only get around 100–110 GB as manageable storage on the phone. Even this much storage can become full if you download a lot of apps, shoot Full HD or 4K videos from your phone’s camera, and edit videos and photos.

You may now be wondering how editing images and videos makes your Samsung phone’s storage full. The answer is that when you edit large videos and photos on your Samsung phone, the video editor/converter in the Gallery app creates an invisible backup of the original files.

The Gallery app creates backups in order to restore the videos or photos to their original version whenever you want. However, these invisible backups take up much of your phone’s storage space. Therefore, we must delete them or transfer them to a different storage device.

If you do not wish to keep these invisible backups, then deleting them would be ideal to save storage space on your phone. However, these invisible backups are not easily accessible.

So, in this post, I’ll teach you how to find and delete such invisible backups, thereby freeing more storage space on your Samsung phone.

Step-by-step guide to deleting invisible photo and video backups on Samsung Android phones.

What Are Invisible Backups on Samsung Phones?

Let’s discuss this topic in detail. You may not know, but many Samsung Android smartphones that run on an Exynos chipset feature a built-in video editor and converter. With this built-in Samsung video editor, you can do basic video editing such as cropping videos, adding filters, and adding emojis and text overlays. You can also use the built-in video converter to reduce the video size on your Samsung phone.

Now, let’s say you are editing or converting (reducing the video size) a video on your Samsung phone. The Gallery app first creates an invisible backup of the original file before giving you the edited or converted video or photo. The original file gets stored somewhere in your phone’s storage with no direct way to access it.

Whenever you wish to revert the edits, the Gallery app restores the original file from this invisible backup. If you edit and convert videos frequently on your Samsung phone, these invisible backups keep building up silently in a hidden storage location.

Over time, you will see that your phone's storage is getting nearly full besides deleting large files. If you find yourself in this situation, then you can clearly think of removing those invisible backups, created as a result of video editing and conversion.

Step-by-Step: How to Delete Invisible Photo and Video Backups on Samsung Android Phones

Here's a complete step-by-step guide on how to delete invisible backups on Samsung Android phone. Following this tutorial will significantly release more space on your phone.

1. Open the 'File Manager' app on your Samsung Android phone and tap 'Manage storage' option at the bottom of the screen.

2. Under 'Suggestions', tap 'View more' to get the option to access invisible backup.

3. Tap 'Select files' under the section which mentions invisible backups of your pictures and videos.

4. You will now be able to see the original backup files here with their original file size.
5. If you do not wish to keep these backups, then simply select all the files or the ones that you wish to delete, and then tap the 'Delete' button.

6. A popup will open, asking you for permanent deletion confirmation. Tap 'Delete' to delete those invisible backups.

7. If you wish to share or save images/photos from here, then tap the desired image/photo with a double ended arrow. This will open the image/photo with a share button. Tap the 'Share' button to share the image/photo via Quick Share, Bluetooth, WhatsApp, etc.

Note: The invisible backups of videos can't be saved or shared from the hidden backup location. Sharing of invisible backups is only allowed for images and photos.

How to Restore Original Photos and Videos From the Invisible Backups

At times, you may feel the need to restore your original photos and videos from the invisible backups. Let's say you edited a video on your Samsung phone and applied several cuts, filter effects, text overlays, and emoticons, and saved it.

The Gallery app creates an invisible backup of the original image/video file in this case for you to restore it later. However, please note that restoring to original files will remove the edited photos and videos.

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app, and tap the photo or video that you previously edited and now wish to restore to original.
2. Once the photo/video opens, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and tap 'Revert to original.'

3. Your edited version of the photo/video will be deleted, and the original file will be restored.

Note: When you restore photos and videos from invisible backups, then the edited versions will be deleted. If you do wish to keep the edited versions of your photos and videos, then you must create a backup of these files before restoring them to original.

You can share or transfer the edited photos/videos to your PC, to a different phone, or to a USB OTG drive. After restoring the original files, you can then move the edited photos/videos back to your phone's storage.

FAQ - Samsung Invisible Backups

Check the most common frequently asked questions about Samsung invisible backups below.

Q1. What happens if I delete invisible backups on Android?

If you ever delete the invisible backups of your photos and videos on your Samsung phone, then you will never be able to restore your photos and videos to their original version. Only delete the invisible backups if you no longer need them.

Q2. Is it safe to delete invisible backups on Samsung Android phones?

Yes, it is pretty safe to delete invisible backups on Samsung Android phones if you don't want the original files anymore.

Q3. Where can you find the Samsung invisible backups location?

The Gallery app stores the invisible backups to /data/sec/photoeditor/0, which is a protected system directory. You can't access this directory without root access or ADB tools. Due to Android restrictions, this directory is restricted to system apps only.

Q4. Will deleting invisible backups delete photos?

Yes, deleting invisible backups will delete the original photos (not the edited ones). Invisible backups only exist for photos that you edited previously. The backup remains there so that you can restore the edited photo to its original version. If you delete the invisible backups of photos then you won't be able to restore the edited photo to original version. Also, deleting the edited photos will not remove or delete the invisible photo backups. You can still share these backed up images using Quick Share, Bluetooth, WhatsApp etc.

Conclusion

Deleting invisible backups on Samsung Android phones is a useful step if you are running out of storage space. If you frequently edit or convert photos and videos on your Samsung phone, these invisible backups are created automatically and can slowly consume a large portion of your internal storage without you even noticing.

If you no longer need the original versions of your edited photos or videos, removing these invisible backups can free up a significant amount of space. However, if you think you may need the original files later, it is always a good idea to keep the backups or transfer them to another storage device before deleting them. I have explained the restoration process in detail above so that you can decide what works best for your needs.

If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends or family members who use Samsung phones and may be facing similar storage issues. Thank you for reading 🙂.

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How to Reduce Video Size and Resolution Using the Samsung Gallery App

18 December 2025

Samsung One UI has lots of handy features, but some are hard to find. Most people only use Quick Settings or the main Settings app, so they miss out on useful tools hidden elsewhere. One great example is a built-in video converter in the Samsung Gallery app. It lets you make videos smaller and lower their quality without downloading any extra apps.

This tool isn't for advanced editing—it's just perfect for quickly shrinking a video, reducing its resolution, or changing it to a better codec. If you often record in 4K on your Samsung phone, this feature can free up a ton of storage space.

Why Use the Samsung Gallery App to Reduce Video Size?

Many Samsung Galaxy smartphones can record 4K videos. 4K videos are four times the resolution of a Full HD video (1920x1080 pixels), which means life-like visuals and clarity. Such clarity in 4K videos comes at the cost of storage space—the longer the video, the more space it will claim on your phone’s storage.

For day-to-day tasks, such as recording a few-second clip, taking a video selfie, or recording something that doesn’t require very high detail, you can simply stick to Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels horizontally or 1080 x 1920 pixels vertically), or even HD (1280 x 720 pixels horizontally or 720 x 1280 pixels vertically), as the 4K format is not required for such videos.

Also, 4K videos are large in size, which makes them a bit difficult to transfer files from one device to another, and they’re also not supported by every device due to the codec and file size. So, if you have got a bunch of 4K videos that are taking much of your phone’s storage, reducing their size and resolution would be ideal if you do not care much about the visual detail.

For reducing the video size and resolution on your Samsung phone, you don’t need any third-party apps because the solution is already built-in to your Samsung Gallery app.

Important Note: This hidden video converter is only available on certain Samsung phones—mostly mid-range and flagship models that can record in 4K. You won't find it on basic entry-level Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

How to Use the Samsung Gallery to Reduce Video Size and Resolution

Let's see this step-by-step guide to use the Samsung Gallery's hidden video converter.

1. Open the Samsung Gallery app and tap on the desired video.
2. Now tap the 'Edit' button (pencil icon) to open the Samsung Studio video editor.

3. Then tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and tap 'Size and format.'

4. You'll now see video resolution options: QHD, FHD and HD. Select the desired video resolution.
5. Under 'Video codec' tap 'HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)' to save even more space when compared to H.264 codec and then tap 'Done.'

6. Finally, tap 'Save' to start converting and reducing your video size and resolution.
7. Video conversion will take some time depending on the quality, length and video size.
8. Once the video gets converted, you can check its size and resolution.

FAQ

Q1. How to reduce video file size on Samsung?

Using the Samsung hidden video converter, you can reduce the file size of your recorded camera videos. All you need is a compatible Samsung phone and the availability of this feature.

Q2. How do I resize a video on Samsung?

The video converter in Samsung Gallery offers you several video resolutions such as QHD, FHD and HD. HD is the lowest resolution among these three. You can choose any of these video resolutions to resize your videos on Samsung phone.

Q3. How to lower video quality on Samsung?

Again, to lower the video quality from 4K to QHD, FHD or even HD, you can use the Samsung video converter. Just scroll up a bit and follow this post to reduce the video quality on your Samsung phone.

Conclusion

If you’ve been wondering how to reduce video file size on Samsung without installing third-party apps, this built-in converter is exactly what you need. It’s simple, fast, and keeps your videos private since everything happens right on your phone.

For big 4K videos that don’t really need top-tier resolution, converting them to Full HD or HD makes a huge difference in storage. Personally, I use this all the time now—it’s hands-down the easiest way to manage video storage on my Samsung One UI phone without any fuss.

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SNES Emulator Setup Guide: How to Play SNES Games on Android, Windows, Mac & Linux

14 December 2025

The SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) gaming console, also known as the Super Famicom was a legendary 16-bit gaming console. It was first launched in Japan on November 21, 1990 and took over as the direct successor to the original NES (Famicom) console.

The SNES gaming console went head-to-head with the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive during the console war era and delivered many memorable games that locked our childhood in many timeless moments. As of now, the SNES console is almost 35 years old and is not under active production. However, its undisputed legacy still has the power to make any 90s gamer nostalgic with deep emotions.

What made the SNES so popular?

The SNES console was a gem of the 90s era when we didn't have super fast internet, lots of gaming content and patches to download or troubleshooting gaming issues for no reason. Gaming was so simple, stress free and more enjoyable back then. Almost all SNES games were under only 2 MB of size and yet being so small, they delivered ultimate fun at gaming.

I still can't forget my favorite SNES games such as Contra 3: The Alien Wars, Super Mario World, Super Bomberman series, WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game, Disney's Aladdin, Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers, Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose, Whirlo, Mega Man X, Disney's Lion King, X Men: Mutant Apocalypse, Swat Kats game and many more. 16-bit graphics, unforgettable SNES games music and the games themselves made SNES so popular.

Can you play SNES games today?

Nearly 22 years have already passed since Nintendo ceased the production line for SNES. So, technically you can't own this legendary console brand-new from Nintendo anymore.

However, you can still enjoy SNES classics on your Android, Windows PC, Mac and Linux. All you need is a reliable SNES emulator and a bunch of SNES ROMS that you own and paid for.

In 2017, Nintendo released SNES Classic Mini which came preloaded with 20 SNES games. It wasn't the original SNES console but a hardware emulator, that lets you play some of the most popular SNES games on a TV screen with HDMI.

It has been discontinued since December 2018 and is no longer available to purchase. So, stay engaged as throughout this article you will learn to play SNES games on every device you've got: Android, Windows, Mac and Linux.

SNES Game ROMs Disclaimer

Using SNES emulators such as Snes9x, Mesen, Higan, BSNES, or ZSNES is completely legal. The trouble begins when you download ROMs from the internet — that’s almost always copyright infringement, even for 35-year-old games offered for “free.”

Nintendo has never authorized any website to distribute their SNES games library. The only unquestionably legal way to get ROMs is to dump the games yourself from cartridges you actually own, using a hardware dumper like the Retrode 2, INLRetro, or Sanni Cart Reader.

Most sites offering “free SNES ROMs” are packed with malware, spyware, fake download buttons, and crypto miners. Tools or sites that promise to “generate” or instantly provide SNES ROMs are both illegal and highly dangerous.

If you still decide to download ROMs anyway, first check your country’s copyright laws — downloading games you don’t own is still piracy in most places. At the very least, always scan every downloaded file with up-to-date antivirus software (Avast Free antivirus is a good extra step) before opening or using it.

In short: rip your own cartridges to stay 100% legal and safe. Anything else carries real legal and security risks.

Play responsibly.

SNES Emulator Setup Guide: How to Play SNES Games on Android, Windows, Mac & Linux

In this two part series you will learn to play SNES games on Android, Windows, Mac and Linux. The SNES emulator setup guide for Android comes first followed by a dedicated tutorial for playing SNES games on Windows 11 and Windows. If you wish to try these tutorials on Mac, Linux and iOS then you can give it a go because I'm using a cross-platform SNES emulator (Mesen).

How to Play SNES Games on Android With SNES9X EX+ SNES Emulator

SNES9x is a solid SNES emulator for Android. The reason I'm using SNES9x is that it is free, open source, supports .sfc, .smc and .zip SNES ROMs, even works on low-end Android smartphones and supports Bluetooth and USB gamepads. So, let's start this tutorial and learn how to use Snes9x on Android.

1. Make a new folder on your Android phone's internal storage and name it 'SNES.'
2. Move or copy SNES ROM files (.sfc, .smc or .zip) to this folder.
3. From Google Play Store Download SNES9x Android and install it.
4. Once installation is finished, open the SNES9x EX+ emulator and tap 'Open Content.'

5. Now tap 'Select File Location' and then tap 'Browse For Folder.'

6. Now locate the 'SNES' folder on your phone's internal storage and tap 'USE THIS FOLDER.' The emulator will ask for file storage access permission, tap 'ALLOW' to proceed.

7. You will now be able to see all the games from the SNES folder in the SNES9x EX+ emulator. This is how to load games on Snes9X.

8. Tap any game to start playing it. By default, the games run in portrait mode. However, you can rotate your phone to enjoy SNES games in landscape mode on your Android phone.

WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game

X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse

Disney's Lion King

How to Save/Load SNES Games States On SNES9x EX+

Saving your game states in SNES9x EX+ is quite easy. You can save your game states anytime and load them later to resume gaming from where you left. You can follow the steps below to save/load game states in SNES9x EX+

Note: By default, the auto save feature is enabled in SNES9x EX+. So, whenever you close a game at any point the emulator will save its state automatically. The next time you open the game, the last auto saved state will be loaded.

1. While the game is still running, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Manual Save States.'

2. Tap the desired save state slot (0-9) and then tap 'Save State' to save your game state.

3. To load this saved state anytime, again tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Manual Save States.'
4. Select the desired save state slot then finally, tap 'Load State' to load the game state. A popup will open for confirmation, tap 'Yes' to proceed.

How to use cheats in SNES9x EX+

Cheats in games are used to unlock hidden game content such as unlimited player lives, unlock stages, making the player invincible etc. The good news is that you can use game genie/action replay/gold finger cheat codes in SNES9x EX+. Follow the steps given below to apply cheats.

1. Get game genie/action replay/gold finger cheat codes of your favorite SNES games online.
2. While the game is running, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Cheats.'
3. Now tap 'Add/Edit' and then tap 'Add Game Genie/Action Replay/Gold Finger' and then enter the cheat code and tap 'Done' on your Android phone's keyboard.
4. Now add the cheat's name in 'Input description' and again tap 'Done' on your phone's keyboard.
5. Tap the back button and you will see 'Off' just next to the cheat. Tap the cheat's name to switch it 'On.'
6. You can add multiple cheats this way but only one at a time. But make sure to tap them 'On' else they won't work.
7. You can simply return to your game to see the cheat is working.

So, this is how you play SNES games on your Android. If you face any issue while configuring the emulator then feel free to post a comment and we will provide you the resolution.

How to play SNES games on Windows, Mac and Linux with Mesen SNES emulator

Playing classic SNES games on modern computers is easier than ever thanks to the Mesen SNES emulator. Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can enjoy smooth performance, accurate gameplay, and a hassle-free setup. With just a few quick steps, you’ll be ready to dive back into your favorite retro adventures.

Mesen is a multi-platform and multi-system emulator that can also let you play NES, GBA, GBC, PC/Engine, WonderSwan games. So, let's see how to play SNES games on Windows 10/11 with Mesen.

1. Download and install Mesen emulator on your PC - Download Mesen Emulator.
2. Mesen is a multi-platform emulator, so, you will find the download links for Mac, Linux and Windows on the same page.
3. After downloading Mesen, double click to open it.
4. On opening Mesen for the first time, a configuration window will open. Select 'Store the data in the same folder as the application' and then tap 'CONFIRM.'

5. Now click 'File' and then click 'Open' and load your favorite SNES game ROM to start playing.
6. Once the game starts running in Mesen, click 'Settings' and select 'Input.'
7. In the right of the emulator window click the 'SNES' button.

8. In 'Port 1' make sure 'SNES Controller' is selected. Click the 'Setup' button just next to it.
9. A controller configuration window will open. Here you can assign desired keyboard buttons to play SNES games.
10. Click any button in the emulator and then press the desired button on your keyboard. Use arrow keys for 'up', 'down', 'left' and 'right.' Use A, S, X, Z (keyboard) for Y, X, A, B (SNES controller) respectively. Use Q for L and W for R and C for 'Select' and V for 'Start.'

11. Now click 'Key Set #2' and then click the 'Clear Key Bindings.' Finally, click 'OK' twice to close the controller configuration window. You now have setup your keyboard for playing.
12. In 'Settings' click 'Video' option and on the right in 'Aspect Ratio' select 'Widescreen (16:9)' and then click 'OK'
13. To save a game state in Mesen anytime press Shift + F1 and to load the same state simply press F1.
14. We have now configured Mesen properly to run SNES games.

Note: If two players wish to play together then you can use the same keyboard or connect a another keyboard and configure the 'Port 2' in 'Settings > Input.' This way two players can enjoy SNES games on Mesen emulator which support co-op play such as Contra 3: The Alien Wars, WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles etc.

More games to play:

How To Play Sony PlayStation [PS2] Games On Android

How to Play PSP Games on Android, iOS & PC (Complete PPSSPP Guide)

How To Play PlayStation PS1/PSX/PSOne Games On Android

How to Play Old Java (.Jar) Games on Android and PC – Complete Guide

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on SNES Emulator for Android and PC

Q1. Is Snes9x the best SNES emulator?

Snes9x was the first emulator to run SNES games in 1998. It is almost 27 years old now with a great compatibility for SNES games library. The emulator is known to run even on low-end devices without performance bottlenecks. The emulator is also very easy to use and configure. Within a few clicks or taps it can be configured by the user. So, when it comes to performance, reliability and game compatibility then definitely Snes9x is the best SNES emulator for Android and PC.

Q2. Has anyone gone to jail for ROMs?

Yes, individuals have been jailed for distributing ROMs, such as a Japanese man arrested in 2009 for selling NES ROMs, and a 2025 Italian YouTuber facing prison for promoting preloaded ROMs on handhelds. Downloaders rarely face jail. Nintendo has historically focused on distributors rather than individual downloaders, though downloading ROMs you don’t own is still illegal in most regions.

Q3. What does Nintendo say about ROMs?

Nintendo declares ROMs to be illegal pirate copies. They state that uploading or downloading them is piracy, even if you own the original game. Unauthorized emulators encourage this, harm developers, and some break security laws. However, Nintendo is not known to go after individual downloaders who are simply trying to relive childhood nostalgia. It is still technically piracy, but it is generally ignored in practice.

Q4. What is the most popular game on the SNES?

Super Mario World is the most popular SNES game of all time, selling 20.61 million copies worldwide—far more than any other title like Super Mario All-Stars (10.55 million copies). Its flawless platforming and secrets keep it beloved still today.

Conclusion

The SNES was pure magic: tiny cartridges, massive memories. Today, a quick emulator install on your phone or PC brings it all back. Grab Snes9x or Mesen, load the games you loved (best if you dumped them yourself), and suddenly you’re ten years old again. No patches, no updates, just instant 90s joy. Fire it up, hit Start, and keep that childhood feeling alive.

🙏💛 If this brought back even a single childhood memory — that warm spark from the 90s — I humbly request you to please share this with someone who might feel the same nostalgia. Your small gesture can help another person relive those golden, innocent days 🎮✨ Thank you from the heart for supporting this little piece of hard-worked content ❤️😊

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How to Transfer Files Between Android and Windows PCs — Step-by-Step Guide

Last updated: 12 December 2025 08 December 2025

Transferring files between your Android devices and Windows PCs can seem complicated at first, but with the right tools and step-by-step guidance, it’s actually fast and straightforward. Whether you want to move photos, videos, documents, apps, or any other file types, understanding the best methods ensures your data stays safe and intact during the transfer.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover multiple ways to transfer files from Android to Windows, Windows to Android, and even between Android devices. You’ll also find tips on maintaining security, speed, and compatibility, so you can choose the method that works best for your devices.

We’ll focus on reliable, widely-used methods including USB cable transfers, wireless options like Quick Share and Bluetooth, cloud services, and other trusted tools. By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to transfer files efficiently and safely across your devices.

Safe and Easy Way to Transfer Files Between Android Devices and Windows PCs (Step-by-Step Guide)

For transferring files between two Android phones, Android to PCs (Mac, Windows, or Linux), and PCs to Android, users typically rely on wireless file transfer tools. However, many of these tools are third-party apps and are not officially recommended by Google, Apple, or Microsoft.

Some online file transfer services claim to move files locally over a Wi-Fi LAN connection, but often they first upload your files to their servers and provide a shareable link. This method can be risky, as it may expose your sensitive information to potential security breaches. So, what is the safest way to transfer files between Android devices and Windows PCs? Let’s find out below.

To share files safely, I suggest getting a dual USB drive. The dual-USB drive is designed to work on your Android phone with a USB-C type connector on one end and USB-A connector on the other end for PCs. However, if your Windows PC also supports the USB-C port then you won't be using the USB-A port. Such dual-USB drives come with the USB 3.2 standard and are quite fast at data transfer.

Using this offline method for transferring files between your Android phone and PCs is the safest as you are not using any third-party software tool that can misuse your data. You can follow the steps below to transfer files between two Android phones, Android to PCs and PCs to Android.

1. Connect the dual-USB drive on your Android phone.
2. Once Android reads the drive, open the file manager on your phone and you will see the drive as 'USB storage 1' or 'USB storage.'

3. Now, tap the 'Internal storage' in the file manager and browse the files you wish to copy and transfer to the USB storage.
4. Select all the files on your phone's internal storage and tap the 'Copy' option.

5. You will now see a pop up asking you where to copy the files. Tap the 'USB storage' tab to open the USB drive. Open any folder on this drive if you wish to move the files to that specific folder and then finally tap 'Copy here.'

6. You now have successfully copied the files from your Android phone to the USB storage disk.
7. Open your Android phone's notification panel by swiping down.
8. Swipe down again on the 'USB storage added' notification to access options: 'Open' and 'Unmount.' Tap 'Unmount' to safely unmount the USB storage device from your phone and then gently pull it off your phone.

9. You can now connect this USB storage device to a different Android phone or a PC (Windows, Linux or Mac) and transfer the files quickly.

Note: Having a dual-USB OTG drive is not mandatory as they're expensive. If you have a normal pendrive (USB-A type) then you can buy a USB-C (male) to USB-A (female) OTG connector/adapter and can connect any type of USB drive to your phone.

A Quick Overview On NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT File Systems

When using a dual-USB drive or any external storage for transferring files between Android devices and PCs, choosing the right file system is important for compatibility and performance.

• FAT32: This is the most widely supported file system across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. It works seamlessly with most devices, but it has a maximum file size of 4 GB. Use FAT32 if your files are smaller than 4 GB and you need full cross-platform compatibility.
  
  So, as long as you are copying/transferring files such as images, videos, or even movies (less than 4GB per file) then FAT32 will be just fine. You must also know that FAT32 is the default file system that Android uses for USB storage devices. If Android ever encounters a corrupt USB storage device then it will ask you to format it in FAT32 file system.


• exFAT: Designed to overcome FAT32 limitations, exFAT supports files larger than 4 GB and is natively supported on modern Android devices, Windows, and macOS. It is ideal for transferring large videos, high-resolution photos, or app backups without worrying about file size limits.


• NTFS: This is the default file system for Windows PCs and supports extremely large files and partitions. While Android cannot natively write to NTFS, some devices can read NTFS drives, and third-party apps can enable full NTFS access. NTFS is best used when you primarily work with Windows computers and need to transfer very large files.

In summary, for the broadest compatibility across Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, FAT32 or exFAT is recommended. Use NTFS only when you need Windows-specific features or are transferring very large files. Also Read: How to Convert an Old Laptop Hard Drive into an External USB Drive: DIY Guide

How to Format a Corrupt USB Drive On Android

At times, it is quite possible that your Android phone may show the connected USB storage device as corrupted. In that case formatting the drive will fix the issue. By default, Android will format the device to FAT32 partition format. You can follow the steps below to format a corrupted drive on Android.

1. When you first connect a corrupted USB disk to Android, you will see an error as 'Issue with USB drive.'

2. Tap that notification with an option 'Tap to fix' and an option to format the USB drive will open. Tap 'Format USB drive' to continue.

3. Once the format is complete you will get a message on the screen as 'USB drive set up' and tap 'Done' to continue.

4. Now you can use the USB storage seamlessly on your Android and you can use it to transfer your data between your phone and PC.

How to Transfer Files Using Wi-Fi Between Android and Windows PC With Quick Share

Android has a built-in functionality to share files using Quick Share. With Quick Share you can share any type of file between two Android phones, Android phone to a Windows PC and Windows PC to an Android phone.

Quick Share is available for Android devices running Android 6.0 and above. For Windows PC Quick Share is available as a standalone app and for iOS (iPhone) users it can work with the AirDrop feature. So, let's see how to wirelessly transfer files over Wi-Fi from phone to PC and not using any USB cable at all.

Warning:

Though Quick Share is quite safe but there is always a risk of sending the files to a wrong recipient. For example while using Bluetooth file transfer, you have to make sure that you are selecting the correct device from the list of available devices. Name your devices with unique names that only you can identify. Avoid generic names such as 'desktop', 'my phone', 'Android' etc. Select the device for file transfer only when you are pretty sure that it is the right one.

How to Use Quick Share to Share Data Between Two Android Phones

1. Swipe down on your phone's home screen to access the quick settings panel. Look for 'Quick Share' option here.
2. If you do not see the 'Quick Share' option in the quick settings panel then tap the 'Edit' button (a pencil/pen icon) at the top.

3. Tap the 'Edit' button again in the quick settings panel.

4. Now in 'Available buttons' look for 'Quick Share' and tap it to add it to the quick settings panel. Tap 'Done' twice to finish.

5. Now head to the quick settings panel again and tap your 'Bluetooth' and 'Wi-Fi' to turn them ON.
6. Finally, tap the 'Quick Share' option to open it and you will see an interface like this below.

7. If you are receiving files on this device then you have to be on the 'Receive' tab and the other device must use the 'Send' tab.
8. To send files using Quick Share, tap the 'Send' tab and then tap 'Select files.'
9. Make sure that on the receiving device you have enabled the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and opened Quick Share in 'Receive' mode.
10. Now on the device from you are sending the files, you will see the receiving device's name.

10. After confirming the device's name, tap it to send files.
11. A popup will appear on the receiving device to 'Accept' or 'Decline' the file. Tap 'Accept' to receive the file.

11. You can always find the received files on your phone's internal storage in Download > Quick Share.

How to Use Quick Share to Share Data Between Android and a Windows PC

Here is the step-by-step guide which is being provided in two parts separately. One part talks about sharing files from Windows PC to Android devices and the other part talks about sharing files from your Android phone to Windows PC using Quick Share.

How to Use Quick Share to Send Files From a Windows PC to Android Phone

1. You need to first install Quick Share on your Windows PC - Download Quick Share for Windows 10/11.
2. If you wish you can also download Quick Share from Microsoft store. Make sure that the developer is Samsung Electronics for the app you are downloading or you may end up downloading a different app.
3. For older Windows PCs running Windows 11, the Microsoft store's version of Quick Share will not work. So, download and install it manually from the link that I've shared.
4. Make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your PC.
5. After installation, open the Quick Share app and either drag and drop your files in it or click '+ Select' to select the files that you wish to send to your phone from PC.

6. Make sure that Quick Share is open on your phone with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and the 'Receive' tab selected.
7. The PC version of Quick Share will now show the list of nearby devices which are ready to receive files.

8. Click the desired device on your PC to start sending the files. A popup will appear on the receiving device to accept the files being sent by your PC. Once you accept the transfer, file sharing begins at high-speed.
9. You can always find the received files on your phone's internal storage in Download > Quick Share.

How to Use Quick Share to Send Files From Android to Windows PC

1. Open Quick Share on your Windows PC and make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled. Also make sure to select the option 'Everyone for 10 minutes.'
2. On your phone, go to the file manager and locate the file(s) you wish to send to your PC.
3. Select all the files and then tap 'Share' and then you have to select 'Quick Share' from the options. This will automatically open it in the 'Send' mode.

4. Your PC will appear in the list of available devices on your phone. Tap the PC name to start the transfer.

5. On your Windows PC, a notification will appear to accept the file transfer, tap 'Accept' to proceed.

So, this is how you use Quick Share for sending files between Android phones and a Windows PC and Android phone. You see that no USB cable is involved in this process and the file transfers are really fast which save time.

Troubleshooting Tips For Quick Share

It is quite possible when Quick Share doesn't work on your devices. In that case you can see the list of possible troubleshooting solutions below.

Problem #1: Device not visible in Quick Share when trying to send/receive files

If you do not see the recipient device on your phone/PC while sending file transfer then make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both the devices and it is set to discoverable. Also, make sure to enable sharing set to 'Everyone' or 'Everyone for 10 minutes' on Quick Share.

Problem #2: Bluetooth hardware failed in Quick Share for Windows PC

This is a common issue on some older or older PCs running Windows 11. On such PCs you can either send or receive files via Quick Share but not both. However, if such issue arises then try updating your PCs Bluetooth driver by visiting your PC's OEM manufacturer's website and look for drivers.

Alternatively, you can check Windows update for driver updates. If even after installing the latest driver the issue persists then get a separate USB Bluetooth dongle and connect it with your PC. The new USB Bluetooth dongle will not have any issues with hardware faults.

FAQ - Quick Share Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can Quick Share work without internet?

Yes, Quick Share works without internet. It uses Wi-Fi file transfer using the Wi-Fi direct technology. You do not need a real internet connection, just enable the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and you are good to go.

Q2. How to share files from Android to Android without internet?

I hear you, you're not alone on this. When you wish to share any type of file from one phone to another without internet then you can either use Bluetooth, USB cable transfer or a USB on the go drive. But if your files are large then Bluetooth is not the right choice as it is slow and everyone doesn't the USB on the go drive option available all the time. In that case, using Quick Share would be the ideal option that I just explained in details. Scroll up to give it a refresh.

Q3. What file types are supported by Quick Share

Quick Share supports almost all types of files. I have used it to send/receive file types such as images, videos, documents (PDF, .doc and text files) and even large files such as ISO (.iso) files. You can also send/receive folders and archived files (.zip, .tar, .7zip) with Quick Share. As of now, I haven't seen any file type not supported by Quick Share. If you wish you can even transfer a Windows 11 ISO (7GB+) between two PCs using Quick Share.

Q4. Does Quick Share reduce quality?

No, Quick Share doesn't affect your files in any way, neither it compresses them during the file transfer. The files are transferred as they are from one device to another without compromising their quality or changing the file type.

Conclusion

Transferring files between Android devices and Windows PCs doesn’t have to feel complicated. With the right tools—whether you prefer the offline safety of a dual-USB drive or the speed of Quick Share—you can move your files with confidence. A USB drive is still one of the most secure ways to transfer data without relying on third-party apps, while Quick Share makes wireless sharing fast and hassle-free for photos, videos, documents, and even larger files. Also check: how to reduce video size in Samsung.

Knowing the basics of file systems like FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS also helps you avoid compatibility issues and keeps your transfers smooth. And if something does go wrong, simple fixes like formatting a corrupted drive or checking your device settings can solve most problems quickly.

No matter what type of files you're sharing or which devices you're using, these methods give you reliable and safe ways to move your data. With the right setup, transferring files becomes easy, secure, and stress-free—just the way it should be.

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