How to transfer photos from an SD card to Android tablet

If you have a standalone digital photo camera with a full-size SD card, you can use an OTG USB cable and a card reader to transfer your photos to your Android tablet.
For Grandma Mary Oakley, enjoy your new Lenovo Tab 4 Plus 8 tablet on your 75th birthday.

[@anettebell3370]

Thank you for this, it was a perfect explanation on how to do it, not too fast and you did not assume that we were all computer experts.

[@debbieminton5885]

You had me at Grandma, and the accent dodn't hurt either, but you were straight to the point! OMG, you actually just said it, Boom! Thank You, so much!

[@nanmorey8724]

Andrew your intro comment made this Granny laugh. Thanks for the simple, concise instructions.

[@jeannekeller1275]

Brilliant. Exactly what I needed. Shopping for the card reader and cables now. Thanks very very much.

[@kenoakley8485]

Thank you so much you're the first one that could answer by basic question

[@mjc11a]

Nicely done Andrew! Thanks for posting and be safe 🙏

[@robertmilligan3950]

Very clearly explained. Thank you.

[@hoots02]

Very clear instructions was curious to know if I have a micro SD and I stick it in the tablet can I transfer it to the tablet that way question mark

[@hoots02]

S6 lite

[@ancientknowledge525]

I'm trying to do this to transfer images from canon sd card to my galaxy s9. I'm using a card reader you stick the sd card into the card reader and connect to the phone. Nothing connects to the camera but it's not working. Can you please help me. Do I need an on the go cable,? They said this would work but it isn't working.

[@kimmarsh2768]

Hi, I wish I had found all this before it has been a expensive learning curve. Some questions I want to use a Samsung tablet say Galaxy tab A 8-inch screen -great for travel but is the system bigger enough for a DSLR camera and if not what would be the best size of memory to use. Also what Android app is the best for this application -cheers

[@geraldoramosss5491]

thanks this was actully pretty helpfull;)

[@slutzk8233]

I did the same thing, have the same two folders that pop up EXCEPT the DCIM folders so I can't see any pictures at all.... what is going on?

[@trevoror8668]

Thank you

[@cathymelling8389]

Thank you. Explained very well.

[@a.gphotographyagri2975]

Great video I’m just wondering I don’t have the sd card reader or the other yolk but will it work if there is an sd card slot in the tablet instead of useing them cable things thanks 👍🏼

[@Astral-Adventures]

My Android doesn't have a slot for an sd card and most don't so this is how you would want to go using the cables

[@a.gphotographyagri2975]

@@Astral-Adventures no worries got it working 👍

[@dorothywannop6]

Does this work for a Fire 10 tablet?

[@Ublomor]

Thanks Andrew

[@areguapiri]

I had no idea. Thanks!

[@Zozzle12]

Perfect! Thanks Andrew.

[@mikeknight8282]

Thank you for a super information. My wife is buying me a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2019 for Christmas. I use a Nikon D90 for my photographs. Will I need exactly the same kit as you to Upload my photos? Do I need to download any apps to the tablet? I'm an older person and not over familiar with computers and things. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@aroakley]

The main thing is a USB "On The Go" cable, either Micro USB or USB C depending what connector your tablet has. Then any USB memory card reader.

[@mikeknight8282]

@@aroakley Thank you for your help.

[@YFZ450rsmokinU]

U just helped me so much! Thanks

[@apontutul]

Any idea what would be the transfer speed from a CF Card to tablet via OTG cable? Specially Raw images files

[@aroakley]

Depends on a variety of factors. USB-C is just a plug/socket definition. Speed is defined by number, not letter. USB2 maxes out around 480 megabits per second, in reality you will get about 175 megabits per second or around 22 megabytes per second. USB3 is theoretically 5 gigabits per second, but in reality is rarely over 700 megabits per second or around 85 megabytes per second. That's the cable & socket. Then you have to think what it is that you are transferring to - what type of storage do you have on your destination device, and what is your destination device? An SSD on a laptop? You'll probably get full speed. Some EMMC or a good Micro SD card inside an average tablet? You'll be lucky to get 20 megabytes per second. A top-of-the-range Apple iPad? Probably closer to 40-60 megabytes per second, assuming you're using a really good USB3 or faster cable and a really good USB3 or faster card reader.

[@olive9035]

Where can I get reliable otg cables and sd card readers?

[@wcb22516]

Can you format the time on the large SD card with th tablet?

[@topgatta]

Grandma?! How sweet! What about grandpa? No hope for grandpa, I think.

[@aroakley]

Grandad is a former maths professor who has been using computers since the LEO III in the 1950s, so tends not to need much help, providing his eyesight holds up!

[@magdalenekourti9514]

Hi, can you assist me, please? files won't show at Samsung Tab S3

[@noahriding5780]

Is there a similar way you can transfer like word text files to and from a tablet to a laptop? And does doing so work cleanly without losing text? Can you also transfer whole apps this way?
I find tablets to be a bit confusing. With word processing on tablet there's no save button and many things look so different than on a laptop.

[@aroakley]

Try installing Microsoft Word for Mobile, then transfer a file and try that. Not sure but that's what I'd try first.
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.word

[@noahriding5780]

@@aroakley Thank you!

[@domo3552]

I still can't do it. I plug in the sd card reader into the USB port on my tablet and nothing happens.

[@angc214]

This works for videos too, right?

[@aroakley]

Yes, it will work for videos - and music and any type of file.

[@PatAndUniqueBlinkzzbyNisha]

Iam a grandma trying to learn

[@turd6733]

I got ds thing tablet I try is

[@jeremyharter8116]

How to put pictures on a USB from a Onn Tablet.