Many users, when trying to connect their phone to a computer using a USB cable, are faced with the fact that the computer does not recognize the connected gadget. The connected device is charging, while there is no access to the smartphone itself and its internal content. I also encountered this synchronization problem, and in this article I will tell you why the computer does not see the phone via USB, and I will also share various methods for solving this issue.
The whole complex of reasons for the problem that the PC does not see the smartphone through the USB cable, I would divide into hardware and software, and below I will list each of them, in parallel providing instructions for fixing it. But before using the methods I have indicated, try restarting your computer and smartphone - this does not help as rarely as it seems. This problem mainly occurs with Samsung, Lenovo, HTC, LG, and Fly devices.
So why does the computer not see the phone via USB, but is charging - hardware reasons
1. Damaged cableUSB. It often happens that the cause of this dysfunction is damage to the USB cable itself. Cables from little-known or "non-name" manufacturers do not have a large margin of safety, and can fail in just a couple of months from the start of operation, and as a result, the computer will not detect the connected phone.
In addition, even the most reliable cables from global brands are prone to stochastic damage - they can be accidentally damaged during use, pets can chew them or spoil them by children. Therefore, first of all, inspect your USB cable for the possibility of mechanical damage, and, if the external safety of the cable, try using it to connect your device to another computer. If the device is not recognized on another PC, try replacing the cord.
2. Damaged portUSBon the computer. The USB ports used in the computer are also subject to various mechanical damage, including damage to the USB controller, as well as damage to the south bridge of the motherboard. Try plugging the cable into a different USB port, if that doesn't fix the connection between your phone and PC, follow the further advice.
3. Damaged socket for connecting the cable on the phone. Has the smartphone jack been exposed to water or damaged? If yes, then it needs to be replaced.
4. Try removing the battery. According to some users who also had a problem with the fact that the computer did not see the phone through U-ES-BI, removing the battery from the smartphone helped.
Turn off the battery, remove the battery from it for a few seconds, then put it back, and turn your device back on.
If nothing helps you fix this problem, then describe your situation. What you have already done, and what happens to your Android device when you USB connect your gadget to a PC in the comments, I will try to help not only me, but also everyone who has encountered this problem.
The computer does not see the phone via USB - software reasons
After describing the hardware reasons, we will list the main software reasons, if your computer still does not recognize a cell phone connected using a USB cable, follow the further instructions.
1. Working with the settings.We go into the settings of our device, select “Memory” there, click on the three dots at the top (Properties), select “USB connection to a computer” and put a tick in front of “Media device” (“USB drive”). If you have a checkmark next to using USB as a modem, uncheck it.
The Windows Update service (for downloading drivers for the phone) and the New Device Discovery service must be enabled on the PC. Don't forget to unlock your phone when connected to your computer, this is important.
If you are a conservative and have Windows XP installed, download the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) for XP from the Microsoft website and install it on your computer.
2. If your drivers have crashedUSB-ports, the computer may not see the phone.When drivers for USB ports malfunction, the latter simply stop working. To fix this problem, install the USB drivers from the "native" driver disk to your PC motherboard, or download the latest drivers from the motherboard manufacturer's website.
Also, due to any reason, power can be turned off for a number of ports.
3. Device drivers have crashed. Go to the "Device Manager" and see if there is a question or exclamation mark in the "Portable devices" item.
Check if your device is there and make sure it works fine by right-clicking on it and clicking "Properties". If it's not there, or if you're in doubt, uninstall the driver, disconnect your phone from the computer, and then turn it back on, and let the system install the driver again. This can help solve the problem that the smartphone does not connect via USB to the computer.
It will also not be superfluous to enter the website of the manufacturer of your smartphone and download the latest drivers for it on your PC (for example, there is a special Samsung Kies software for Samsung).
4. Install the updateKB3010081 (KB3099229). For owners of Windows 10, you may need to install update KB3010081, which is responsible for working with Windows Media Player. This player is directly related to the normal operation of the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) service, so download and install these updates.
Also, a common cause may be an unreliable assembly of the OS itself on the PC. Only rearranging Windows with a more working version will help here.
5. Custom firmware is not working. The desire of many fans to play around with firmware for their Android device can do them a disservice in the form of a device failure to work normally with a computer. Try to restore the standard firmware or restore from a backup (if any).
There are no drivers for the phone on the computer
Although, usually, a computer with the latest OS detects and sees a smartphone via USB without problems, reverse cases can also be observed. Try to search for a driver for your smartphone on the net, sometimes a driver for similar models of this brand may come up.
The phone may not be detected by the computer due to viruses
Trite, but all sorts of virus programs can block work with external mobile devices. Try checking your computer with Dr. Web CureIt!, this may help in some cases.
If the problem of detecting a mobile device by a computer is not resolved, reset the settings
If until now, your computer does not see the phone via USB, resetting the smartphone using Hard reset. Go to the settings of your phone, select the "Backup" menu item, and select "Data reset" in it.
But I immediately warn you that you will lose your files and settings located in the internal memory of the phone (the files located on the SD card will remain intact), so this item should be used only as a last resort!
Conclusion
As you can see, problems with the lack of visibility of the connected phone on the PC can be both software and hardware in nature, and there are a considerable number of such problematic factors. I would advise you to first pay attention to the likely mechanical damage in the cable and device, and only then switch to software methods.
In many cases, a simple reboot of the smartphone (temporary removal of the battery) can help, as well as working with the phone's USB connection settings. If all of the above does not help and the computer does not see the phone via USB, but is charging, then you may need to contact a qualified service center.
P.S. For lovers of visual demonstrations, I present a video on the subject:
Owners of phones and tablets with Android OS regularly complain about problems with the USB connection - very often the computer refuses to see the device or the gadget does not charge from the PC. The causes of problems can be different, so you first need to conduct a thorough diagnosis and identify the source of the problem.
Why the PC does not recognize an Android phone or tablet via USB: causes and solutions
In order to conduct a successful diagnosis, you must first answer a few questions:
- Has this always been a problem, or has the device recently stopped being detected by the computer via USB?
- Did the problem occur after any manipulations with a smartphone, tablet, PC (laptop)?
By answering these questions, you can fix the problem faster.
There are several typical cases that occur when connecting via a USB cable.
For example, if you have a new device and the Windows XP operating system is installed on your computer, then you need to update the OS to the latest version or download the MTP protocol (Media Transfer Protocol) on the official website. After installing it and restarting the PC, the gadget should be recognized.
Users of Windows 7, 8.1, 10 must first make sure that the device is connected to the PC. A corresponding notification appears, which informs about the connected storage device. Sometimes the gadget is recognized as a Camera (PTP) - in this case, just click on the message and you will switch to MTP mode.
But these are not all the problems that the user may encounter.
The computer does not recognize the device, but charging is in progress
With such a problem, you need to make sure that the gadget is detected by the computer. If device connection messages do not appear, do the following:
Smartphones with new versions of Android are recognized by default in charging mode. Therefore, you need to click on the "USB Charging" notification and select "File Transfer".
What to do if the mobile device is not detected by the PC: video
The device is not recognized, does not charge and does not turn on
In this case, follow all the steps from the previous section. If there is no result, remove the battery from the device. The battery fails after prolonged use - often removing it helps solve the problem. Inspect the battery for damage, irregularities. If there are deformations, then the part must be replaced.
The reason may lie in the software. Try to fix the error like this:
- Turn off programs and services while charging.
- Install a utility to optimize the device, for example, Clean Master, Smart Manager. They remove unnecessary and unnecessary information on the gadget, reduce the load on the system.
- Roll back the OS to the starting version.
- Reflash your device. Perhaps, unprofessional firmware led to incorrect operation of the device.
The computer does not see the internal memory of the device
If, when connecting the gadget via USB, the PC sees only an external card, take the following measures:
With such a reset, you will lose all the data that was stored in the internal memory, so it is better to save the information on a flash card first.
The computer does not see only the photo
If pictures and images are not recognized when connected to a PC, do the following:
- Make sure that the device is in MTP mode for data transfer - only in this case you will see information from both the external memory card and the internal one.
- View the contents of the folders using a file manager such as TotalCommander. If the photos are not displayed in this utility, then they were deleted or the system was damaged.
The device does not want to connect: how to avoid such a problem
If you want to protect yourself from difficulties in operating an Android device, it is enough to follow simple rules.
- Be careful with the USB cable. Do not bend it so as not to damage it.
- Do not drop the device, avoid getting liquid into the connectors.
- Trust the device firmware to professionals, use proven firmware and patches.
- Install software downloaded from official sources.
- Regularly clear the gadget's memory, use special programs and utilities.
If you have tried all the methods described to diagnose the problem, but none of them has brought results, entrust the problem to professionals. So you can save your time and do not cause even more damage to the device.
Many smartphone users do not use all the capabilities of the device, some out of ignorance, and some out of fear of disturbing something in stable operation. This article will focus on connecting the phone to a computer / laptop. We will not talk about the reasons for the connection, but we will consider the main problem, namely, why the computer does not see the phone via USB. There are many reasons, ranging from software, ending with a virus attack and hardware problems. About everything in order.
Hardware
So, when connected, the computer does not see the phone via USB, the surest way to start is by checking the hardware.
Possible problems.
- First of all, pay attention to the characteristic sound that a Windows-based computer plays when any device is connected via USB and the light indication on the phone if:
- the computer makes a sound - you need to check the software part;
- there is no sound - the problem can be both software and hardware;
- there is a light indication - we are looking for a software error;
- there is no light indication - the problem can be both software and hardware.
Why did your computer stop seeing the phone via USB? The reason may lie in the computer's hardware and may be a USB descriptor request failure (Code 43). In this case, you need to check the power and its power:
In addition, you must perform the following step by step on the computer:
- Relieve stress and remove clots of static.
- Check the power settings of the USB ports, which are often turned off to conserve power.
- Learn more about these steps in our portal article about USB handle failures in Windows 10.
Software part
Having ruled out hardware failures, we move on to software errors. The reason that the laptop does not see the phone via USB may be due to a number of errors. Let's break it down into several categories and go into more detail about each.
Drivers: to be or not to be?
To the question - why does the laptop not see the phone via USB, if everything worked before? Perhaps something happened to the drivers, you can easily check this by going to the "Device Manager".
Viruses: looking for a gray cardinal
The PC does not see the phone via USB, why? It is possible that your Android phone is infected. In fact, the user does not always feel the presence of malware, some of them work extremely quietly and accurately, but at the same time they introduce problems into the stability of the OS. It is easy to check this using special software tools that are free and available in the Play Store. 
What I want to note is that on the XIAOMI MI 5 phone - which also works on the basis of Android, viruses were detected during such a check and pointed to the "9Apps" application. 
By the way, it was he who endlessly gave out banners with advertisements that spontaneously output sound (speech, music, etc.). At first glance, a harmless application, but it blocked the installation of a number of programs, including updating the operating system. The installation of the application occurred independently, as usual in a batch installation - due to the user's inattention. So, when you connect the phone to the computer, only charging occurs - this is how it looks on the computer screen. 
In this case, this was fixed as follows:
After that, we recommend that you remove this application from your phone and run a full scan again. It is important that the removal is carried out in the "Flight" mode. If the above steps didn't help and/or you didn't find the questionable application, then proceed further.
Wrong USB mode
There is also an extremely unexpected situation, the smartphone is defined and Windows does not give any errors, but when you turn to the phone on the computer, you do not find any files.
What to do? So, if the computer does not see the files (contents) of the phone via USB, you need to check the mode of its operation.
Go to the root!
If all the above actions did not lead to a result, then only a radical method remains - resetting the system to factory settings. Depending on the model of your smartphone, the menu may differ, let's look at it step by step with screenshots using the Sony XPERIA M5 as an example.
For Samsung phones, the path will be as follows:
- "Settings";
- "General settings" - if this item is not present, then continue;
- “Backup and Reset”, this item, depending on the firmware version, may also be called:
- "Archive and Reset", "Reset", "Privacy".
- "Reset Device", otherwise known as "Reset Data".
There will be an item "Delete everything" or "Reset device".
That's all.
Have a great day!
Hello everyone, today I will tell you how to solve the problem that the computer does not see the Android phone via USB. If you are faced with the fact that the phone does not connect via USB, that is, the computer does not see it, in this guide you will find all the options known to the author for the causes of what is happening, as well as ways to fix the problem.
The steps below are for Android phones, which are the most common for us. However, they can be used to the same extent for Android tablets, and separate items can help you deal with devices on other operating systems.
Windows does not see android phone
I think it’s worth starting with answering the question: has the computer always not seen your phone, or did everything work fine before? The phone stopped connecting after actions with it itself, with a computer, or without any action at all - the answers to these questions will help you quickly find out what exactly is the matter.
First of all, I note that if you recently purchased a new Android device and your Windows XP computer does not see it (while the old Android phone can easily be connected as a USB flash drive), then you should either update the operating system to one of the currently supported, or install MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) for Windows XP. You can download MTP for XP from the official Microsoft website here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=19153. If suddenly for some reason this fix will not be available, it happens with MS, then you can merge from Yandex disk https://yadi.sk/d/u9K_mOUIuXheG
After installing and restarting your computer, your phone or tablet should be determined.
Now let's move on to the situation when the phone is not visible via USB in Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows 10. I will describe the steps for Android 5, but for Android 4.4 they are the same.
Note: for devices that are locked with a pattern or password, you need to unlock the phone or tablet connected to the computer in order to see the files and folders on it.
Make sure that the phone itself, when connected via USB, reports that it is connected, and not just for charging. You can see this by the USB icon in the notification area, or by opening the notification area in Android, where it should be written what device the phone is connected to.
This is usually a storage device, but can be a Camera (PTP) or USB tethering. In the latter case, you will not see your phone in the explorer and you should, by clicking on the notification about using a USB modem, turn it off (you can also do this in Settings - Wireless networks - More).
If the phone is connected as a camera, then by clicking on the corresponding notification, you can enable MTP mode for file transfer.
On older versions of Android, there are more USB connection modes, and USB Mass Storage will be optimal for most use cases. You can also switch to this mode by clicking on the USB connection message in the notification area.
Connect the phone via cable to the computer, go to settings -> device memory, there is a button (three dots) in the upper right corner. Click on it. When connected, it becomes active and says "USB connection to a computer". Click. And in a new window you get out "Connect as .... media device, camera, etc.
This is how it's easy to solve the problem that the computer does not see the Android phone via USB.
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Connecting a Samsung phone to a computer through is not always successful. Sometimes the computer does not recognize the device, does not read its internal memory and does not open folders (but it still charges).
The causes of the problem can be hardware or software. But regardless of this, the first step in resolving the situation will be to reboot both contacting devices. In some cases, this is enough, the contents of the smartphone are again viewed from the PC.
The reasons related to this group are related to mechanical moments:
- Damaged USB cable.
One of the frequent justifications for the inability to connect the phone to. A cable from an unverified manufacturer serves little, with active use - no longer than a couple of months, and then wears out.
But even a high-quality conductor may turn out to be unsuitable for use if it is touched by a cutting object, gnawed by an animal, and so on. To check for damage in the cable, you need to connect the phone through it to another PC. If the phone is not recognized again, then the element will have to be replaced.
- Damage to the computer USB port.
The cable connection port may also be defective. This includes a broken USB controller and a damaged southbridge on the motherboard. Correcting the situation, they try to use a different connector. If the move turned out to be ineffective, then the root of the problem is something else.
- Damage to the telephone jack for connection.
If water gets into the connector, as well as after bumps or scratches, the socket may be completely dysfunctional and require a complete replacement.
- Battery problems.
You need to remove the battery, insert it back and reconnect the device to the computer.
Software reasons
If the above options do not fit your situation, then you can think about software dysfunctions of devices:
- Settings.
Using the settings, you need to check the box in the “USB connection to a computer” section so that the phone is perceived by the PC as a “Media device” (“USB drive”). Also, at the time of connecting to the computer, the lock must be unlocked from the smartphone.
Non-working or not updated drivers no longer correctly show the connection status via the USB port. These programs can be restored using the source disk or the resources of the site of the organization that manufactures the motherboard.
This includes those cases where some special programs are required for the latest phone models, but they can also be obtained from the relevant sites.
- Unreliable operating system.
The issue is solved only by changing the existing OS to a working one.
- Unreliability of custom (modified) firmware.
Some users make firmware for phones on their own, this may be the reason that the computer does not see the Samsung phone via USB. It remains only to return to the standard version of the firmware.
- Viruses.
The usual option, but the problem disappears after using the antivirus, followed by a system reboot.
Conclusion
If the above methods did not bring any benefit, then you can take a chance and reset the settings. But remember that as a result, the device will lose everything that fills the internal memory of the phone, so you can’t use this method without a reason.
