Many of us regularly connect an Android phone to the PC, either to transfer data or other operations, but some reported that the two are not connecting. It seems that occasionally Windows 10 doesn’t detect Lumia, Samsung, or Huawei phones.
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If the phone is not connecting to the PC, it will lead to issues accessing or transferring data between the two.
The problem usually arises due to issues with the connection, corrupt/outdated drivers, or incorrect data transfer mode.
To fix things, replace the cable, update the drivers, or enable USB debugging, as described below.
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But no matter the underlying cause, there’s always a solution. And we will walk you through all to resolve the problem in no time.
Why is my phone not connecting to PC?
Here are some of the reasons why your phone will charge but not connect to the computer:
- Incorrect mode configured on phone – To transfer data between phone and computer, you need to have the relevant mode selected, else it would simply charge the battery.
- Issues with the connection – In case the connection is improper or the cable is damaged, it will lead to a similar situation.
- Outdated drivers on the computer – If the computer has outdated drivers, the phone won’t connect to the PC.
- Third-party app triggering conflicts – Certain apps are known to conflict with the connection and often lead to such issues, so you will have to identify and uninstall these apps.
How do I get my computer to recognize my phone?
Before we try the slightly complex solutions, here are a few quicks ones you can try:
Why is my phone not connecting to PC?
How do I get my computer to recognize my phone?
- Check USB computer connection settings
- Install the MTP USB device driver
2.1 Update the driver manually
2.2 Update drivers automatically
- Download and install Media Feature Pack for Windows 10
- Uninstall the Android device’s driver
- Enable USB debugging
- Delete cache and data for the External Storage and Media Storage app
- Use a third-party app
Make sure your phone is unlocked when connecting it to the computer.
Connect your phone directly to the PC instead of using intermediary devices such as splitters, switches, or hubs.
Use a different cable and verify if the problem is fixed. Also, connect to another USB port on the computer. In many cases, the USB port you are connecting to may be dead.
Enable Airplane Mode on the phone, turn it off after a while, and then try establishing a connection between the two devices.
If these three don’t work, here are the other solutions that would do the trick.
1. Check USB computer connection settings
- After you connect the phone, a notification will appear confirming whether you want to allow the connected device to access data on it. Simply, tap Allow.
- If you don’t receive it, check the notifications bar, and tap on USB for file transfer, or any similar entry there.
- Now, make sure This phone option is selected under USB controlled by, and Transferring files under Use USB for.
2. Install the MTP USB device driver
2.1 Update the driver manually
- Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.
- Locate your Android phone under Portable Devices, right-click it and choose Update driver.
- Click Browse my computer for drivers.
- Now click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- From the list, choose MTP USB Device and click Next.
- After the driver has been installed, your Android device should be recognized.
Sometimes your Android phone isn’t recognized and, in turn, not connecting to the PC due to driver issues, so you might want to try updating your drivers.
2.2 Update drivers automatically
Downloading drivers manually is a process that carries the risk of getting the wrong driver installed, which may lead to serious malfunctions in your PC. Thus, we recommend an alternative tool that will do it for you.
The safer and easier way to update drivers on a Windows computer is by using an automatic tool like the one recommended below that will fix and update them automatically in just a few seconds.
3. Download and install Media Feature Pack for Windows 10
MTP protocol is related to Windows Media Player, and some versions of Windows 10 don’t have Windows Media Player and support for related technologies such as MTP protocol.
Most of the time, the generic drivers for your PC’s hardware and peripherals are not properly updated by the system. There are key differences between a generic driver and a manufacturer’s driver.Searching for the right driver version for each of your hardware components can become tedious. That’s why an automated assistant can help you find and update your system with the correct drivers every time, and we strongly recommend DriverFix. Here’s how to do it:
- Download and install DriverFix.
- Launch the software.
- Wait for the detection of all your faulty drivers.
- DriverFix will now show you all the drivers that have issues, and you just need to select the ones you’d liked fixed.
- Wait for the app to download and install the newest drivers.
- Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.
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If your version of Windows 10 doesn’t recognize Android devices, download and install the Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10. Once done, things should work as expected!
4. Uninstall the Android device’s driver
- Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
- Locate the phone under Portable Devices, right-click on the device, and then choose Uninstall device.
- Click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt that appears.
- Once done, remove the phone and then reconnect it to the PC.
- Windows will now automatically identify and install the best drivers for it.
In case the installed drivers or corrupt or incompatible, uninstall them and let the OS choose the best one. Also, sometimes, Windows is able to find the best drivers, but that, too, is easily fixable.
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5. Enable USB debugging
- Open Settings on your Android device, and tap on About phone.
- Now, tap on Software information.
- Now, tap seven times on Build number.
- If required, enter the phone’s pin to enable developer mode.
- Again, go back to Settings, and then tap on Developer options.
- Enable the toggle for USB debugging.
- Tap OK in the confirmation prompt.
Users have reported that enabling USB debugging can sometimes help when the phone is not connecting to the PC. But, for that, you will have to enable Developers mode.
6. Delete cache and data for the External Storage and Media Storage app
- Open Settings and go to Apps.
- Tap the ellipsis near the top-right corner.
- Choose Show system apps.
- Tap on External Storage.
- Now, tap on Storage.
- Next, tap on Clear data.
- Choose OK to confirm.
- Similarly, clear the data for Media Storage.
- Once done, restart the phone and then reconnect it to the PC.
If nothing previously worked and the phone is still not connecting to the PC, things should now be up and running.
7. Use a third-party app
This is not the Holy Grail, but for some users, it worked. You simply install a sync app that might make your PC recognize your phone due to its functionalities.
We would recommend the following tool to make sure your PC will always recognize your Android device:
⇒ Get WonderShare MobileGo
These are some of the best apps on the market. They synchronize and transfer data from both Android and IOS to PC. Download them and try to sync your phone with your computer.
That’s it! If the phone was not connecting to the PC, it would now, and you can easily transfer data between the two devices.
Also, while you are at it, find the best apps to control your Windows device from an Android phone.
Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below. Also, if you have any other queries, drop them here, and we will get back at the earliest.
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