Why doesn't the computer see the phone via USB? Connecting Android to a computer via USB as a flash drive
Connecting a smartphone to a computer using a USB cable is an extremely simple procedure. However, many users who have only recently purchased a smartphone are experiencing connection problems. In this article we will try to solve these problems by describing in detail the entire process of connecting a smartphone.
Step No. 1. Finding the right cable to connect your smartphone to your computer.
Firstly, in order to connect your smartphone to your computer via USB, you will need the cable itself. This should be a USB cable, which on one side is equipped with a regular USB Type A connector (we will connect this side of the cable to the computer). This is the same connector as on USB flash drives (photo below).
On the other hand, your USB cable must have a connector that is compatible with the connector on your smartphone. If you have an Android smartphone or a Windows Phone-based smartphone, then in most cases this is a Micro USB connector.
On the most modern Android devices, the connector can also be used.
If you have an iPhone 5 or a newer version of the iPhone, then you need a USB cable, which on the other side is equipped with a Lightning connector.
If you have an older iPhone model, then you need a USB cable with the old 30-pin Apple connector.
Step No. 2. Connect your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable.
Once a suitable USB cable has been found, you can begin connecting your smartphone to your computer. To do this, simply connect one side of the USB cable to the computer and the other to the smartphone. To connect your smartphone to your computer, you can use the front USB connectors on your system unit.
Connecting a smartphone to a computer
Once connected, the computer should emit a beep indicating that the smartphone is connected.
Step No. 3. Use the connected smartphone using a computer.
Once the smartphone is connected, you can interact with it using a computer. For example, if you are using a Windows computer, then you can go to “My Computer” and see a connected smartphone there.
Connected smartphone in the My Computer window
If you want to transfer data from a computer to a connected smartphone, or vice versa, then you just need to open the connected device and transfer files, as you do when connecting a flash drive to a computer.
Don't know how to connect your phone to your computer? Yes, very simple! Plug the USB cable into both devices and you're done. But such a connection, you see, is of little use.
The point of connecting a phone and a computer is to control a mobile gadget from a PC and have access to information on it. In addition to the physical connection, this requires special software. Yes, many well-known smartphone manufacturers offer such programs to their customers, but they are all tied to only one brand of device and are incompatible with others. Fortunately for us, an exception has crept into their orderly ranks - a universal utility that is suitable for any Android device. Its name is MyPhoneExplorer.
How MyPhoneExplorer will be useful to you
M yPhoneExplorer is a simple, convenient, Russian-language tool for managing your phone using a PC. Among its features:- Supports three types of connection: via cable, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Synchronizes mail and organizing applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Sunbird, Windows Contacts and Calendar, etc.
- Make calls, read and send SMS messages directly from your computer.
- Access files on your smartphone - view, move, create and delete.
- Remotely set alarms, create notes and scheduled events in the calendar.
- Data backup.
- Monitoring the status of a mobile device: displaying signal strength, battery charge, memory usage, internal temperature and a number of other parameters.
- View your desktop, install, uninstall and launch mobile applications in a separate window on your computer screen, take screenshots, transfer the cursor to your mobile phone display and much, much more.
MyPhoneExplorer was originally created for Sony Ericsson phones, but now it can be used by owners of any Android-based devices, starting with version 1.6. The application consists of two parts: telephone (client), which is available for free download on, and computer (server). The latest Windows version can also be downloaded for free from the official website.
MyPhoneExplorer offers the user a choice of 2 installation options: portable and regular. In the first case, the program files will be located in a separate folder, which can be transferred from one PC to another.
How to set up a Wi-Fi connection
- Install both parts of the application on your computer and smartphone and launch them.
- Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On a smartphone: set a Wi-Fi PIN - a code to protect the device from unauthorized access. To do this, tap the “OK” button next to the Wi-Fi icon and enter the code in the appropriate field.
- On a computer: press the F2 key to enter the program settings menu. In chapter " Connection via…» check the Wi-Fi or IP address. The second is convenient to use if the mobile phone has a permanent address in this network, as well as in cases where the program produces connection errors when choosing the first option. Save the setting.
- To establish a connection, press the F1 key. Enter your security PIN and click OK.
- Next, give your smartphone a name under which it will appear in the list of application clients. In my example it is one.
To connect another device, click at the bottom of the main window “ Add user" In the window " Phone type» select a device with Google Android OS and specify the connection method.
How to set up a connection via cable
- Launch MyPhoneExplorer on both devices.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC using a regular USB cable, selecting the “ Charging only».
- Install the ADB drivers of your mobile phone on your computer. Most often, they are installed automatically upon first connection, but in some cases they need to be downloaded from the device manufacturer’s website and installed manually.
- On a smartphone: enable USB debugging mode. On Android 4.1 and older, open the " Options", go to the section " System» – « Developer Options" and check the box next to " DebuggingUSB" On Android 4.2 and newer, before doing this, go to the “ About the phone" and tap 7 times the line " Build number", otherwise the debug option will not be available.
- On a computer: Press F1 (Connect). After connecting, give the phone an ID name.
How to connect via Bluetooth
- Activate the Bluetooth module on both devices. In Windows 10, run the system utility “ Options", open the section " Devices» – « Bluetooth" and move the slider to the " position On».
- On Android, enable the discovery option for all devices (if this laptop has not been previously paired and is not in the list).
- In the program on your laptop, click " Add user» and check the connection method via Bluetooth. In the window " Phone type» select your Android device.
- To pair, enter the one-time code generated by the program on your smartphone.
- Next, as in other cases, come up with a name for the phone to identify.
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How to connect any Android phone to your computer updated: January 25, 2018 by: Johnny Mnemonic
How to connect your phone to your computer? To solve this problem, there are several ways to pair smartphones and other mobile devices with a personal computer or laptop. All methods are quite popular and often used. These include:
- Bluetooth.
- Wi-Fi.
The first of them is used least often, and it can only be used to transfer small files and data. For example, for a phone book address. This method, in addition to low speed and short range, will also require a significant portion of the battery charge. Plus you need to have a Bluetooth receiver for your PC, which also costs money. But there are, of course, some motherboards that have a built-in transceiver. Then the task becomes simpler. But what about another computer? Therefore, this method is the least widespread.
The second option is the best and most often used. This is due to many factors:
- performance;
- convenience;
- the ability to transfer large files;
- multifunctionality.
For this you will need:
- configure and enable 3G or 4G Internet on the phone itself;
- The Kies program must be installed on the computer;
- connect the device to the PC with a USB cable;
- On your phone you need to do the following, depending on the version of Android and the model of the device itself:
1) Go to “Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Advanced settings/Other settings” -> “Modem and mobile hotspot” -> Select “USB modem”.
2) Go to “Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Network” -> “Modem” -> Select “USB modem”.
After a successful connection, a corresponding icon will appear in the upper right corner, and a new network connection will appear on the PC.
Frequently asked question
Why doesn't the computer see the connected phone? To resolve this issue, you need to do the following:
- check the USB cable;
- reinstall the software; this must be done with the phone disconnected from the PC;
- Check the USB connection on another PC.
The simplest solution to connect an Android phone to a computer via WiFi is ES Explorer. The application is free and has a clear interface, but most Android phone owners limit themselves to using it only as a file manager. To open the network capabilities of the program you must:
If the connection is successful, all directories on the computer available for public use will be displayed.
To open files from your phone to your computer via WiFi, it is recommended to use another menu item: “Network -> FTP”. No authentication or selection of additional settings is required. The application will independently create an FTP server on your smartphone, open the required port and provide a ready-made link for connection.
You can view or download files from your phone via WiFi in any browser. It is enough to enter the specified data in its address bar.
If, in addition to viewing files, you need to download from an Android device or upload folders to it, this can be done through standard operating system applications. To do this, just enter the server address that was provided by the program directly into the “Explorer” line. Directories located in the smartphone’s memory will open in the same form as files and folders on the computer itself.
Important! The most complete use of the smartphone's file system when connecting in this way can be achieved using specialized FTP clients, such as FileZilla or SmartFTP. But even when working through the standard File Explorer file manager in Windows, you can copy files from and to your phone.
Using the AirDroid app
In addition to viewing files on your smartphone, this application ensures full synchronization of your phone with your computer. Connecting to a computer via WiFi is carried out in several stages.
It is important to remember that the Android device and the computer must be connected to the same network. Moreover, if a router is used, a wired connection can be used for the computer, and the smartphone will connect via WiFi. If difficulties arise at the synchronization stage, the smartphone may be connected via mobile Internet.
After synchronization is confirmed, the connection to the phone is completed. Almost any action that can be performed can be done remotely, via a computer and a WiFi connection. The interface is designed as a separate desktop. In the upper right corner, information about the device and the amount of free memory are displayed. Just below is the control panel, with which you can send files and folders from your computer to the device.
The icons on this desktop work like menu options on the phone itself. For example, the call log displays full call details. Synchronization is performed in both directions - with the ability not only to view records, but also to delete them. The changes will be applied on the phone.
When you open contacts, all numbers in the smartphone's memory are displayed. People from the address book can be sent SMS or called using a computer.
One of the interesting features of the application is the use of the Android device’s camera. There are not many practical applications of this feature, since the phone is already within the range of the WiFi signal.
Connecting to the device screen via WiFi works in the same video streaming mode. There may be a delay when updating information, but it is not so large that it interferes with your experience.
AirDroid also allows full access to the smartphone's file system, just like ES Explorer. Data on the phone is transferred via WiFi in both read and write mode.
How to connect Android to computer. Many users of mobile devices running the Android operating system complain that they cannot connect their gadgets to a personal computer in storage mode (external USB drive).
Unfortunately, it is not possible to give the only correct solution to this problem. The thing is that smartphone and tablet manufacturers not only use the Android system as the main platform for their own applications, but also significantly modify the initial set of “green robot” options.
In any case, there are no hopeless situations. So, let's start dealing with the problem from the very beginning. The ideal situation is when, when you connect your Android gadget to your computer, you see something like this:
This means that your mobile device is recognized by the computer as a virtual flash drive and is ready to connect. In the additional connection menu you should expect a similar picture:
Click the “ Enable USB storage" And after that, “big brother” is simply obliged to give you a pop-up window describing options for working with an external drive (device memory):
If this does not happen, then:
1. Paradoxical as it may seem, the first thing you should do is check the cable with which you are trying to connect your smartphone (tablet) to a personal computer. Don't ignore this step! Carefully inspect the connecting cord for breaks and abrasions. If there is such a possibility, then try to establish a connection with the computer using a different, but definitely similar, cable.
Are there any visible problems with the physical state of the elements of the future connection? Then move on to the next step.
2. Try changing the device’s operating mode in the device connections menu. In this case, the mobile device must be connected to the computer! For example, as indicated in this screenshot:
It often happens that mobile device manufacturers save on developing their own drivers, using universal drivers by default. Therefore, it is possible that after connecting several gadgets to the same computer, the desktop operating system does not perceive the new smartphone or tablet correctly.
If at this step Windows begins searching for and installing the missing drivers, then you are moving in the right direction:
Once the device initialization process is complete, a similar message should appear:
Did not work out? A similar process has not started on your computer? Then we advise you to complete the next step.
3. Without disconnecting your mobile device from your personal computer, turn USB debugging on and off several times. This will help the Windows operating system identify the gadget's internal storage as a new (recently connected) device.
In this case, a pop-up message with approximately the following content will most likely appear on the desktop of your desktop computer:
If, after performing the steps described above, the virtual USB device is not recognized, then it’s time to move on to “street magic”.
4. At this step, you will have to check the drivers installed on the desktop system and the items that appear in the device manager after connecting the gadget.
So, open this same device manager:
We carefully review the list that appears. What you should be primarily interested in is not the auxiliary modes of operation of the mobile device,
and subparagraphs “ Disk devices”
or " Portable devices”:
If new lines appear in the device manager, but do not correspond to the type of connected gadget (differences in name, model, etc.), then using the context menu
and reinstall existing drivers:
The files you need can be easily found in the appropriate section of the website of the smartphone or tablet manufacturer.
Well, that's the last resort. It’s worth going to it only if, after completing the previous steps, you still weren’t able to switch your gadget to USB storage mode.
In the main window, carefully analyze the item “ Disk management" Has a virtual flash drive appeared there? Is its size determined correctly? Has Windows assigned the correct volume letter?
In most cases, this is the root of all troubles. If in the disk tree you see the internal memory of your gadget, but its mount point is incorrectly set, then using the context menu, simply replace it with the one you like best:
We hope that after strictly following the paragraphs of this instruction, you will be able to easily work with the files of such a dear gadget to you
and a similar message will greet you every time after connecting your smartphone (tablet) to a personal computer.
