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Enabling USB ports on a laptop. How to connect an Android device to a computer with USB Mass storage mode

If the computer does not see Android via USB, then you will not be able to download photos, videos or music, install applications not from Play Market, flash the device. And this is very bad, because the functionality of the phone is not fully revealed due to some stupid error.

Someone might argue that you can flash your phone without a USB connection, but for transferring files there is Wi-Fi, instant messengers, cloud storage, and finally email. But I just can’t refuse a USB connection; I constantly carry a cable with me and consider it one of the most convenient ways to transfer data.

Checking the cable and port

Before you go into your phone settings, install drivers and curse the day you bought this Android, check the cable and USB port. I was once very surprised that the computer stopped identifying the smartphone, which it had previously seen perfectly well. It turned out that the cat liked the cable and chewed it through. From this situation I drew two conclusions: the wires must be put away in a box and inspected before connecting. The cat did not draw any conclusions. If no kinks, bites, breaks or other mechanical damage are found on the wire, check the USB port. Try connecting to a different connector or inserting another device into the same port - for example, a mouse.

If Windows XP is installed on your computer, then urgently look for an opportunity to upgrade to at least “seven”. But first you can just install MTP protocol so that XP learns to work with Android. The trick is that when the first version of Android appeared, Microsoft had already released Windows 7. Therefore, there is no MTP protocol in XP, and you have to install it separately. You can download MTP

If the computer detects any other device, but the phone categorically does not want to see it, then it’s time to shift the focus to Android settings and connection features. Yes, there is a possibility mechanical damage microUSB connector on the phone, but I haven’t encountered this yet. If you have something broken, you will most likely notice it.

Most often, the inability to establish a connection between the computer and the phone is due to software errors. If none of the methods listed below resolve the problem, contact service center- it seems that the smartphone really needs repair.

Android setup

I came across two situations. The first phone required not only obtaining developer rights and enabling USB debugging, but also installing phone drivers on the computer. In the settings of the second smartphone, I did not find any parameters responsible for connecting via USB. They are not needed: the phone is perfectly detected by the computer, after which it offers to select a connection mode.

So, if you connected your smartphone, but nothing happened:

  1. Open Android Settings.
  2. Go to the section "About the phone"(may be called “About device”).
  3. Find build number(models) and click on this item until a notification appears that you will soon become a developer. Usually n press 7-10 times.

After you become a developer, you will see new section - "Developer Options". Inside it you will find a switch "USB Debugging", which needs to be moved to position "On".

Now try connecting your phone to your computer again. When connecting, a mode selection window should appear on the smartphone screen. The default setting on older versions of Android is “Charge Only”. If the window does not appear, slide it out of the notification shade.

To transfer files, you need to select media device (MTP) or storage mode. Among the options there will also be a PTP mode, but it is only suitable for photos that can just as easily be moved to MTP.

After selecting the appropriate mode in “Computer” on Windows, a media device will appear, the contents of which you can work with. Depending on the features of phone models and versions Android internal Memory and SD card can be displayed together or as separate drives. But this does not matter, the main thing is that they are displayed at all.

IN Android settings There are no other parameters responsible for connecting via USB, except for debugging. However, there are some peculiarities. For example, on Nexus smartphones you need to unlock a password-protected screen or graphic key to allow the computer to access the contents of memory.

Additionally, a USB connection cannot be established if tethering mode is enabled on Android. To check its status and disable it if necessary:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. In the section "Network and Connections" click « Additional settings» or "More".
  3. Enter modem mode and disable WLAN access point. If it is disabled, you do not need to do anything else.

Some manufacturers offer users special programs to control smartphones on a computer, but you can establish a simple connection via USB without this software. Utilities from manufacturers are needed not for the banal transfer of photos, but for performing more complex tasks: phone software updates via computer, device firmware, factory reset.

The reason that the computer does not see Android via USB may be an incorrectly installed or simply crooked custom firmware. In addition, sometimes resetting the settings helps, but before you do it, do not forget to do backup copy data as they will be deleted. The problem may disappear even after a normal reboot of the smartphone - keep this in mind.

Checking Energy Saving Settings

Windows is trying to save energy so that the same laptops can last longer on battery power. One of the saving factors is automatic shutdown USB ports. Sometimes this results in external devices not connecting at all. To check these settings and troubleshoot any deficiencies:

I haven't measured how much it affects the duration battery life ban on automatic shutdown of ports, but there is no noticeable difference. But problems with connecting external devices such as Android phones are eliminated.

Installing drivers

The first time you connect any Windows devices installs drivers for it. Often this process goes unnoticed and very quickly (as was the case with my second phone), so you may not even know that the smartphone software is on your computer. But it exists, which means it should work correctly.
  1. Connect your phone to your computer.
  2. Open device Manager. On Windows 10, the corresponding item is in context menu called by click right click by "Start". In earlier Windows versions The dispatcher can be found in Control panels in viewing mode "Icons".
  3. Check everything USB controllers. If near one of them stands exclamation mark, then this indicates a problem with the software.

To make sure that it is the phone that is marked in the Manager, turn off USB cable. If the problematic controller disappears, then you have found the source of the problem. A smartphone without drivers may also appear in other sections: for example, among other or portable devices.

So, you discovered that something strange is happening with your phone drivers. What to do next?

  1. Connect your phone so it appears in Device Manager.
  2. Select it and delete it.
  3. Update the hardware configuration so that the computer detects the phone again and begins installing drivers.

You don't have to remove the device, just update the driver. Right click on the phone, select tab "Driver" and press "Update". Another option is to install it first and then install it again without touching the device itself.

In the search box, select automatic detection. If you downloaded the phone driver from the official website, you can click "Search this computer" and indicate the path to the downloaded software file.

If you have chinese smartphone, then there may be another problem with it - the inability to find suitable driver on the Internet. They are often posted on forums like w3bsit3-dns.com, but if there is nothing, try installing universal driver. It's called Universal Adb Driver and is designed to ensure correct Android work Debug Bridge and utilities for synchronizing PCs with Android devices. Versatility is not always good, but chances are that in the case of Chinese phone you can easily access the contents of memory.

Troubleshooting error code 19

If, when you connect your phone, the computer displays a message about the inability to start the device due to incomplete or damaged settings, then you need to check system registry. But be careful: deleting the wrong entries can cause Windows to stop working.

After removing the setting, restart your computer and try connecting your phone again.

Alternative file transfer methods

If you cannot resolve the problem with the USB connection, and you need to transfer files right now, use one of the alternative methods.
  • Sync your data via Google Drive. For normal operation Android required account Google, so you definitely have access to cloud storage. You can transfer files through other services – DropBox, OneDrive. I use Yandex.Disk.
  • Transfer files via email, messengers or social networks. I often add small files to Documents on VKontakte, and then download them to my computer.
  • Install the AirDroid application on your phone and access the memory through a browser on your computer.

You can come up with other options. For example, create FTP server on your phone or configure remote connection via TeamViewer. So USB is not the only option. But if wired connection is not installed, it’s still worth looking at what the reason is and, if possible, eliminating it.

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The computer does not see Android via USB updated: February 7, 2018 by: Sergey

It would seem that connecting an Android device to a computer is not difficult at all. I connected it with a USB to mini USB cable and everything should work. But this doesn't always happen. Sometimes required additional actions. Let's talk about them further.

Let's start with the fact that different versions of Android have slightly different ways of connecting the device to a computer as storage. Don't know your version? Go to settings, look for the menu item “About phone”, “About tablet” or “About device”. The version of your gadget is listed there. Next, proceed according to the instructions prescribed for your version of Android.

Android 2.1 – 2.3.7

  • Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable
  • Wait until the computer detects the device. If the computer detects your phone or tablet, skip next point. Otherwise, follow the next step of the instructions
  • Disconnect your device from your PC. Go to Settings -> Applications -> For Developer -> USB Debugging. Press the button to enable USB debugging mode. Connect your device to your PC.
  • Once the device has been recognized by the computer, the USB icon. Pull the status bar down with your finger, tap “USB Connection”
  • If you are given a choice between the options “Connect as a media device (MTP)” and “Connect as a camera (PTP)”, select the first option
  • Ready! The green Android icon turns orange, and on the PC your device appears as a data storage ( removable disk with assigned letter)

Android 4.0 – 4.2

As a rule, in these versions of Android, the device is recognized automatically after connection. If this does not happen, follow these steps:

  • Connect your gadget to your PC via USB
  • Select Settings -> Storage -> USB Connection Settings
  • Of the two options offered (connect as a media device/as a camera), select the first one. Ready! Device connected as storage

Now you know how to enable a USB drive on Android of any version.

How to Clean Android Internal Storage

Clogged internal memory of a phone or tablet is a problem that any user faces sooner or later. Once you have connected to your PC via USB, you will see convenient way solve it. Here short list steps you can take to clean up internal storage Android devices by connecting to a PC.

  • Transfer your photos and videos to your PC. Just drag them into the desired folder PC and delete from phone
  • Check Download folder. As a rule, a lot of unnecessary downloaded files accumulate there. Delete them and transfer the ones you need to your PC
  • You can also save some data directly from applications to your PC. For example, you can archive all your SMS and save them on your computer

By connecting your Android device to your PC as storage, you can easily exchange information between devices, as well as conveniently clean internal memory your gadget.


Few consumers know that a mobile device running on the Android operating system, unlike other portable devices, can be used as a flash drive. IN Lenovo smartphones On Android, manufacturers initially included functions that allow them to be used as a flash drive and used for their intended purpose. Thanks to this, the user can record necessary information, delete files from the device that are not used, but at the same time take up a lot of space on it.

Using an Android phone as a flash drive, there is no need to connect it to a computer, constantly carry with you the cable needed to connect to a laptop, that is, to perform a lot of manipulations that waste a lot of time.

Methods for connecting a mobile device as a flash drive

Let's look at how to connect your phone as a flash drive. To do this, you need to do a number of simple sequential actions:

  1. Select “Menu” on your device and find “Settings”.
  2. Immediately after this, a list will appear on the screen; you should find the line “SD Card” in it. Depending on the Android version, it can be found through applications or memory .

  1. In order for the smartphone to recognize the PC as a flash drive, you need to check the box next to the line labeled “Data storage device” in the displayed list. Or click on “Connect SD card”.
  2. As soon as the smartphone is connected to the computer, an icon will appear in the device’s status bar, which indicates that the USB flash drive is in working condition.

If you lower the curtain in the menu, you will see the connection of the phone via the USB port as a flash drive. If you need to turn off the drive, you must also lower the curtain and click on the corresponding inscription.

Options for connecting a phone with different versions of Android

Let's look at how to connect your phone as a flash drive, depending on Android versions, which is installed on the device. First, you should find out what operating system is installed on your smartphone. To do this, go to “Settings” and find the “About phone” or “About device” item. Usually it is the last one in the list that opens.

If Android OS 2.1 - 2.3.7 take the following steps:

  • The device connects to the PC using a USB cable;
  • The computer itself should detect the new device. If this does not happen, you need to disconnect the smartphone from the PC, go to “Settings” → “Applications” → “For Developer” → “USB Debugging”. After that, connect to the PC again.
  • A drive icon will appear on the device; all you have to do is click “Connect via USB”, which you need to do as a media device.

If your phone has an Android operating system with version 4 or higher, you need to connect to a PC, do the following: “Menu” → “Settings” → “Memory” → “Connect to SD card” .

Android does not see the memory card

Situations arise in which the flash drive is not detected in the smartphone. In order to find it, it is recommended to use a file manager - ES Explorer or its equivalent. With the help of such programs you can find almost everything. In their functions they resemble the My Computer program.

In order to recognize a memory card, you need to launch ES Explorer by downloading it to your device prematurely. After launch, a menu will appear on the left side of the screen in which the memory card (SDcard) is located. All you have to do is click on it. It has been discovered and is open for business.

Having done simple steps anyone, even a novice user mobile device, will be able to detect a memory card in it. The reasons why the computer does not see the SDcard may be different. You may need to update the operating system on your PC or install the MediaTransferProtocol (MTP) protocol for Windows XP

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Today, modern devices play a huge role in our lives. We are not talking about computers or laptops, which are already beginning to gradually fade into the background. Smartphones and tablets - laptop computers, which have almost all the functions like laptops. Unfortunately, these modern devices are not suitable for office work. Typing text on a tablet is quite difficult, let alone on regular phones.

People began to wonder how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone or a keyboard, mouse and other useful devices. It turns out it can be done. However, not everyone knows how to connect additional device to your smartphone. Let's look at this using the example of a regular flash drive. As a rule, this is the device that many people try to connect to their device.

How to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone

Modern devices running under operating system control Android systems, have a standard microUSB connector. For a USB flash drive to work on your device, it must have USB On-The-Go technology installed. Manufacturers began implementing this feature in Android OS from version 3.1.

As a rule, in modern tablets Moreover, phones do not have a USB connector. Therefore, you will need a USB-OTG cable. Some manufacturers include an adapter for a flash drive in the kit; if you don’t have one, you’ll have to buy it at any store that sells digital equipment.

The smartphone does not have a micro-USB connector

If you do not find a microUSB connector on your smartphone, you will need to first purchase a USB-OTG cable and then an adapter for it. Of course, this is quite inconvenient: if you need to connect an additional device, you will have to use several cables. But this is the only way that will allow you to connect a flash drive.

How to view the contents of an external drive

So, we looked at how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone. Now we move on to opening an additional device. How to do this? We need to download a file manager. You may already have it, since in some devices the manufacturer installs a certain set of programs. Of course, if you don't have a file manager, you'll have to install it. For smartphones running Android OS, the leading places are occupied by ES File Explorer, FX File Explorer and Total Commander. You can choose the application that you like best.

How to open a flash drive on Android

As we have already found out, we will need After installing it, we can go to this utility and find the flash drive. If you can't find external device, try entering the path to the files (/sdcard/usbStorage). After successfully opening the flash drive, you can view, copy and move files as on regular computer. Now you know how to connect a flash drive to an Android smartphone and open it, but, unfortunately, problems arise on some devices. Let's look at them and try to find ways to solve them.

Android tablet or smartphone does not see the flash drive

If you have reached this point, then you are having problems connecting the flash drive to your smartphone. This may be due to various reasons. Now we will look at the most common of them.

First. If the file manager should help him. Now there are applications that can eliminate this problem. The most effective program- paid, so we will look free alternative. Unfortunately, it requires root rights. StickMount works not only with flash drives, but also with other additional devices.

If you have and you have installed the necessary utility, you can connect an external device. When connecting, you must agree to the StickMount rules, after which it will automatically start and see the flash drive. How to find a device? You can in file manager go to the path /sdcard/usbStorage/sda1. Do not forget to properly disconnect additional devices so that there are no problems with them in the future. To do this, go into the program and click on the “Unmount” button.

One more thing worth noting quality application- Helper, which works on a similar principle.

Second reason. Before installation additional programs and root rights, you should make sure that the problem is not in the flash drive. What is this connected with? Your device simply does not see the flash drive, since it may be configured for another file system(possibly NTFS).

Let's say you don't have a laptop or computer: how then to connect an additional device? Need to download Paragon NTFS& HTS+ is an application that supports required format reading text data. Unfortunately, this application requires root access. You can get them using the King Root program. However, you may not be able to obtain superuser rights on all devices. Remember: you do this at your own peril and risk. Because of this application your smartphone may not work correctly. If the device is still under warranty, then you do not need to get root rights, since the warranty will be lost in this case.

Conclusion

So, we looked at how to connect external flash drive to an Android smartphone, and described some problems associated with the connection. As practice shows, issues arise on older devices. If you have new device, there shouldn't be any problems. To use a flash drive, keyboard, mouse or other applications on your device, you must follow the rules and do everything carefully.

Hi all! Today we will look at several questions on the topic, how to connect usb to the computer. First, we will learn how to connect any devices to a PC or laptop. And secondly, I will tell you how you can connect to computer additional USB ports if you don’t have enough for all devices. So, let's go!

A USB port is by far the most common type of connecting devices to a computer or laptop. There are three types of connectors: 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. If the first one can now be found only on the oldest computers, then the second and third ones are used today. At their core, they differ in data transfer speed. And according to appearance, what is more important for us now is color. USB 2.0 has a black connector and plug, USB 3.0 has a blue color. You can read more about the specifications and differences between standards.

Before you connect the USB cable to the computer, look at the plug of your gadget - if you connect the blue connector to the black port, then the device will not use all its speed characteristics to the maximum. If you plug a black plug into a blue one, then absolutely nothing will happen - the USB 3.0 port will simply operate at the speed that is maximum for 2.0.


So let's look at back panel of your computer, find a USB port of the same color as the plug and connect it.

After this, the device will either be detected by itself in the system, if it is a keyboard, mouse, webcam, or any other simple and common device that can be accessed Windows already there is a driver. Or to work you will need to install software, which is included with the device on CD.

How to connect additional USB ports to a computer?

On any modern motherboard There are already built-in USB ports - both 2.0 and 3.0. However, we usually connect so many different peripherals that there may simply not be enough of them, for example, to connect a flash drive or external drive and upload fresh photos to it.

Connecting a USB stick to the rear panel

What to do? There are two ways. The first, preferable one, is to buy a separate bracket with USB ports and insert it into the additional slots available on the back panel of the case - the same ones where we attach video or sound card, wireless adapter, and other components connected directly to the board. It looks like this:

In order to accomplish this task, the motherboard must support the connection of additional USB ports. This can be determined by the presence on system board connectors labeled USB or USB 3.


Connectors for USB 3.0 are large, have many pins and are designed to connect two ports at once in one plug.



USB 2.0 is smaller and each of them can be connected to 2 ports separately.


Accordingly, we look at the presence of such connectors on the motherboard, buy the corresponding brackets, fix them in the back of the case and connect them to our connectors.

Connecting a unit with USB ports instead of a flop

Another variation of this method of increasing the number of ports is a special unit with USB, which is inserted into the front of the case instead of the old floppy disk 3.5


There are many options for designing such a block. For example, combined for USB connections 2.0 and 3.0

And in the next example USB ports 2.0 combined with connectors for connecting a microphone and headphones

Connecting such a block occurs in exactly the same way as the bracket described above - to the corresponding connectors on the motherboard.

External USB hub

Finally, another option for increasing the number of ports is to buy an external USB hub. However, there are a number of disadvantages here, because of which I would not connect any serious equipment through it, but would only use it for flash drives or, in extreme cases, a mouse.

Since this is a hub, all the load from its several ports goes to one single computer to which it is connected. Due to this overload, certain devices may periodically fall off, which is not good. If you connect to USB hub hard drive, then the electricity supplied through it may not be enough to operate it. Therefore, we reserve this method only for light fast food - flash drives.