Why won't my Galaxy S5 connect to my computer?

[AC Question]

My phone won't connect to a computer with a usb cable. I plug my Galaxy S5 in (using the usb cable that came with it) and it will start charging, however it will not connect to the computer. It does not show up as an external drive or anything like that under the "libraries" folder thing on my computer so I cannot transfer files to my phone. When I plug it in I do get that notification sound from my computer signalling that it is connected, but the phone doesn't show up anywhere on my computer as a drive or a file folder that I can move files to and from. Also, on the S5 in the drop down menu, it does not give me the option to change the connection settings to "connected as a camera" or "use as mass storage" or anything like that.

I had my phone sent in for repairs a little while ago so I am thinking there is something wrong with it. Before I sent my phone in for repairs it connected fine, but since I got it back it has not been able to connect.

 

[adegbenroagoro]

It won't be perceived by your computer until you unlock your lock screen.

Adegbenro Agoro. Galaxy Note 4.

 

[ab304945]

Also try reinstalling the drivers

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Android_Ayub]

Try chrome remote desktop from the google play store great app

 

[Rukbat]

Since the computer was probably properly set up before the phone went in for repair, I'd complain to the place that did the repair. (If it's in the US, bring it to the carrier and ask them to please repair or replace it.)

 

[djtonytixz]

this is happens to me too, i connect my GS5 to my pc and it just charge but MTP and PTP wont appear on the phone my USB debugging is on also i have the latest drivers, also try re-install them but none of this is working 2 days ago worked just fine.

I went to flash my phone with cleartalk and when i get it back it has not been able to connect.:''''''(

 

[Brittany Nelson1]

mine does the same thing I believe that it is the update that we have from the phone.:'(

 

[mygeren]

Hi all, i solved it on my win 8.1 pc by installing Windows Media Feature Pack.

you can download it from microsoft just google: Windows Media Feature Pack

I tryed all the above triks before trying the media pack and that finaly worked for me an also for a friend

Sorry for my english im Danish

Best Regards from Denmark

 

[pjunking]

I was having the same problem. I just reinstalled the drivers and now its working great. Thanks =D

 

[Rangimarie Cherrington]

What is the drivers?? Confused a bit

 

[anon8380037]

What is the drivers?? Confused a bit

Hello. Welcome to Android Central.

I guess it's the software a computer needs to recognise what rudely just plugged in to it. Like when you were supplied with a disc to install in dem olden days.

(I think my first Android was recognised without me doing anything)

Since Android version 4.4 KitKat I think,
if your computer has the drivers the phone are not seen as new Drive letters in Windows Explorer (click on My Computer in Windows) - instead it shows as a Portable Media Player / Device, but can be opened the same way.

You can drag or copy device photos / videos from the DCIM folder, and move documents to the device if you have apps to open them.

Samsung and some manufacturers have a pc program to sync and back up areas of your device to the pc, so if you have a Samsung you can download Samsung Kies or the newer but less versatile Samsung Smart Switch program from the Samsung website.

Once you connect your device with the program running it will download the correct drivers for your Samsung.
Motorola and others provide pc drivers online.

 

[Rahul Singla91]

connect s5 using usb with pc
then
go to control panel
click device manager
find other devices
select your desired device
click update driver

 

[Mayra Zavala]

Thank you so much!!!! Your instructions were so simple

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[paladyn]

Thank you very much! I had almost given up when I saw this. It took quite a while for Windows to finally find, download, and install the driver, but it did so. Unlike previous versions, the phone does not appear as a drive letter, but as the Device Name I gave it during setup (see "About device" in Settings). It also does not appear (on my Win7 machine) in the left-hand pane, but appears following the last drive letter in the right-hand pane when Computer is selected on the left. It also does not show in the "USB Safely Remove" menu so it can be shut down safely before removing, but can be set to show if desired.

If you are despairing, and nothing else has worked for you, give this a shot. Good luck!

 

[David Bergman]

Merely updating the driver didn't work for me. But deleting the driver, then plugging in the phone and letting it reinstall the driver did work.

 

[JD235]

It may be simple, but I was just having this problem and realized that I had the wrong usb cable connected. I have some cables that will only charge devices. I switched it out and it connects perfectly.

 

[Psalmsat51]

Rahul Singla91 ...Thank you, thank you & thank you! I just bought my Samsung Galaxy S5 a week ago & am still learning it. The first couple times I connected my USB from phone to PC it worked fine. Though admittedly the transfer is way-way slower than my former Motorola phone. Then all of a sudden it was "gone". I got some kind of thing to download that I thought was software for it, but it took forever to download & I never figured out what it was. So I uninstalled that (sorry, can't remember name of program). However, every time I tried to connect it kept temporarily popping up under my C-drive, which was strange. However, it still didn't give me the phone or transfer options & what ever it was that was showing up under C-drive would suddenly disappear within a matter of seconds. This kept happening over & over until I finally Googled my question & found your VERY EASY RESPONSE & FIX.

I did what you said & it's now working again . The only downside is that it's EXTREMELY SLOW to transfer my data ...any help on that? Again, my previous Motorola smartphone wasn't anywhere this slow even though I also used a USB cable with it. I even tried that cable on my new Samsung phone, but it didn't make a difference.

The only "quick" method I found to transfer my files was to take out my card & use a USB converter for it. It did quickly transfer data, but I didn't want to keep doing that, as you have to open up the back of the phone, remove it, reinsert it into the converter, plug it in & then access it. This is time consuming & I also don't want to damage my card.

So again, if you have any options for quickly transferring date using only the USB cable, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks much, blessings many!

~ Deb ~

 

[abel1313]

Hello

I connected my s5 to my PC through the USB port and it charges but wont get recognized as an external drive. i have pictures of notes from school i need to transfer to my computer and i cant transfer them via USB because my PC wont recognize it. I tried all the suggestions but nothing works so far. I need you guys' help please. I need the pictured on my computer asap.
Thanks.

I did that and its recognized as a device in the control panel but not as an external hard drive. Can you please tell me how to fix this. I need it for school.
Thank you

 

[anon8380037]

Rahul Singla91 ...Thank you, thank you & thank you! I just bought my Samsung Galaxy S5 a week ago & am still learning it. The first couple times I connected my USB from phone to PC it worked fine. Though admittedly the transfer is way-way slower than my former Motorola phone. Then all of a sudden it was "gone". I got some kind of thing to download that I thought was software for it, but it took forever to download & I never figured out what it was. So I uninstalled that (sorry, can't remember name of program). However, every time I tried to connect it kept temporarily popping up under my C-drive, which was strange. However, it still didn't give me the phone or transfer options & what ever it was that was showing up under C-drive would suddenly disappear within a matter of seconds. This kept happening over & over until I finally Googled my question & found your VERY EASY RESPONSE & FIX.

I did what you said & it's now working again . The only downside is that it's EXTREMELY SLOW to transfer my data ...any help on that? Again, my previous Motorola smartphone wasn't anywhere this slow even though I also used a USB cable with it. I even tried that cable on my new Samsung phone, but it didn't make a difference.

The only "quick" method I found to transfer my files was to take out my card & use a USB converter for it. It did quickly transfer data, but I didn't want to keep doing that, as you have to open up the back of the phone, remove it, reinsert it into the converter, plug it in & then access it. This is time consuming & I also don't want to damage my card.

So again, if you have any options for quickly transferring date using only the USB cable, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks much, blessings many!

~ Deb ~

Hello

I connected my s5 to my PC through the USB port and it charges but wont get recognized as an external drive. i have pictures of notes from school i need to transfer to my computer and i cant transfer them via USB because my PC wont recognize it. I tried all the suggestions but nothing works so far. I need you guys' help please. I need the pictured on my computer asap.
Thanks.

Not in any order:
You may have a faulty cable or a one way charge only cable, you could try a different usb port.

If you have samsung drivers installed on the pc, when you plug the phone into the pc's usb you should get a notice on the notification panel that it's connected as an MTP Device, or a PTP Device. Change to PTP (Photo transfer protocol) only if you have photo software on the pc, otherwise Media Transfer Protocol should work to drag and drop files from the phone folders. Photos are normally in the DCIM folders of the phone or sd card.
You can download Samsung Kies programme to the pc, which syncs photos as well as doing backups, and installs drivers tp recognise the device. The device will show as a Portable Media Player on the computer unless it has Android Jelly Bean 4.1 or earlier, I think.

However Samsung Kies is being replaced by Samsung Smart Switch programme for PC (not the Smart Switch phone app for new device tranfers). Smart Switch doesn't sync photos and contacts etc like Kies, but does backups and installs drivers.

Best to open the Portable Media player on the pc and drag items over.

All I can think of for now.

 

[ANTHONYN2392]

For those of you who still haven't figured it out, you need to click on " Quick Connect " on the swipe down bar and install the latest update which is the "Quick Connect 3.0 " once the installation is complete you should see your phone pop up in "My Files " on your computer right away.