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.

 

[dospavlos]

My Galaxy S5 wouldn't show up at all. Tried Kies, Media Feature pack, tried all the USB options (accessed using dialer, *#0808#). My fix was a different USB cable. I tried a few different cables and they all allowed phone to start charging (lightning bolt on phone and connection tone) but wouldn't allow phone to be recognized by any computer. As soon as I used the USB that came with the phone, computer picked up phone right away.

 

[JackieP23]

I have tried all the above fixes and they either don't work or don't show up the same way (older computer) however my S5 connects fine and my husband has just got a new one due to a fault with his (that connected fine) and his new one won't connect at all. Any ideas. I am using Windows XP. Thanks.

 

[r_whyte]

after downloaow do I it to work

 

[dkelch2]

My S5 now fails to connect to windows 7 usb port. I believe this occurred after an android update but I cannot be sure. I tried all of the above with no success.

I downloaded the drivers from samsung and win 7 thinks the phone is a modem so I uninstalled them. Windows cannot find a driver and won't show the device.

Help!!!!

 

[computer numb]

You need a usb cable that will carry data. Hope this helps.

 

[dsm1599]

Try reinstalling the Samsung Drivers. If that doesn't work try install Samsung kies. If that still doesn't work, restart your device.

 

[ctvette2003]

Figured it out!!
Enable developer mode in "about phone" then go back to setting and you will see developer mode. Open developer mode and scroll down to "USB Config" and and change setting to MTP (media transfer Protocol)
After I did this the second I plugged the phone in, my computer saw it!

 

[SHEVEN]

Here is the answer "fiiinally solved".....
Some usb cables are infact 1way only, (charge only hence 2 core cables inside instead of the 4 cores you would expect). The cable that is supplied via samsung with your device only has 2 core cables inside for fast charge purposes. The 2 data core cables inside are missing. If you have other usb cables laying around, try them instead. As a rule of thumb...the cable on the non samsung usb lead you will notice will be thicker than the samsung supplied cable. This is because the 4 cores cables inside, (2 for +/- (live and neutral power @5v) and 2 for data transfer. Needless to say will take more room hence the thicker cable than the samsung supplied cale which as discussed only has 2 cores inside hence slimmer. I have bought software and installed windows media pack 2 and spent 16hrs trying to get my galaxy s6 connected, i even tried the dial *#0808# into your phones keypad. And being an electrician, the answer hit me. So if your phone once connected but now does not, its because you was lazy and connected a cable for another device and instead of going to get the samsung supplied cable. You used the other devices cable which had the 4 cores inside. At a later date you used the samsung supplied cable and became puzzled, then angry and frustrated because your stupid laptop was ****ed or since a repair of your phone its come back broken....it hasnt. So before going out to bite someones head off....try another cable. I did 2 minutes before i wrote this essay and it worked. I used my sat nav cable as my satnav came with lifetime updates. To do this it must have 4 cores because how could you transfer data updates with only 2 cores??? Thank me later. Mines a scotch on ice. Good luck and happy transfering of phone data and vice versa!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[urlm]

It's not the cable, and I believe that is the case for most people here. I own ONE cable and I've used the exact same cable for as long as I can remember. It has always worked fine, but now it doesn't.

It charges the phone, but it can't find the device. I've tried pretty much anything above in this thread. I tried updating the drivers, but couldn't find my device through device manager, so I had to search for it and locate it, which I now suspect was a wireless connection and not through the cable at all, because I can't update any drivers like suggested in this thread, the "update driver" button is just greyed out, and I can't really do anything with the device, it's just there.

I need my S5 to appear under "my computer" like it always did. I get no connection, no popups on my phone, nothing. It just charges.

 

[Rukbat]

If the only thing that has changed is the update, it's a bug in the update and you'll have to wait for the next one (or reflash the phone with the ROM from the previous update).

 

[Boldstrummer1]

computer says no drivers found.
running xp

Need to be able to pull off files to back up to computer

 

[tazmania3]

When connected to a PC via USB, my S5 would charge but the device was not recognised. My USB drivers were up-to-date and I was using the original Samsung USB provided with the phone. This worked for me:

Dial *#0808#
Under USB Settings, check MTP button and click OK. Try connecting your phone to the PC again.

I got this tip from this website:
How To Fix Computer Not Recognizing Galaxy S5 | TechnoBezz

 

[Sharon Kubik Robertson]

Worked perfectly after switching cables. Thank you!

 

[marco234]

Hey. Had the same problem. Using Windows 10 and Samsung Galaxy 5. Installed this pack and it worked for me (and also reinstalled Windows Media Player - thank heavens!).

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3099229

 

[Leibidig]

I tried using the Galaxy cable that came with my Galaxy S5 and that wasn't working. I tried some of the other options mentioned and it still wasn't working.

I switched the cable and now it works.

 

[Rick Congdon1]

Had the same problem after an update. Swiped down from top to see "USB charging, tap her for more options." I taped on it and chose "file transfer" and the computer installed an MTP version to my computer. The problem was fixed.

 

[corxg]

Might I point out to the Android community that one of the reasons I and others switched to Android (In my case the Galaxy S5) was because of ease of use. Unlike the inferior iPhones, people who actually know how things function and like to dabble with the code use Android. However, it seems with each new update, the folks developing the Android OS keep reducing the functionality that people so like. At this point, I'm debating if I will go with another Android based phone because of this type of issue. If I wanted to be thought of as dumb and be treated like I'm inferior to these "highly" skilled OS people, I can make my appointment at an Apple store and be properly insulted. I don't want to play MAGIC press here seven times and then go here and press this. Then when my phone locks I have to repeat the last part. Absolutely ridiculous. People who want to feel superior need to just go work for Apple and leave Android alone. If you are going to remove functionality from your latest "update" then you damned well better tell people EXACTLY what functionality is being removed AND provide and OPT OUT in your OS so we are not suddenly left to searching forums for solutions (Usually provided by people who are more knowledgeable about the OS than I). Again, Absolutely ridiculous.

 

[April Bishop]

OMG....that was TOOOOOOO easy! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

 

[KSAsearcher]

Thank you, Rick Congdon1! This was it, it solved my problem without updating drivers, installing software, switching cables. An easy fix. My S5 was updated recently, but I sure wasn't expecting this change. Never thought to check notifications.

 

[Rahul Singla91]

this was it i was knowing ... but my method did not work for me .. i am still unable to connect my phone to pc .