Samsung A3 2016 on Android 7 will not connect via USB

[Android Central Question]

I've searched for hours for a solution and cannot find one.
Samsung A3 2016 running Android 7.

I'm trying to connect to PC via USB. All of the solutions I have found don't work.

It is connected direct to PC not via a USB hub
I have tried with several cables.
It is charging but the phone is not connecting with the PC to transfer data.

"It should automatically connect". No it doesn't.

"Tap the 'charging by USB' notification". There is no such notification.

"Swipe down and tap 'connected as..." or "..charge only". There is no such notification.

"In settings, storage, selected 'use as storage'". There is no such option in the "storage" setting.

I find it just incredible that something so basic as connecting to a PC is made so difficult and hidden. I am computer illiterate so I am probably missing something - it used to be simple, then it got made more difficult but I found the solution, and now it seems impossible.

Is there a solution that I have missed or do i have to upload every file to google cloud and back down from there to the PC?

Thanks in advance.