Problems with W10 recognizing my Samsung S7

[cockadoodledan]

Hello all,

I've been trying to figure out what I'm doing incorrectly, and have read a few posts here and on other sites, but the issues others seem to be having don't quite align with mine. I purchased an S7 about a month ago and connected it via USB directly to my PC. At that time the PC recognized the phone and it allowed me to get in and transfer files, even create a folder on the SD card.

Since that time whenever I plug the phone back into the computer (and I've tried a couple different cables I have, may need to cycle through the lot and see if it was that) W10 recognizes the phone, adds it to the list in the File Manager, but when I click to open it and check folders/etc it says it's empty. I am at a complete loss. I swapped out for a newer SD card, thinking that may have confused things, but nothing. I tried the W10 phone media app, but although it recognizes the phone it doesn't see anything on it.

Any suggestions? :|

 

[Jinal_JCS]

could be the USB drivers. Uninstall them and install them again. Also, did you protect your phone with fingerprint / password / pattern lock? If yes, then unlock it first and then connect it.

 

[cockadoodledan]

No lock on it.

I rolled back the USB driver to the last version and nada. I'll try a full uninstallation and reinstall. So wacky.

 

[chanchan05]

Do you have Smart Switch or SideSync on your PC? That would keep the drivers properly updated. Those are official software from Samsung to interface between PC and phone.

 

[cockadoodledan]

I'd seen a suggestion for Smart Switch elsewhere but when I tried to install via Google Play store it informed me my phone was not compatible with the program...

Update: swapped out the Samsung USB cord for another cord I have that I don't believe is Samsung. Got a popup when I plugged it in on what options to use the phone for, selected file transfer and now it shows up in the File Manager like it did before. Crazy.

 

[chanchan05]

Your phone isn't compatible because it's already built in. You want to install the PC software part on your computer.