S4 Data folder blank on PC when connected by USB

[MagicMike Kelley]

ARG - I'm a pretty astute trouble Shooting SOB, but I can't seem to get the files on my S4 or the SD card to show up in explorer when it's plugged in.

I downloaded the appropriate drivers. I even tried turning on USB debugging in developer options.

I'm sure I can use dropbox, Slink or whatever the hell the other one is but this shouldn't be necessary...someone help me out perty please.

 

[harryhoudini66]

ARG - I'm a pretty astute trouble Shooting SOB, but I can't seem to get the files on my S4 or the SD card to show up in explorer when it's plugged in.

I downloaded the appropriate drivers. I even tried turning on USB debugging in developer options.

I'm sure I can use dropbox, Slink or whatever the hell the other one is but this shouldn't be necessary...someone help me out perty please.

May sound silly but the phone is not locked right>?

 

[MagicMike Kelley]

What do you mean locked?

 

[MagicMike Kelley]

Bump - I cannot be the only person out there that has had this trouble.

 

[JudH]

Didn't Google remove pure USB mass storage support? You might try
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...g.samsungusbmassstorageenabler&token=mE6PKher

I stopped messing with USB after finding My Phone Explorer--all file transfers, syncs and backups done over WiFi.

 

[harryhoudini66]

As locked with a PIN. If I connect my phone while it is locked, nothing dispalys in Windows. Once unlocked, everything comes up fine.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[MagicMike Kelley]

I'll try again just for ****s-n-giggles. I had it unlocked though - because I was attempting to get it to reinitialize by switching between MTP, PTP and back again.

 

[MagicMike Kelley]

Didn't Google remove pure USB mass storage support? You might try
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...g.samsungusbmassstorageenabler&token=AdwjTygA

I stopped messing with USB after finding My Phone Explorer--all file transfers, syncs and backups done over WiFi.

Not compatible with my device apparently :/

 

[Brian Tui]

Galaxy S4 may be connected as Camera instead of Connected as Media.

1. Pull down Notification panel
2. Verify "Connected as Camera" or "Connected as a media device"
3. If Connected as Camera then that's why files are not being displayed.
4. From the Notifcation panel on the Galaxy s4 click on "Connected as Camera"
5. Select checkbox "Media device (MTP)"
6. Windows will automatically install the appropriate USB driver
7. Now open windows explorer and navigate to your S4. Your files should now be visible.

 

[ProfessorFart]

Thanks for the reply Brian. Solved the problem for me in seconds. You sir are a genius....

I too have been struggling with this issue for some time and have been trawling the net for a good while looking for a solution, but as ever it seemed no one knew their back side from their elbow until I saw your reply and it worked. I has a external drive die on me and had to replace some files I had on my Galaxy S4 32GB SD card but they were showing up as empty.

Now after following your advice and changing the way my phone is read by windows via USB I have some much needed and much missed files back on hard disk.

All I did was change 'connected as a camera'; (which is the default setting I believe) to 'connected as a media device and now all files can be seen and copied to my PC....

 

[TLynn2028]

If you are just trying to transfer your pictures and videos, open the file manager on your PC and right click on the drive that your USB is plugged into. Click on transfer pictures/videos and there you go Hope this helps, I just fell upon it!

 

[Sandra Sellers]

the screen on my phone cracked. Is there a way I can do that from my computer?

 

[George Wells2]

This reply was spot on. Solved my issue straight away

 

[JMK60]

Yep, YOU DA' MAN Brian. Had this same problem for a long time and finally found this thread. Never knew there was that choice to make.

 

[niciog]

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[Elina Manandhar]

Ohhhhhhhh hahahah LOLL now that was funnyy I had recentlyy Locked my gallerryy with a "Smart Lock" APP... And I Not in a MILLIONNNN Yeaarssssssssss would have IMAGINNEDD that could be thee causee!! Thankss to GOD I googled it and stumbled upon this thread and saw ur replyy hehehe Thankss (Wink)

 

[661omar]

May sound silly but the phone is not locked right>?

Actually, not the least bit silly... As that was my exact problem on my Note 5 with Windows 8.1. Thanks very much!

 

[TwainF]

Nice job Brian! Your post is right to the point w/o all the hoopla, and it worked. Thanks again...

 

[rabbit punch]

Hello! I've had the same problem
When you plug in your phone and unlock it , pull down the notification panel (swipe downwards on the phone starting from the top of the screen) . You will be given a few options. Select "File transfer" (or whatever option they give you since the exact wording of this option my be different from phone to phone - ex. on the galaxy it will say "media device"). You should now be able to move files to and from your device. Hope this helps!

 

[Rickinator1969]

That's exactly what it was. Thanks.