USB File Transfer Not Working

Tepacana

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I'm using a Galaxy A20e with Android 11, I used to be able to transfer files from my PC to my phone whenever it was plugged in and unlocked as normal. Using the same cable, I now can't change the connection type to file transfer in the notification. That now takes me to the power usage settings. I've activated the developer settings to allow me to change the default USB state to file transfer, but this does nothing, and I can't tap on the notification to try and change the connection type, because that jsut shows me battery power now.

Any help would be fantastic, thanks.
 

B. Diddy

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Welcome to Android Central! Have you tried a different cable? Sometimes a cable's data transfer wires can become faulty.
 

Tepacana

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Hi, I've tried both of these things, I was going to try using a different pc today and see if that's any different, trying both wires and different ports on that too.
 

B. Diddy

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Make sure the USB ports for the phone and the PC are completely clean. Use a can of compressed air to blow them out, and a dry toothbrush to scrub them.
 

Tepacana

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Tried cleaning out both ports I tried on each computer and both cables I tried, along with the port on the phone. Did so using the dry toothbrush thing and got a thin pin to get tiny bits of debris out, still no luck on either pc or using either cable unfortunately. Starting to think it might either need a new sort of cable I don't have or that something software-side isn't quite co-operating.

Again, thanks for the replies.
 

Tepacana

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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it, didn't seem any different on the other PC either. Still defaulted to cable charging and can't tap on the notification to change it, takes me to the power settings of the phone. It doesn't appear on either file explorer or device manager on either PC.
 

B. Diddy

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Hmm, there should be an Android System notification for the USB connection type. I don't think this will help, but go to Settings>Apps, tap the Filter button and toggle on Show System Apps, and select Android System. Then select Notifications, and make sure everything is toggled on. On my A32 5G, the toggle for USB Connection is permanently on (greyed out), so I'm assuming that will be the case for you, but who knows, it might be different for some reason.
 

Tepacana

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Yeah, my USB connections listing in the notifications screen you sent me too is also locked at being on.

I did have an idea, I could move everything I want to keep on my SD card, remove it and factory reset the phone by itself, that might shake out some old software from compounded system updates.

Obviously going try that after everything else, to avoid the possibility of not having moved something I wanted to keep and then not being able to transfer it from the PC.
 

Kizzy Catwoman

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You can toggle the file transfer mode as default in developer options. Go to settings, about phone and tap on build number 7 times to open the developer options menu. Under developer options you can set the USB connection type to file transfer.
117d0ce152f756b63b3f0ea48fffff19.jpg
c7c4d152eeedbb8a232d49730e87e07a.jpg
 

Tepacana

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Thanks for the continued replies!

I've tried wiping the cache partition, that didn't seem to have an effect unfortunately, and changing the default bluetooth settings was one of the first things I tried, I also tried that again after wiping the cache and it was still set to file transfer. I also tried switching it to charging only and back again, still no luck unfortunately.
 

B. Diddy

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Hmm, might be getting down to the nuclear option of factory reset.:-\

Longshot, try going to Settings>Apps, tap Menu, then Reset All App Preferences.
 

Motoman43

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So below is how I transfer files in either direction between MotoG7Power phone Android 10, and USB flash stick.

My PROCEDURES:

USB FLASH DRIVE -TO-PHONE (verified procedure on 9/5/21:

On my Moto phone:

1. Connect a USB flash drive (containing PC files) to transfer to phone.

2. Swipe down from home page.

3. Tap USB drive (or name of USB drive e.g. PNY)

4. Tap desired folder or file (e.g. desired pic) Verify check mark.

5. Tap upper right (three dots) to Move or Copy selected folder or file from step #4.

6. Tap Move to or Copy to (Download or other Folder)

7. Tap Copy

8. Tap ‘files’ to verify (see transferred files/pics in Download or other folder).



PHONE-TO- USB FLASH DRIVE (verified procedure on 9/9/21/0

My verified procedure on 9/9/21

On my Moto Phone:

1. Connect a USB flash drive (containing PC files) to transfer to phone.

2. Swipe down from home page.

3. Tap USB drive (or name of USB drive e.g. PNY)

4. Tap desired folder or file (e.g. Camera pics) Verify check mark.

5. Tap upper right (three dots) to Move or Copy selected folder or file from step #4.

6. In upper left three bars, tap USB drive (or name of USB drive e.g. PNY)

7. Tap copy.

8. See copy or move progress text.

Hope this helps someone.








8. See copy or move progress text.
 

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