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.

 

[nerd999]

I have seen thousands of complaints about this issue this week, and dozens of solutions offered, none of which where helpful.....

except this one.

Blame the twits who want to "fix" the android OS for pushing an update that makes life more difficult:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/lg...-pc-through-usb-after-marshmallow-update.html

 

[anrolg]

I am a computer dummy, but tried all of the above solutions, without success. Finally I called Verizon tech support and the person said that there had been a softward update and that they had received some calls, that the update had apparently caused this problem. She walked me through Settings, Developer options, had me check "USB debugging" and "verify apps via USB" and I my PC then recognized my Galaxy S5 and allowed me to download audio books, etc. I am totally a prisoner of their technology, as I clearly do not possess the knowledge of you tech-ies out there....

 

[terrymodica]

The phone is now being treated as a media player. Here's how to access your files on your computer:

1. Plug the phone into the computer via the USB cable. It shows up in your computer as a media device.
2. In the phone’s settings, scroll down to “More Networks”; select this.
3. Scroll down to “Nearby Devices” (under “Media share”); select.
4. Turn the off button to “on”.
5. A box will pop open labeled “Nearby devices”, which says, “Allow Windows-Media-Player to access your phone?” Click OK. If it asks for approval for other devices to connect to, do not approve them.
6. You will now see it in “Allowed devices”. (Any other devices you disallowed will show up in “Blocked Devices” and these can be removed from the blocked list.)
7. In your computer, go to All Programs > Windows Media Player and run it.
8. In the menu on the left side of the Media Player, under “Other Libraries” (near the bottom), you’ll see your phone.
9. Click on it and you’ll see options to access music, videos, pictures, etc.

 

[1gareth1]

Yes! entered the code and that was it changed USB setting to MTP thanks a lot this was killing me!

See Tazmania's post above:

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

 

[Amageddon1960]

Re: Why won't my Galaxy S5 connect to my computer? I cannot use the USB for downloading music, etc.

I cannot

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Why won't my Galaxy S5 connect to my computer? I cannot use the USB for downloading music, etc.

I cannot

Welcome to Android Central! Cannot what?

 

[CherylLawyer]

The same thing is happening to me. It was working fine and then it didn't. One day I could see from my laptop the files/pics on my phone and now I can't. I've tried all the fixes. As I recall, it seemed that it happened right after I did an update as someone said early in this thread...

Didn't work for me on Windows 10

 

[CherylLawyer]

FIXED!!!! I somehow got onto my USB settings on my phone where I had options as to how I would use the USB connection. I swiped from top to bottom and selected USB. Sorry I can't be more detailed but I'm still learning this darn smartphone thing. So I'm guessing that the setting got changed when I did a recent update.

 

[Kenneth Hill2]

When I plug my Galaxy S5 into my PC USB I find Samsung SM900V but when I click on it nothing shows. I think I accidently deleted something. Prior to this when I clicked on Samsung in my PC directory it showed many files.

Thanks. I went to USB Protocol and selected MTP and now it works.

 

[ChrisPCritters]

ANTHONYN2392 has the right idea, though it looks a bit different on my phone. Try this:

Plug phone into the computer.
Unlock the phone.
Pull down the menu by swiping from the top of the screen down.
Click on Power options.
Select File Transfer.
Approve connection.
Computer will then ask twice how you want to connect—once for the phone and once for the card.

Normally when I connect my phone to the computer, it defaults to charging mode, so I have to manually change it to File Transfer. When I select Power options it gives me several: Charging, File Transfer, Photo Transfer, Software Installation, and MIDI.

Thanks ANTHONYN2392.

Cheers,
Chris P. Critters

 

[Summu]

I was having the same problem. I just reinstalled the drivers and now its working great. Thanks =D

Where to reinstall the drivers? In phone or pc? Can anyone help?

 

[anon(632115)]

You need to install the drivers on your PC. They can be found at the top of the page here Technical Documentation | SAMSUNG Developers

 

[radoslw]

Ive done it! Try to install "MIUI USB Settings" from Google Play store and that's it. It works!

 

[PetraK87]

I installed the app above and driver again on my laptop and neither worked. However I then remembered how I solved this last time and got it to work! I wondered what had changed so I had this problem once again and it's both times been this:

I'd bought a new USB cable for my charger. Turns out they aren't all created equal. My new cheap one only connects to charge, however not to upload and register my phone as a device. I plugged in another I had around and it works fine! There isn't anything different written on the cables as far as I can see, so no idea why.

Therefore worth trying a different cable, preferably one that came with a hard-drive or your phone. Although the one that works for me now is a poundland one and the budget one I bought off eBay doesn't. I'm not sure if the cables can somehow be partially faulty in some cases.

 

[SpiderSymbiote]

Ok I was having the same problem with my S5 connecting to my computer but not being able to see my files or transfer anything. If you have Marshmallow on your phone you need to open settings then go down to about phone, scroll down to build number and tap it repeatedly until it says developer options unlocked. Now go back to settings find developer options go in and scroll down till you see USB configuration. Set it to MTP(Media Transfer Protocol). You should be good to go from there. Hope this helps anyone who has this problem. If you don't know if you are running marshmallow just go to settings down to about phone and find android version and tap it till a picture appears. tap that picture and you should see what version you are running.

 

[wallymortar]

I tried the several suggestions from users on my Samsung Galaxy S5, e.g. updating or uninstalling/reinstalling device drivers in Win 10, etc. None of these worked. Then I noticed a USB connection icon in my phone's status bar. I clicked the icon and there was a menu titled "Use USB for" and there were 6 radio button choices. The one that was checked was "Charging". The others were other functions, including "File Transfer", "Photo Transfer", "Software Installation", "MIDI" and "Media device (USB 3.0) when the phone is plugged into a USB 2.0 port. I selected "File Transfer" and then the phone memory and installed SD card were visible to my Win 10 PC. When I plugged the phone into a USB 3.0 port, the "Media device (USB 3.0) selection disappears but if you then select "File Transfer", the phone and installed SD card are again visible to the Win 10 PC. I assume file transfer speed will be consistent with the USB version to which connected, i.e. faster on USB 3.0 than USB 2.0.

 

[rodderscas]

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!

THIS is the real answer. I believe a recent update is the culprit and it changed the type of transfer available when you plug in a USB cable from your phone to your PC. It changes to Charge Only. You need to make it Media File Transfer or whatever it is called. Why you would automatically know how to do this heaven only knows. Thanks very much to the poster of this solution.

 

[Benice Lee]

I don't know if this will help you guys. We all know we can connect different types of USB in to our samsung s4,s5 we can connect a small usb piece or the big piece if that makes sense to you guys? In summary, its the head piece if i connect the giant head piece it won't connect to my computer but if i connect the small one it will work its pretty weird but try it out and make sure u enable developer option and turn on USB port

 

[mrgts4]

Thanks for the options you all supplied. Mine was fixed by dialing the number and changing the setting to media file transfer. My only problem now is my old s5 has a broken screen so I cant change anything on that as the screen doesnt work, I guess I wont be transferring anything off that to my new phone. I had only updated it 4 weeks ago. I think I might refrain from updating my phone from now on.

Cheers

 

[mrbeechmont]

I never sign up or post in these forums but this has been driving me nuts for months and I just figured it out so figured I'd share...another stupid modification to a system that worked just fine before...

plug in your phone to your CPU
on your phone, swipe down to see the open apps, it should say charging with USB, click here for more options
click more options and select file transfer or photos or whatever else you want the phone to do besides just charge from the USB
what a stupid change
I hope this helps everybody...