Often Android OS users have a problem that the computer does not see the phone.

This problem primarily arises due to the cross-platform nature of the operating system.

It can be connected to any computer, so the problem of compatibility of software components and drivers often arises.

Solution #1. Checking USB connection

Before considering problems with drivers, viruses and the phone itself, you need to check whether the device is connected to the computer correctly.

There is a possibility that the connection cord is faulty or the connector on the computer or device is broken.

Advice! If the computer does not notify you about the new connected device, check the functionality of the connector on your PC. To do this, connect any other device to it, for example, a flash drive and see if its contents open.

If this does not happen, the connector is not responding or is broken. Use a different USB input or a different computer.

If the computer still “saw” the user device, but it was not recognized as a removable drive and the contents did not open, you need to configure the drivers.

Solution #2. Setting up driver software

The first connection of the device to the computer may be unsuccessful, because the necessary driver software to work with the device is not installed on the PC.

Also, existing drivers could be outdated and need to be updated automatically or manually to configure the connection.

Follow the instructions to solve driver problems on your personal computer or laptop:

A smartphone connected via USB is displayed in the device manager of your computer. To see its status, go to the manager window and open the tab called usb controllers.
It displays system and user controllers. Find yours in the list of devices that appears.
Its name in most cases coincides with the name of the phone model or its name;

After the device has been found, it is necessary to check its operating status. To do this, right-click on the displayed device and go to the properties tab.
In the device status text box, look at its operating level. Figure 2 shows a case where the device is working normally, but in your case it may display an error text that requires user intervention;

Next you need to update the drivers. This can be done in two ways: manually or automatically. According to the first method, the driver installation file must be located on your computer.
To update driver software automatically, you must be connected to the Internet. In the task manager, right-click on your phone and then click on the update option, as shown in the image below;

Specify the update method. It is recommended to select automatic driver installation to avoid errors. Figure 4 shows the process of searching and installing the necessary drivers using the Internet.
All actions will be performed automatically by the computer.

Solution #3. Setting up software compatibility between two devices

There are times when all drivers are installed correctly, but when you try to connect, neither the phone nor the device can recognize each other.

Why does this happen?

This occurs due to interruptions in the central processor of the personal computer.

The problem can be solved very easily. You just need to restart both devices.

After restarting your smartphone, clear the RAM of unnecessary processes and delete the phone cache.

When rebooting your computer or laptop, you should configure Safe Power On Mode.

Follow the instructions:

Restart your PC;
When you turn it on again (in the first few seconds of the operating system boot loader), press the F key - a window will appear, as in the figure below;

In the additional boot options window, use the up-down arrows and the Enter key to select “safe mode with boot adapters.” The OS will start loading in safe mode;

In this mode, the system automatically eliminates all problems that arise with the connected equipment.

Connect your phone to the PC again and open the contents of your smartphone through the computer's explorer.

What connection options are there?

Main methods:
1. Normal connection between a smartphone and a PC using a cable via a USB port;
2. Wireless connection between smartphone and PC via WiFi;
3. Wireless connection between smartphone and PC via Bluetooth.

Of course, you choose the connection method. Each individual method has its own advantages. For example, if you need to transfer a large amount of data, then the first method is suitable: connecting via a USB port.

A wireless connection is a fast connection, but the transfer of data and information is a little slower. They are used in cases where the PC has a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi module, but the USB cable is not available at the moment, or the port does not work.

Using WiFi

Wi-Fi connection is very convenient, high quality and fast. But the data is transferred quite slowly, and to carry out these actions you will need a special Wi-Fi router or adapter.
The fastest way to connect a smartphone to a PC via WiFi is to install the application.

Such programs are available for many operating systems, including Android and OS. The operating principle of these programs is identical. If your smartphone is on Android, then the application from PlayMarket will help you FTP server.

After installing it on your phone, you will need to launch it, and then write the address that the program shows in a special line in Explorer. This makes it possible to end up in the mobile data folder.
The user gets the opportunity to delete, change, add files on the phone and on the removable disk of the phone.

Using a USB connection

When using a USB connection, the user gains a huge number of possibilities:
1. The speed of information transfer is very high;
2. Use your smartphone as a webcam and communicate using it on Skype, Snapchat, etc. This is a great opportunity to replace your webcam on your PC.

Among the disadvantages: linking the device to a PC. At this time, it is impossible to make a call or go out with the device further than the cord allows.
All you need is a suitable cable and a port on your PC. Most often, additional drivers are not required to connect and detect the phone.

The device can be charged via the USB port.

When we connect a smartphone via USB cable, a notification appears indicating that the device is connected. After automatic installation of the utilities, synchronization will complete automatically.

Using Bluetooth

Modern laptop models have a Bluetooth module, whereas on a PC such a module is extremely rare. Using Bluetooth, the user has the opportunity to synchronize one device with another.

When the smartphone is detected, it connects via Bluetooth. The option “Without using a key” is selected.

Possible problems

It happens that when you try to connect to a PC, driver installation begins. The user can only wait for the installation process to complete. If the program cannot be installed automatically, then install it manually.
Usually, a compatible driver can be found on the official website of the smartphone.

There are also situations when you need to enable “debugging” in your phone settings.

The connection to the computer failed, what should I do?

There is an additional option for data transfer, which is used only in situations where none of the provided methods is available.

You will need:
- Removable flash card on the smartphone;
- Card-Reader on PC or laptop.

All that is required from the user is to copy data from the phone to a microSD card, remove it from the device and insert it into the Card-Reader of the PC. Or do the opposite, it all depends on your goals.

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A mobile device that runs on the Android OS, unlike other portable gadgets, can be connected to a computer as a flash drive. Many Android smartphones and tablets are initially equipped by manufacturers with functions that allow them to be used as flash drives.

This allows the user to record the necessary information and delete files from the product that are not used, but at the same time take up a lot of space.

Using an Android mobile device in the form of a flash drive, there is no need to constantly carry a drive with you. Now you don’t need to carry out a lot of manipulations with connecting to a laptop or computer, spending a lot of time on it.

Options for connecting a mobile gadget as a flash drive

Let's look at how to connect a mobile device like a flash drive. To do this, you need to perform certain sequential actions:

If you lower the curtain in the menu, it will display USB connection in the form of a flash drive. If you need to turn off the drive, you must also lower the curtain and click on the corresponding inscription.

Connecting the product with different versions of Android

Now let's look at ways to connect a tablet or smartphone as a flash drive, depending on the version used Android. First, we determine which operating system is on the device. To do this, go to “Settings”, select the “About device” or “About phone” section. Often it is located last in the list that opens.

OS Android 2.1 - 2.3.7

If the Android operating system 2.1 - 2.3.7 is installed, you must complete the following steps:

You need to connect the gadget to your PC using a USB cable.
The computer should automatically detect the new device. If this does not happen, you need to disconnect the smartphone from the computer, go to “Settings”, select “Applications”, click on “For Developer”, then “USB Debugging”. Now you need to connect it to your PC again.
A drive icon will appear in the gadget. You need to click on “USB Connection”, and the connection itself should be made as a media device.

Android OS version 4 and higher

Since version 4.4 KitKat, Android does not use USB storage mode; a tablet or smartphone can be used as Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). But you can make the gadget work as a storage device.

You need to use a special application that will help you connect Android with MTP as a USB drive in a few steps. To do this you will need:

Install Root rights on Android.
Download and install the special application “USB MASS STORAGE Enabler”.

Then you need to do the following:

Launch “USB MASS STORAGE Enabler”. It will be displayed in the menu as a USB activator.
Root rights must be granted. You will be prompted to change how Selinux works. It needs to be resolved.

If the device is supported, the application will go to the main menu.

To solve the “flash drive” in Android, you need to click on “Enable USB MASS STORAGE”.

After using Android as a USB drive, you need to disable this mode. For this it opens program“USB MASS STORAGE Enabler” and press the corresponding button there. To connect a mobile device in a different mode, you need to restart Android.

Android does not detect memory card

There are situations when the flash drive in the device does not work. To find it, you can use the ES Explorer file manager or a similar application. With the help of such programs you can find almost everything. In its functionality it is similar to the My Computer program.

How to connect your phone to your computer? To solve this problem, there are several ways to pair smartphones and other mobile devices with a personal computer or laptop. All methods are quite popular and often used. These include:

Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi.

The first of them is used least often, and it can only be used to transfer small files and data. For example, for a phone book address. This method, in addition to low speed and short range, will also require a significant portion of the battery charge. Plus you need to have a Bluetooth receiver for your PC, which also costs money. But there are, of course, some motherboards that have a built-in transceiver. Then the task becomes simpler. But what about another computer? Therefore, this method is the least widespread.

The second option is the best and most often used. This is due to many factors:

performance;
convenience;
the ability to transfer large files;
multifunctionality.

For this you will need:

configure and enable 3G or 4G Internet on the phone itself;
The Kies program must be installed on the computer;
connect the device to the PC with a USB cable;
On your phone you need to do the following, depending on the version of Android and the model of the device itself:

1) Go to “Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Advanced settings/Other settings” -> “Modem and mobile hotspot” -> Select “USB modem”.

2) Go to “Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Network” -> “Modem” -> Select “USB modem”.

After a successful connection, a corresponding icon will appear in the upper right corner, and a new network connection will appear on the PC.

Frequently asked question

Why doesn't the computer see the connected phone? To resolve this issue, you need to do the following:

check the USB cable;
reinstall the software; this must be done with the phone disconnected from the PC;
Check the USB connection on another PC.

Hello everyone, dear friends! Today we will talk about how to connect a smartphone running Android to a computer.

The mobile industry does not stand still

The mobile industry today is very developed and a touchscreen phone in the hands of a passerby no longer surprises anyone.

However, many people do not have time to get used to the new changes and therefore make many different mistakes or cannot figure out their phone at all.

One of these problems is connecting a smartphone to a computer, namely a device running on the Android operating system, because these days it occupies more than 75% of the smartphone and tablet market.

Android 5.0 Marshmallow was not chosen by chance

So, today we will look at ways to connect Android to a personal computer.

As an example, the connection will be made on a tablet from Lenovo model A7-30 based on Android 5.0 (Lollipop) and a computer based on the latest version of Windows 10.

These parameters were not chosen by chance, since there are already fewer and fewer devices running Android 4.4 KitKat, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow will not work on all devices.

Despite this, you can connect your Android to your PC on any of these versions using the instructions below, only the names and directories will differ.

What methods exist

First, let's list all the ways to connect an Android device to a computer:

Connect via USB like a regular media device;
Connect via USB as a modem;
Wi-Fi connection as a removable storage device (flash drive, hard drive, etc.);
Connect via USB or Wi-Fi as a web camera.

We use a USB cable

The easiest connection method is using a special USB cable. With this connection method, Android can be used as a removable storage device.

You can find it in the box from your tablet or smartphone. Insert one end into the appropriate connector on your portable device, and the other into the USB connector on the panel of your PC or on the side of your laptop.

Once connected, you will hear two distinctive sounds: one from Windows and the other from Android.

A connection notification will also appear on your phone screen, by clicking on which you can choose a connection method; we will combine some of them in one block.

By default, if you connect your Android for the first time, you should see the USB storage mode. Let's start with him.

This mode allows you to exchange data between the SD card on your Android (if you have one) and the computer itself.

If the SD card is not inserted or it is not supported, then you will connect as a media device (MTP).

Unlike the first mode, MTP mode can even show internal memory data to the computer.

With this connection, the icon will be different and the name will be the name of your tablet or smartphone (in our case, Lenovo A7-30DC).

By the way, when connecting, Windows may notify you that the data on the media is damaged and needs to be fixed.

This advice is not suitable for beginners in such matters, since there may simply be a file in the system that Windows does not understand and then it can simply delete it, which will lead to damage to your portable device.

What are the advantages of this connection?

So we figured out how to connect Android via USB, let's now try to take advantage of this.

An Android phone or tablet connected to a PC can be used as a modem. This is a very useful feature if your computer's network input is burned out or it is unable to catch Wi-Fi.

Connecting as a modem

So, what does it take? After connecting your Android to your PC, go to the Android settings. Next, in “Wireless Networks”, click “More”, then “Access Point” and move the “USB Router” lever to the right.

After this you will be thrown into the USB connections menu. Here you do not need to mark or tick anything, otherwise the Internet on your computer will disappear. By the way, it will not appear immediately; you need to wait 1-5 minutes.

In order for you to have access to the network, you need to enable Wi-Fi or cellular data on your Android.

By the way, Android, unlike Windows Phone and iOS, can transmit the Internet even when Wi-Fi is turned on, that is, having a cellular connection is not necessary. After turning off the phone, the Access Point turns off automatically.

We use a Wi-Fi connection

You can connect your smartphone not only using wires, but also over the air. This can be done using a Wi-Fi connection.

This is only possible if the Internet is available on both the PC and Android at the same time, and they must be connected to the same access point (to the same router). Android can be used as a removable storage device.

To connect to a PC on Android, you need to download a special program called WiFi File Transfer.

We type the name in the Play Market, search for it, download it and install it.

Now go to the main menu and launch the application.

We press the “Start” button and a hint appears. Click OK. In the white window there will be a special IP address, which is indicated in the prompt and which must be entered in the browser line on your PC.

We enter it, press Enter and we have access to all the data on the phone.

To stop this service you just need to click “Stop” in the program. By the way, the software has a paid version.

They differ in that in the paid version you can download files larger than 5 megabytes to Android.

You can buy the Pro version by simply clicking on the “Update” icon with a crown.

Connecting Android to PC as a webcam

There is only one last Android function left - connecting as a webcam. This name should not be confused with what was in the settings (Camera (PTP)), these are different things.

In the case of PTP, the device is simply connected via USB like a photo-video camera.

In our case, we will transfer the video image to the PC. A special program called DroidCam (on Android) will also help us with this, but that’s not all. You should install the utility on your PC.

Launch DroidCam on Android and launch the client on the PC. Now you need to enter the data into the client program from Android (IP address and droidcam port).

We press start on the PC and check it in some program, for example, Skype.

In Skype, go to settings, video and select DroidCam camera. You should see an image from your phone's camera. Also in the DroidCam settings you can specify which camera to transmit the image from - the main or front one.

In addition to transferring via WiFi, you can transfer images via USB, but this is a little problematic. To do this, you need to enable USB debugging mode on your Android in the “For Developers” menu.

If this mode is not activated, then you need to go to the “About tablet (phone)” item and click on the “Build number” line 7 times until the corresponding notification appears.

We enable debugging mode as before and connect the phone to the PC.

So we have found out all the secrets of connecting an Android device to a personal computer. Good luck to everyone and see you again!

Connecting an Android smartphone to a computer. The computer does not see the phone via USB