Android phone won't allow file transfer via USB

You could replace it with a WiFi file manager:

Are you sure the cable you are using is actually a USB data transfer cable not just a dedicated charging cable (these don't have any wires between the data pins!)?

With a power only cable the phone will notice it is being change and typically make a sound. The PC won't see a USB device though and not make a sound.

With a full USB lead the PC should make the USB mounting sound in addition to the phone making a noise.

On Android you would normally select Connected Devices:

Reboot the PC.

At least it will be well charged :-)

I often wonder why there isn't some industry standard for marking charging cables, so the users won't get snookered like this. There was someone in another group recently, who was in this situation. Making the cable a red or an orange colour might help. You can't use lightning bolts, because that icon is overused already.

This utility (on Windows) will show the status of USB ports. If the phone end has the cable attached, and you are just about to plug in the Windows PC end, this utility will not respond if a "dumb-type charging cable" is plugged in. Normally, if endpoints form because the config space of a USB device is detected, the port will show a change, in the GUI of this program. You can plug in a USB stick, and watch how the display changes in this program, to calibrate what a "normal" response would look like.

Originally, Microsoft wrote "UVCView" and perhaps "UVCView2", but they made it extra painful to find the utilities. At least with this utility, the download can be located and the utility is well-maintained by its author. Occasionally, Uwe used to show up in the old WinXP USENET group for a visit.

Paul

Buiding on what John Rumm has said, open File Explorer when the phone is connected. If the phone is not listed then try a different cable. If it is you should be able to browse to the phone's storage folder and its sub folders.

Generally you should see some visibility of it being connected - but what you will see will vary with the USB mode that the phone is set to use. For example if being used as a "tethered" internet provision it will appear as a network interface rather than a file system or a media device.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a power-only cable !

All I see is -

• pair new device

Previously connected devices

---------------------------------

Connection preferences Bluetooth,Android Auto, NFC

Other Card services manage NFC non-payment

... and that's it.

will default to no data transfer by default since

However, by plugging the USB A end into a different slot of my

The USBC<->USBA cable is the one supplied by Motorola with the phone.

Thanks

PS Did you dispose of your Bosch orbital sander ?. I have a PEX220A version which lacks the extra handle at the front but I prefer it because it can be used one-handed while up a ladder (!!). It needs a new backing disk which is part no

Windows Defender was really unhappy with this, even the _VC6 version

I do, every day when I turn it on and also during 'Patch Tuesday'

I see this behaviour under W10 on my USB hubs. As best as I can work out, something upsets a USB port (possibly incorrect removal, possibly something else) and for some time that port will no longer behave correctly. I see this with my Garmin Edge Explore which I sync with the computer to download routes and to save details of rides. Every now and then the PC won't identify it, but if I move it to the next slot on the 4 port hub it then works.

I think after some unspecified time the original port starts to work again.

I have no real explanation, just a fix which seems to work.

Cheers

Dave R

I have seen exactly this

Yup

For me, it usually needs a reboot.

I also had a USB cable that simply didn't work for data one day though it still charged OK. I binned it. Plugs wear out...

powered or un-powered hub?

I've not seen a USB port that actually reports it has shut down due to too high a power draw for many years, but they often have a polyfuse that will "self-repair" after some time.

Unpowered hubs. However the Garmin has a built in battery. Then again it charges over USB during/after syncing. Then again, when the data isn't working it still charges the battery.

So all in all I suspect a software issue.

Cheers

Dave R

Yup I think mine does the same, if there are no USB device detected it does not show the options.

Nope, still sat on the shelf...

Mine is a PEX400 - like:

Could be... I will have a look later and let you know.

(email me a delivery address, and I will send you the whole thing if you want)

Yup, 8 hole pattern.

-- Cheers,

John.

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