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Here's how to find phone files on a PC with an Android smartphone

You can get it done in just a minute or two.
By
July 6, 2022

Sometimes you may want to see, or even transfer, files on your smartphone to your Windows PC. However, sometimes when you connect your phone, via a USB cable, to your PC, the computer doesn’t show that there are any files on your phone. If this has happened to you, there’s a possible solution that may fix this common issue. Here’s what you can do to find phone files on a PC.

Read more: Best Androids apps to move files from phone to PC

QUICK ANSWER

To find your Android phone files on a PC, connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable, and tap the USB notification on your phone. Click the notification, and select Transfer files (MTP) or File Transfer. Your phone will show up on your PC, with the files available for access.


How to find phone files on a PC

After you plug in your USB cable from your phone to your PC, you should see a notification for USB on your phone’s display.

Android notification to select data transfer mode to show Android phone files on PC
Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Tap on that notification, and you should then see a choice of mods for that USB connection, with Charging only or No data transfer set as a default. Change the mode to the Transfer files (MTP) or File Transfer selection. You should now see your phone’s files on your PC.

Android phone files on PC, showing the phone's storage connected in Windows Explorer
Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority

Hopefully, this simple fix should allow you to view your phone’s files on your PC. If it doesn’t work, you might want to try locating newer device drivers for your specific phone and installing them. This might also fix your issue.

Read more: How to transfer files from your Samsung phone to a Windows 10 PC