Imagine the scene. We got home after a long trip and can’t wait to share all the photos and videos we’ve taken in the last few days. At first, we thought there shouldn’t be any problem. We just have to put the USB cable in its corresponding port and wait for our computer to automatically recognize the device. After waiting several seconds (and even minutes), we see no response and immediately think, “What am I doing wrong?”
Do not despair. Sometimes our PC may not recognize our mobile for multiple reasons. Next, we will tell you how to solve this common error so you do not have problems connecting your smartphone to the computer. Let’s go there!
RESTART YOUR DEVICE
A good restart is sometimes a godsend for our smartphones. Seriously, try restarting both computers and see if it resolves. Although it may seem silly, this is usually the most frequent solution when the PC does not recognize our mobile.
CHECK THAT YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE DRIVERS
This is usually the most common problem that we will encounter. It is, neither more nor less, a program so that our PC team can identify the mobile. Although many times, these programs are installed automatically. This is not always the case with Windows.
If this were the case, we would just have to download the driver for our smartphone model from the manufacturer’s website, for example. From there, you just have to follow the installation steps.
If, despite having the drivers correctly installed on our computer, the problem persists, you should try another cable or use another USB port on the PC.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE HARDWARE
Everything can be in this life. It is not very normal, but some cases have occurred in which an error in the synchronization between devices is due to an old component or in poor condition.
A quick way to find out is to see if the mobile receives power when connected to our PC. If this is the case, the cable is most likely damaged or even a faulty USB port. In both cases, the solution is very simple. Try different cables, or connect to another USB port if the one you’re connecting to gives you problems.
BEWARE OF DUPLICATE SOFTWARE
Some synchronization programs between the phone and the PC already install the mobile drivers on the computer without running additional drivers. If so, we suggest you uninstall them immediately to avoid possible synchronization errors between both devices. Thus, the PC will be able to recognize our mobile without problems.
CHECK THAT YOU ARE IN THE CORRECT MODE
Another possibility is that, depending on the configuration established on the mobile, our PC recognizes it in one way or another. Or that he directly does not recognize it. Several options can be configured when connecting our mobile to the computer.
The “Charge this device” option allows us to charge the mobile battery without transferring data between the two devices. If we select “Transfer files,” we can access the files on our Smartphone directly from the computer. Finally, we have the “Transfer photos (PTP)” mode that only serves to manage our photos.
FORCE DRIVER DETECTION
Sometimes the computer becomes stubborn and does not detect the drivers, even though they are installed. In these cases, you must “help” him read it. As a general rule, the procedure is as follows:
- We uninstall the drivers and restart both computers.
- We connect our mobile again and await the “Installing driver software” notice. We immediately disconnected the mobile to interrupt the process. Then we reconnect it to the PC.
- We open the “Device Manager”> “Other devices” where the model or brand of the mobile should appear.
- We select the driver we want to install and click “Next.” From here, we only have to wait for the driver installation to complete.
- Finally, we restart both devices to conclude the installation. If we have done everything right, our PC should recognize the mobile without a problem.
FACTORY RESET
If you no longer know what to do, this may be the most drastic measure, so we advise you to try the options described above first. As a last resort, a hard reset is a useful option for devices no longer working properly. Of course, remember that if you restore to factory settings, all data on your device will be erased. So, we insist, think twice.
Once we have warned you enough, we will tell you how to proceed with this method. The first thing will be to open the “Settings” application of the device. Then press “System” > “Advanced” > “Recovery Options.” However, we must remember that this section’s access path is not the same on all devices.
Next, you must enter “Erase all data” > “Reset the phone.” At this last point, if we have one, it may ask us for the PIN, pattern, or password.
RESTORE WINDOWS
Windows also can return your computer to its previous state. If it turns out that the PC recognized the mobile until recently, this solution can help you restore the computer to that specific moment.
This System Restore option allows us to configure the system files as they were at a specific time, which we will have previously established. You just have to remember that this option will uninstall all the programs and restore your configuration from that moment until now. That said, it is very likely that one of these changes is the cause of our PC not recognizing the mobile when you connect it.
And here is our advice. We hope they have helped you solve your synchronization problems. And remember that sometimes the simplest option is the most effective of all.
I am a writer with eight years of experience writing in business and technology. I always carry a passion for learning and discovering new knowledge.