Computer Help and Support

krispos42

(49,445 posts) Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:22 AM Jul 2018

Need some help with my Android phone (won't connect to PC) (updated 7/8/18)

Last edited Sun Jul 8, 2018, 07:00 AM - Edit history (1)

Phone: LG K20+ Android 7.0 phone on T-Mobile.
PC: Windows 7 Professional

Problem: when use a USB cable to connect my phone to the computer, the charging indicator comes on but there is no data-transfer connection happening. It's like plugging it into a wall charger.

This was not a problem before. When I plugged in my phone (and unlocked it) I could access my phone via Windows Explorer and move files to and fro without an issue via the MTP protocol.

Now I can't. I've turned on Developer features and turned on USB debugging, but that didn't do anything. I then restarted my phone, and that didn't do anything either.

I tried 3 different cords (two of which I've used before and know they worked) and both of the USB ports on my PC's face. Nothing.

Windows says it doesn't see any new hardware.

I didn't change anything in my phone until this problem cropped up.

I was also getting this problem on my old PC (14 years old, Windows XP) but it was so old and slow it took 5 minutes minimum to do ANYTHING so I thought it was just age.

Please help! I can't update my podcasts!

Update 7/8/18

Okay, the USB problem is still unresolved; I can't make a USB connection to anything. However, I was able to sync my podcasts via WiFi. I figured out how to use iSyncr (from JRT Studios) over WiFi. I had been using it over USB to sync my iTunes to my Android phone. I didn't think I could use the WiFi sync feature because my PC doesn't have built-in WiFi but it does it through my router.

So I'm syncing my potcasts now... Best of the Left, The Bugle, Real Time, etc., via WiFi. The problem isn't solved, but it is bypassed.

Thank you all for your help. I will have to go to the T-Mobile store and see if they know anything.

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Need some help with my Android phone (won't connect to PC) (updated 7/8/18) (Original Post) krispos42 Jul 2018 OP

I have this same issue with my S5 ... it used to work, and I've tried all suggestions online to fix mr_lebowski Jul 2018 #1

Hmmm... I didn't do anything like that recently, but maybe some update did? krispos42 Jul 2018 #2

Is there another computer you can try the phone and cord on? n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2018 #3

My old one. It didn't work this time. krispos42 Jul 2018 #5

Hmmm. What version of android is your phone using? If you can go into settings... PoliticAverse Jul 2018 #7

Comes a time when support will no longer support (forgive the redundancy) packman Jul 2018 #4

Poster is saying they also tried their very old XP computer as well, not as 'the only test' mr_lebowski Jul 2018 #6

Try a different cable. LakeSuperiorView Jul 2018 #8

recent app updates on 'smartphones' only data transfer if PC has windows10 Sunlei Jul 2018 #9

The hell??? krispos42 Jul 2018 #10

some apps still work on my windows 8.1 computer, try to google & find work arounds. Sunlei Jul 2018 #11

Well, that's not it either krispos42 Jul 2018 #13

Check the USB connection on the phone. ManiacJoe Jul 2018 #12

No, it's set property to MTP protocol krispos42 Jul 2018 #14

Alas, this phone doesn't have the LG AirDrive feature on it krispos42 Jul 2018 #15

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)

1. I have this same issue with my S5 ... it used to work, and I've tried all suggestions online to fix

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:25 AM

Jul 2018

Dev mode and all that ... have not been able to.

You know when it started for me? When I put Android Pay on the phone and it did a bunch of security lockdowns at the time, and I just agreed w/all of 'em, not really paying close attention to what was being changed.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

2. Hmmm... I didn't do anything like that recently, but maybe some update did?

Reply to mr_lebowski (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:26 AM

Jul 2018

I will check. Thank you!

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

3. Is there another computer you can try the phone and cord on? n/t

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:28 AM

Jul 2018

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

5. My old one. It didn't work this time.

Reply to PoliticAverse (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:43 AM

Jul 2018

It worked about 3 weeks ago. That's when I last updated my podcasts via my old computer.

It's been a couple of months since I used it on my newer computer, but it worked fine.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

7. Hmmm. What version of android is your phone using? If you can go into settings...

Reply to krispos42 (Reply #5)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:53 AM

Jul 2018

and check what the options for USB connection are.

Can you access the internet via WiFi with the phone? If so you can just upload your podcast file to
one of the file storage sites and then move it to where you want it.

packman

(16,296 posts)

4. Comes a time when support will no longer support (forgive the redundancy)

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:38 AM

Jul 2018

old systems - Windows 7 (?) released in 2009. I would check with T-Mobile support to see if there is a problem with a dated Windows system.

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)

6. Poster is saying they also tried their very old XP computer as well, not as 'the only test'

Reply to packman (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 11:50 AM

Jul 2018

but done to confirm it's a problem on >1 PC.

I have the exact same issue on Windows 10 w/all updates installed ... my desktop, my laptop, and my work desktop. Def. 'the phone' not the PC.

LakeSuperiorView

(1,533 posts)

8. Try a different cable.

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Wed Jul 4, 2018, 12:07 PM

Jul 2018

Some cables are power only and do not have data lines. These cables will never let the phone connect as a device.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)

9. recent app updates on 'smartphones' only data transfer if PC has windows10

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Thu Jul 5, 2018, 11:02 PM

Jul 2018

you could try to make sure your phone has the most current update & perhaps check with the podcast website to see if they have a work around.

sorry, even apps like UBER can't even access my account on a PC unless the PC has windows10.

my "workaround" was to buy an inexpensive (refurbished) laptop on amazon with windows 10 to transfer data from my phone and check app accounts.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

10. The hell???

Reply to Sunlei (Reply #9)

Fri Jul 6, 2018, 08:27 AM

Jul 2018

Crap. This will not be fun at all then.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)

11. some apps still work on my windows 8.1 computer, try to google & find work arounds.

Reply to krispos42 (Reply #10)

Sat Jul 7, 2018, 08:49 AM

Jul 2018

Please, let me know if you find a way to connect your phone to a non-win10 computer. My apple cell phone has the same issue. all the cord does is charge

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

13. Well, that's not it either

Reply to Sunlei (Reply #9)

Sun Jul 8, 2018, 05:47 AM

Jul 2018

There's a Windows10 computer at work, and it didn't see my phone either.

Grrrr...

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)

12. Check the USB connection on the phone.

Reply to krispos42 (Original post)

Sat Jul 7, 2018, 09:12 PM

Jul 2018

The software updates may have reset the transfer type default back to "charge".

In the developer settings, you should be able to reset the default USB connection back to MTP.

Another thing to try would be to setup the wifi connection with the computer using LG's "bridge" software from LG.com

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

14. No, it's set property to MTP protocol

Reply to ManiacJoe (Reply #12)

Sun Jul 8, 2018, 05:48 AM

Jul 2018

My PC doesn't have WiFi built into it though; it's hardwired to the router.

But I will check this bridge software thingy.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

15. Alas, this phone doesn't have the LG AirDrive feature on it

Reply to ManiacJoe (Reply #12)

Sun Jul 8, 2018, 06:08 AM

Jul 2018

It says it has to be built into the phone's OS, and my phone doesn't have it so no help there.

I'm beginning to think it's the USB port itself. Crap.

Reply to this discussion