Why Phone not Showing Up on PC?

Sometimes, while transferring any files or images from your Android phone to computer, you might confront that the phone not showing up on PC. Not only you, but many users have also reported the same problem. Normally, we use USB cable while transferring data and files from the phone to your device. But if you use a faulty USB cable, then you will unable to send the files and data. In addition, when you try to connect your phone to the system, Windows automatically treat it as a Media Transfer Protocol(MTP). If the MTP is not properly installed or the version of MTP is outdated, then you are unable to transfer the files. This is a very annoying situation for all Android users. However, when the ADB driver is not installed properly, you might also get this error as well.

Hence, you need an effective solution in order to resolve the issue.

Follow this guide properly and apply the methods accordingly. If you are not a tech-savvy person, then the following tips will guide you through the process.

“Phone Not Showing Up On PC”: Effective Hacks to Resolve the Problem

There are multiple solutions present while you encounter the problem phone not showing up on PC. But you need the proper and effective solution to resolve the issue instantly. Hence, go through the following techniques in order to solve the issue and then you can easily transfer your valuable documents from phone to computer.

Method 1: Check USB Computer Connection Settings

The first thing that you need to check is the USB cable. You should connect your phone as a media device. To perform the action, follow the steps that are mentioned in the following section.

  1. At first, unlock your Android device and move to the Settings option. Now, navigate to the Storage section.
  2. Click on the More icon which is available in the top right corner and then select USB Computer Connection option.
  3. A list of the menu will appear on your phone’s screen. Select Media Device (MTP) section.
  4. After that, connect your phone to the computer and then check whether the phone is recognized by the computer or not.

Sometimes, after connecting your mobile device to the computer, you need to switch the different connection option before the computer recognizes the phone as a media device.

Method 2: Use a Different USB Cable

If you are using a faulty USB cable, then you might get this error. Hence, you need to change a different USB cable and check whether it is working or not. Some of the USB cables are designed for only powering and not for transferring the files. If you use that kind of USB cable, then you need to switch the USB cable which is compatible in transferring the files and documents from your phone to the system.

Besides changing the USB cable, you can select a different system using the same USB cable and check whether it is working or not.

Method 3: Install MTP USB Device Driver

Driver issue is also responsible for the Android phone not showing up on PC problem. Hence, you need to update the driver. Therefore, follow the guidelines in order to update the driver.

  • At first, press the Windows key and X at the same time to launch the Device Manager in your device.
  • After that, search for the Andriod device and right-click on it.

    Select Update Driver Software from the list.

  • Now, click on the Browse my computer for driver software section. Thereafter, choose Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer option.
  • A list of the menu appears on the screen. Select the MTP USB Device and then click the Next option.
  • When the driver is installed successfully, your phone will recognize easily.

Method 4: Uninstall the Android Drivers

You might get the problem when you do not have the latest version of your Android device or the driver which is being installed is faulty. Hence, to get rid of this issue, you need to install the Android device and Windows 10 as well. But before that, you need to uninstall the Android device. To perform this action, go through the following steps.

  1. At first, connect your mobile phone with the computer. Then, launch the Device Manager.
  2. From the Device Manager, search for your Android device. Mainly, you will get this is the Other Devices section or in the Portable Device section.
  3. Right-click on it and select Uninstall option. When the uninstalling process gets completed, unplug your mobile phone and wait until the Windows 10 driver installs in it. After that, check whether your device is recognized or not.

Method 5: Turn On USB Debugging

Sometimes, by just turning on the USB debugging, you will be able to resolve the issue. Many users have applied this method and get success in transferring the data from their phone to the computer. Hence, you also need to try this one.

Step 1

At the beginning of the process, move to the Settings option and open the Developer options. You will get a warning message. Click on OK to confirm.

Step 2

After that, enable the Developer option and check the USB debugging. Again, a warning message will pop-up on the system screen. Click on OK to confirm the message.

If you use an updated version of Android device, this feature might be hidden in your device. To turn on this feature, go through the below steps:

Step 1

Head over the Settings option and click on the About Phone section. After that, scroll down and select the Build Number section. Press on it several times.

Step 2

After doing this, now you will be able to enable the feature easily and fix the issue instantly.

Method 6: Turn On Airplane Mode

Another effective step in order to fix phone not showing up on PC problem is to turn on your device into Airplane mode. Some users have reported that turning on the Airplane mode on your mobile device will surely fix the issue. Hence, you need to try this one also. Simply go to the Settings option and there you will find an option called Turn on Airplane mode. Just press on the Toggle switch to enable it. After that, try to connect your device with the system and check whether you are able to transfer the files or not.

Method 7: Reinstall Composite ADB Interface

If there is a problem in the Android composite ADB interface, then you might confront this type of situation. If your device is not able to detect the system, then you need to reinstall the ADB interface. To do so, go through the following section.

Step 1

At first, open the Device Manager section and search for the Android Composite ADB Interface on the system. In some device, you will get this in a different name such as ACER Composite ADB Interface.

Step 2

When you get this, right-click on it and select the Uninstall option from the list. You need to ensure that you have checked the Uninstall driver software for this device option.

Step 3

Now, restart the system and connect your mobile again. Check whether the problem gets resolved. Otherwise, download the USB driver for the web browser and extract it in the C folder.

Step 4

After that, reopen the Device Manager section and click on the Scan for Hardware changes option. In that section, locate the Composite ADB Interface and right-click on it.

Step 5

A drop-down menu will appear on the system screen, select Uninstall Driver Software option and click on the Browse my computer for driver software option. After that, go to the folder where you have extracted the downloaded files. After that, check Include subfolder option.

Step 6

Now, click the Next option to install the driver. Thereafter, launch the Command Prompt as Administrator window by pressing the Windows key an X at the same time. Then, enter the following command and hit the Enter button each time.

First command: adb kill-server

Second command: adb start-server

Third command: adb devices

But most of the time, the problem is fixed by the first three steps. If not, then try the rest of the steps as well. Hope this will surely help you to resolve the issue.

Method 8: Restart your Android Device.

Most of the time, by simply restarting your mobile phone and the system, you can resolve the problem phone not showing up on PC. You can also try this one. If the problem gets resolved, then okay. Otherwise, you can have other solutions as well.

Method 9: Remove Cache and Data for the External Storage and Media Storage System Application

In order to fix this issue, you need to delete all the unwanted data and caches from the External Storage and Media Storage application. To perform this action, walk through the steps stated underneath.

  • At first, open the Settings option on your phone and move to the Apps section. After that, choose Show system apps from the Apps section.
  • Now, select the External Storage and Media Storage app option and delete the caches and data that are present in that section.

After completing the process, restart the system.
Now you are able to transfer the data and files from your mobile phone to the computer.

Concluding Remarks

After reading this article, you will be able to get a clear idea about how you deal with when your phone not showing up on PC. Simply apply them and resolve the issue yourself. If you have any queries regarding this, then you can post them in the comment section below.

Maria Colombo
Maria Colombo
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