Phone won't show files on PC with USB3 cable but works fine with USB2 cable

erwin1978 · Monday at 2:22 PM

I have a Samsung Note 9 smartphone with a USB-C 3.1 port. It has Android 10. When I connect it to PC via USB 3 cable to transfer pictures and videos Explorer displays most files as generic file icons while a few show the preview thumbnail. I can click and view a few of the files but the majority 99% I can't click and view the files or transfer anything in or out of either device. I've tried with two different USB 3 cables on different ports on the computer with same result. However, if I use a USB 2 cable then the files show up in Explorer with their respective preview thumbnails and I can view and transfer all files just fine. I really want the USB 3 speed since I've got 100 GB worth of pictures and videos to transfer. I'm on Windows 11. Anyone experience something similar?

mindless1 · Monday at 3:09 PM

Are the ones you can click and view, only media files? If so, go into the phone USB settings with the USB3 cable hooked up and see if it's in MTP transfer mode and if so, switch it to MSC mode.

Another alternative for the future is if it has a mSD card slot which I assume it does, store this type of thing on a mSD card then just pull the card and put in a USB card reader to transfer to the PC. I always do this anyway (use mSD storage when available) because if the phone dies, then the important files are on an easily removable memory card, and the card can be removed if you get jammed up at a border crossing.

erwin1978 · Tuesday at 9:13 AM

Yes it's in MTP mode. The ones I can click on are music files. I don't have MSC option. Also when I go to a folder I know has stuff in it it shows empty. I'm just trying to figure out if it's my computer hardware, Windows 11, or cable or phone that has the problem.

mindless1 · Tuesday at 12:11 PM

If you're seeing any files at all, it's not the cable. Have you tried this driver?

Samsung Android USB Driver | Samsung Developer

You need the driver only if you are developing on Windows and want to connect a Samsung Android device to your development environment over USB.

developer.samsung.com

Another possible workaround I saw online is old, but might be worth a try.

Unhide the Developer options menu:

Go to "Settings"
Tap "About device" or "About phone"
Tap “Software information”
Tap “Build number” seven times. ... if asked
Enter your pattern, PIN or password to enable the Developer options menu.
The "Developer Options" menu will now appear in your Settings menu.
In Developer Options, turn on USB Debugging

Phone won't show files on PC with USB3 cable but works fine with USB2 cable

erwin1978

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mindless1

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