Asus sync does not see the phone. Why the phone does not see the computer via usb: reasons and solutions

Landscaping and layout 21.10.2019
Landscaping and layout

In the work of computer equipment from time to time, various failures and malfunctions may occur. Many users are often looking for an answer to the question: why the USB port does not see the device? In fact, the connection of USB devices to the computer may not be detected by the Windows operating system due to an error.

Who is to blame and what to do?

The first thing to start with finding out the reasons for this "behavior" of the system is to check the health of the device connected to the computer. You can use another device for this.

If the error is repeated on another computer, you can conclude that the USB device being connected is the cause. Whether to hand it over for repair or buy a new one is up to you.

One of the reasons for the error may be the presence of bad contacts. The “fault” for this, as a rule, is the long-term operation of wired-type mice and keyboards. Continuously kinking the cable can damage the inner wire and cause this problem.

Very often, the error occurs due to static electricity. USB devices are a kind of storage device for electrical charge, so when they are connected to computers, an electrostatic field often occurs and the voltage rises. At the same time, the protective system is triggered, and all ports for connecting USB devices are automatically disabled.

How do I fix the problem?

There are several ways:

  • First of all, it is necessary to disconnect the computer device from the power supply. If such a problem occurs with the laptop, you must free it from the battery. When the above steps are completed, wait 5-10 minutes, return the battery to the laptop, and connect the computer to the network. To your surprise, the ports will work!
  • You can use another method to solve the problem. If the error occurs against the background of several simultaneously connected USB devices, you must disconnect them. Then the device that was not recognized must be reconnected to the computer. As practice shows, this method is effective.

  • If the above methods did not provide the desired result, you can use another one. One of the reasons for the error may be incorrect driver installation. Disconnecting all USB devices from the ports on the computer can resolve the issue. After that, you need to find Windows 7 C: \ Windows \ System32 \ DriverStore \. and delete the INFCACHE.1 file on your computer.

The next time the flash drive is connected, a new correct file is created with exactly the same name.

We hope that the above information will be useful for you and will help you in solving the problem.

If you are faced with the fact that the phone does not connect via USB, that is, the computer does not see it, in this guide you will find all the options known to the author for what is happening, as well as ways to fix the problem.

The steps below refer to Android phones as the most common with us. However, to the same extent they can be used for tablets for android, and some points can help to understand and with devices on other OS.

Why Android phone is not visible via USB

I think it's worth starting with answering the question: has the computer always not seen your phone, or has everything worked normally before? The phone stopped connecting after actions with itself, with a computer, or without any action at all - the answers to these questions will help you quickly find out what exactly is the matter.

First of all, I note that if you recently purchased a new Android device and the computer on Windows XP does not see it (at the same time, an old Android phone can easily connect as a USB flash drive), then you should either update the operating system to one of the currently supported ones, or install the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) for Windows XP. You can download MTP for XP from the official Microsoft website here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=19153... After installing and restarting your computer, your phone or tablet should be determined.

Now let's move on to the situation when the phone is not visible via USB in Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows 10. I will describe the steps in relation to Android 5, but for Android 4.4 they are the same.

Note: for devices that are locked with a pattern or password, you need to unlock the phone or tablet connected to the computer in order to see the files and folders on it.

Make sure that the phone itself, when connected via USB, reports that it is connected, and not only for charging. You can see this by the USB icon in the notification area, or by opening the notification area in Android, where it should be written which device the phone is connected to.

This is usually a storage device, but can be a Camera (PTP) or USB modem. In the latter case, you will not see your phone in the explorer and you should, by clicking on the notification about using the USB modem, disconnect it (you can also do this in Settings - Wireless networks - More).

If the phone is connected as a camera, then by clicking on the corresponding notification, you can enable MTP mode for file transfer.

On older versions of Android, there are more USB connection modes and will be optimal for most use cases. USB Mass Storage... You can also switch to this mode by clicking on the USB connection message in the notification area.

The phone does not connect via USB to the computer, but only charges

If no notifications about a USB connection to a computer appear, then here is a step-by-step description of possible actions:

  1. Try connecting to a different USB port. Better if it is USB 2.0 (the ones that are not blue) on the back. On a laptop, respectively, just USB 2.0, if available.
  2. If you have compatible USB cables from other devices in your home, try connecting with them. A cable problem can also be the cause of this situation.
  3. Are there any problems with the jack on the phone itself? Did it change and did it fall into the water. This can also be the reason and the solution here is a replacement (I will outline the alternatives at the end of the article).
  4. Check if the phone is connected via USB to another computer. If not, then the problem is in the phone or cable (or the Android settings were badly checked). If so, the problem is on your computer. Do flash drives even connect to it? If not, we first try to go to Control Panel - Troubleshooting - Setting up the device(to try to fix the problem automatically). At the same time, it is worth trying to disable power saving in the device manager for the Generic USB Hub.

If nothing from the list helps to solve the problem, then describe the situation, what was done and how your Android device behaves when USB connected in the comments, I will try to help.

Attention: the latest versions of Android connect by default via USB to the computer in charge-only mode. Check the notifications for the availability of selecting the USB operating mode, if you are faced with this (click on the Charge via USB item, select another option).

The problem for which many smartphone users with completely different operating systems arise.

In this article, we will, if possible, reveal all the possible and most common causes of this problem, as well as help to give the necessary advice on how to eliminate them.

Why the computer does not see the phone via USB, but is charging

After connecting the smartphone to the PC, you expect that a notification window should pop up in front of you, requesting or already confirming the connection of the smartphone to the computer.

If nothing like this is observed, but only automatic battery charging has turned on, then you need to proceed as follows:

  1. A PC system unit or a laptop can have from 3 to 10 USB connectors. Some of them are designed for a mouse, keyboard, modem, flash memory cards and other devices. Quite often, the USB connectors on the front panels do not support mobile devices. Try to plug the cable into another USB input, preferably black (USB0), as it is designed to work with gadgets.
  2. If you have other universal cords at home, then try using them. It is possible that the problem lies in the problem USB cable.
  3. The problem may be related to the socket of the mobile device itself. If it is too loose or moisture has entered it, malfunctions may occur. Try plugging your phone into a power outlet. If the charge goes, then the problem is not in the socket.
  4. Just in case, connect your smartphone to another PC. Perhaps due to a recent reinstallation of Windows, the settings were lost, or some drivers were not installed. It's unlikely, but one in a million happens.

Ask yourself, do flash drives connect to your computer? If not, then check its settings manually. To do this, go to Control Panel => Troubleshoot => Configure Devices. This is an automatic troubleshooting.

If this method does not help, then try turning off the power saving mode in the Generic USB Hub.

Be sure to check your gadget's default settings. If, however, the charging-only mode is marked, then it is natural that the computer does not see the phone via USB.

You can mark absolutely all the items, except for MIDI, because no one practically uses it anymore.

Why the computer does not see the Android phone via USB and charges

When a problem arises, it is worth analyzing whether your computer always detected the phone, or did it just happen now? The phone has ceased to be visible via USB by itself, or after certain manipulations?

Every day more and more smartphones come out in which the upgraded software is installed. If you are the owner of an old PC by today's standards, then, most likely, the phone is not visible due to the lack of certain plugins. Try installing MTP - Media Transfer Pritocol.

The new generation of Samsung, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S3, may require the installation of this program. If, on the contrary, your PC is more modern and your phone is not the latest model, it is most likely worth updating the Android version.

Now let's consider the situation when the computer does not see smartphones Windows phone 8.1 and the new Windows phone 10. Remember that smartphones with Android and Windows phone operating systems that have a pattern or digital lock key must be unlocked when connected to a PC, only then will you gain access to all folders.

When connected to a PC, check if a notification appears or the USB icon is displayed. If you don't see any signs on the smartphone screen, open the connection settings, it will describe in detail what kind of device your smartphone is connected to (like a camera, like a memory card, or like a full-fledged gadget).

Windows phones have so many connection modes, so it's always worth checking which one is selected before panicking. The best option is the MTP mode, which allows you to exchange all files.

Also, the computer does not see the Android phone via USB, but it charges, in cases where the drivers on the computer are outdated, or they do not fit your phone model. This problem is common for newer phones whose brand names are relatively new to the market.

If you scan the Internet, you can see that the owners of the brand new Xiomi Redmi note3 often face similar situations.

In such cases, you should proceed as follows:


Iphone owners experience great inconvenience when connecting their smartphones to a PC. The IOS operating system is quite complex and specific. If it so happens that when you connect an Iphone or Ipad to a PC, the device is not displayed, then you should try the following methods:

  1. Try to force restart your system. And by doing this without turning off and then turning on the phone, but simultaneously holding down the "Home" button and the lock button. If the PC and smartphone are working properly, this should work.
  2. One common problem is the USB cable itself. It often happens that you have to use a non-original lace. If a cheap low-quality cable was purchased, then the whole point is in it, it simply does not display an external device and is only able to charge the battery.
  3. Your computer may not have had an updated version of iTunes for a long time. Uninstall the existing program and install a new one from the official site.
  4. Many people think that the whole thing is in the firmware, but this is not the case. Do not write off to update the iOS version. If the phone does not glitch, you are not thrown out of the programs, then try resetting geolocation in the settings. This should help.
  5. You may need to update the firmware only if it is broken. The world famous Cidia application, which allows you to install paid content for free, is often the reason for the incompatibility of a smartphone with a PC. At first, this is indicated by the inability to import certain files, and soon the PC stops seeing the phone. By updating the firmware, you uninstall this application and everything should work again.

Note! If, for some reason, you cannot use the standard data exchange using USB, do not get upset, because you can exchange between devices in other ways:

  • Synchronization using virtual storage.
  • Wireless exchange programs - AirDroid.

Today, USB is one of the most common protocols for transferring data between a computer and a connected device. Therefore, it is very unpleasant when the system does not see the devices connected to the corresponding connector. Especially a lot of problems arise if the interaction with the keyboard or mouse occurs on the PC via USB. Let's figure out what factors caused the specified problem, and determine the methods for eliminating it.

In this article, we will not analyze the problems with the visibility of the device associated with its inoperability, because in this case, this equipment should be replaced or repaired. The article will deal with those cases when the problem is caused by malfunctions or incorrect settings of the system or PC hardware. In fact, there can be many reasons for such a malfunction, and for each of them there is its own solution algorithm. We will talk about specific ways to fix this problem below.

Method 1: Microsoft utility

In many cases, a specially created utility from Microsoft can solve the problem with the visibility of USB devices.


Method 2: "Device Manager"

Sometimes the problem with the visibility of USB hardware can be solved simply by updating the configuration in "Device Manager".

  1. Click "Start"... Click "Control Panel".
  2. Go to "System and safety".
  3. Now open "Device Manager" by clicking on the corresponding label in the block "System".
  4. The interface will start "Device Manager"... The problem device in the list can either be displayed in the block "Other devices", or absent altogether. In the first case, click on the name of the block.
  5. A list of devices will open. Problematic equipment can be indicated there both under its real name, and it can be indicated as "USB Mass Storage Device"... Click on its name with the right mouse button ( PKM) and select "Update configuration ...".
  6. The device search will be activated.
  7. After it is completed and the configuration has been updated, it is quite possible that the system will begin to communicate normally with the problem device.

If the required equipment is not displayed at all in "Device Manager", click on the menu item "Action" and then select "Update configuration ..."... After that, a procedure similar to the one described above will occur.

Method 3: update or reinstall drivers

If the computer does not see only a specific USB device, then there is a possibility that the problem is related to incorrect installation of drivers. In this case, they need to be reinstalled or updated.


If this option did not help, then there is another method.

  1. Click in "Device Manager" by device name PKM... Please select "Properties".
  2. Go to the tab "Driver".
  3. Click on the button "Roll back"... If it is not active, click "Delete".
  4. Next, you should confirm your intentions by clicking the button "OK" in the displayed dialog box.
  5. The procedure for uninstalling the selected driver will be performed. Next, click in the horizontal menu of the window by position "Action"... Select from the list "Update configuration ...".
  6. Now the name of the device should be displayed in the window again "Device Manager"... You can check if it works.

If the system could not find the appropriate drivers or after installing them the problem was not solved, then you can use the services of specialized ones. They are good because they will find correspondences on the Internet for all devices connected to the PC and perform an automatic installation.

Method 4: Configure USB Controllers

Another option that can help solve the problem under study is to configure USB controllers. It is performed all in the same place, that is, in "Device Manager".


If this does not help, then you can reinstall the drivers for the above group elements "USB Controllers" using the same techniques that were described in the presentation Method 3.

Method 5: troubleshoot a port

It is possible that your computer does not see the USB device simply because the corresponding port is faulty. In order to find out if this is so, if there are several USB ports on a stationary PC or laptop, try connecting the equipment through a different connector. If this time the connection is successful, it means that the problem is in the port.

To eliminate this malfunction, you need to open the system unit and see if this port is connected to the motherboard. If it is not connected, then connect. If there was mechanical damage or other breakdown of the connector, then in this case it is required to replace it with a serviceable version.

Method 6: Eliminate Static Voltage

In addition, you can try to remove static voltage from the motherboard and other PC components, which may also be the cause of the problem we are describing.


There is also the possibility that the computer does not see the hardware due to the fact that many USB devices are already connected to it. The system simply cannot cope with such a load. In this case, we recommend disconnecting all other devices, and connecting the problem equipment to the back of the system unit if there is a corresponding connector there. Perhaps this recommendation will help solve the problem.

Method 7: "Disk Management"

The problem with the visibility of the connected USB device, in this case only a flash drive or external hard drive, can be solved using the built-in system tool "Disk Management".

  1. Click Win + R... Enter in the box that appears in the shell:

    Apply by pressing "OK".

  2. The tool interface starts "Disk Management"... It is necessary to trace whether the name of the flash drive is displayed and disappears in the window when it is connected to a computer and disconnected. If nothing new happens visually at all, then this method will not work for you and you need to solve the problem by other methods. If there are changes in the list of mapped drives when attaching a new medium, you can try to solve the visibility problem using this tool as well. If next to the name of the disk device there is an inscription "Not allocated" then click on it PKM... Next choose Create Simple Volume ....
  3. Will start "New Simple Volume Wizard ..."... Click on "Further".
  4. Then a window will open where you need to specify the size of the volume. Since in our case you need the volume size to be equal to the size of the entire disk, then click here too "Further" without making any changes.
  5. In the next window, you need to assign a letter to the media. In the corresponding field, select a character that is different from the letters that are already assigned to other drives in the system. Click "Further".
  6. The next settings window opens. Here in the field Volume label you can enter the name that will be assigned to the current volume. Although, this is not necessary, since you can leave the default name. Click "Further".
  7. The next window will provide a summary of all the data entered in the previous steps. To complete the procedure, it remains to click on the button "Ready".
  8. After that, the volume name and status will appear opposite the media name. "Fixed"... Then click on it PKM and select "Make section active".
  9. The computer should now see the USB stick or external hard drive. If this does not happen, then reboot the PC.

There are situations when, when opening an instrument "Disk Management", the volume that belongs to the flash drive already has the status "Good"... In this case, you do not need to create a new volume, but you need to perform only those manipulations that are described starting from point 8.

If, when opening the instrument "Disk Management" you see that the disk is not initialized and has a single volume that is not allocated, which means that most likely this drive is physically damaged.

Method 8: power settings

You can solve the problem with the visibility of USB devices by performing some manipulations in the power supply parameters. Especially often, this method helps when using laptops that communicate with the connected equipment via the USB 3.0 protocol.

  1. Go to "Control Panel" and then to section "System and safety"... We discussed how to do this when parsing Method 2... Then go by position "Power supply".
  2. In the window that opens, find the current power plan. There should be an active radio button next to its name. Click on position "Setting up a power plan" near the named position.
  3. In the displayed shell, click "Change advanced parameters ...".
  4. In the window that appears, click "USB Options".
  5. Click on the inscription "Parameter of temporary shutdown ...".
  6. The specified option will open. If there is a value "Allowed", then you should change it. To do this, click on the indicated inscription.
  7. From the drop-down list, select "Forbidden" and then click Apply and "OK".

Now you can check if the USB devices will work on this PC, or if you need to move on to other ways to solve the problem.

Method 9: Eliminate the virus

It should not be ruled out that the problem with the visibility of USB devices arose as a result of a virus infection of the computer. The fact is that some viruses specifically block USB ports so that they cannot be detected using an antivirus utility plugged in from a USB flash drive. But what to do in this situation, because if the standard antivirus has missed the malicious code, then it is now of little use, and it is impossible to connect an external scanner for the above reason?

In this case, you can scan the hard disk with an anti-virus utility from another computer or use a LiveCD. There are quite a few programs designed for these purposes, and each of them has its own nuances of functioning and management. But it makes no sense to dwell on each of them in detail, since most of them have an intuitive interface. The main thing when detecting a virus is to follow the prompts displayed by the utility. In addition, there is a separate article on our site dedicated to such programs.

There are quite a few ways to restore the visibility of USB devices in Windows 7, but this does not mean that all of them will be effective in your particular case. Often times, you have to try many options before finding the right solution to your problem.

Sometimes, when working with a laptop, a problem arises - it does not see the phone. First of all, you need to find out the cause of the malfunction. In general, all the solutions to the problem are designed for smartphones with the Android operating system, however, some steps will be useful both for tablets with this system and for phones with a different OS. For laptops, the information is relevant with Windows and MacOS.

Description of the problem

If using macOS, install Android File Transfer

The problem of connecting the phone to the laptop can be two-way - in case of malfunction, both devices may not work correctly. If, after buying a new smartphone, the connection does not occur, and the old one works with the laptop normally, then most likely the problem is in the latter (for example, it is worth updating Windows).

On the other hand, the reason may be the presence of a pattern or password on the mobile device. Therefore, it is best to understand in both directions at once.

The most common causes of the problem


If the computer does not see the phone via USB, resetting the smartphone settings using a Hard Reset should help

Among the most common reasons why a smartphone cannot be detected by a laptop, the following should be highlighted:

  • malfunction, dirtiness of the USB-output on the mobile device;
  • the wired output may also work incorrectly on a laptop;
  • old version of the operating system installed on the computer;
  • lack of necessary programs for connecting devices for both Windows and MacOS;
  • the presence of protection against unauthorized entry into the phone - it can be a graphic key, a digital or numeric password, the function of unlocking by a fingerprint or identification of the owner's face;
  • automatic connection of a smartphone to a computer as a camera or using it as a charger - it will not be possible to fully interact with a mobile device in these modes;
  • lack of a Bluetooth module on a laptop or malfunctions in its operation due to old drivers and software;
  • the Bluetooth detection function by other devices on the phone is offline - it may be inactive, even if the module itself is connected;
  • broken or damaged USB cable;
  • incompatibility of ports on a laptop, cable and mobile device - for example, new versions of phones with the latest versions of Android may not work with USB 2.0 connectors, they require ports version 3.0;
  • outdated software or drivers responsible for working with USB.

What to do if your laptop can't see your phone

So, you still found that the smartphone cannot connect to the laptop. First of all, you need to find out which side of the connection the problem lies on. It is possible that there is a problem with both devices, it is also possible that the problem is in the cable (when communicating via USB).

Via USB

In this case, the availability of current driver versions on the laptop is immediately checked. Due to the serious "age" of the Windows XP operating system, there may no longer be updates to work with the latest versions of Android. In this case, you can install the Media Transfer Protocol. It is downloaded from the official Microsoft website, after restarting the laptop, everything should be in order. To work with macOS, you may need the Android File Transfer program (to interact with Android). When connecting to iOS, no additional software is needed.


Windows 10 owners may need to install update KB3010081, which is responsible for working with Windows Media Player

You also need to check the functionality of the USB ports, clean them both on the computer and on the phone. It is worth trying several cables if the connection fails the first time.

New Androids often only work with 3.0 ports, which are installed on all modern laptops along with the old 2.0 ports. You need to try to connect using all available ports.

Unlock the phone, a message may appear on the screen prompting you to change the interaction mode. By default, on many smartphones it is set as "charging a mobile device", the camera mode is quite rare. To change the standard mode, go to the phone settings, then to the “USB” tab (it can be separate, located in the “Communication” or “Connection” menu), select the required format.

The problem may be in the blocking of the ability to detect any USB connections at all (including flash cards) on the computer. To check this, just try to connect other devices to the laptop. If nothing works, go to the "Control Panel", then "Troubleshooting" and "Configuring Devices". You may need to manually configure it, and it may also be possible to get by just installing the latest drivers.

Via bluetooth

When working via Bluetooth, you first need to make sure that the laptop has this module: either built-in or connected from the outside. The computer checks the mode of its operation, whether the ability to detect is enabled, whether the latest drivers are installed. There are also third-party modules that, in addition to being activated via a laptop, require mechanical pressing of a button on their own case. Most often this applies to connected devices (headset, speakers).


Try to check your computer with Dr. Web CureIt!

Then the same actions are carried out on the smartphone. By default, on very many Android phones, the detection function does not work even when bluetooth is activated. The situation is similar on the iPhone.

Other reasons why the laptop does not see the phone when connected this way are hardly possible.

Nuances for phones from specific manufacturers


The problem of connecting the phone to the laptop mainly occurs with devices from Samsung, Lenovo, HTC, LG and Fly.

In general, the operation of phones on the same Android operating system does not differ much. Even "apple" products, in principle, interact with a computer in the same way. However, some nuances are still present. For example, connecting an Android phone to a laptop with macOS installed most often requires special programs that are not needed when working with an iPhone or iPad. With Windows, this is usually not necessary.

For all Android devices, including Samsung and Meizu, the same connectors are made for connecting a USB cable.

Samsung


If you connect an Android smartphone to a laptop or PC running Windows XP, and the computer does not see the phone, you need to install the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) for Windows XP

Samsung phones are equipped with Android system. Certain nuances are possible only in the USB and Bluetooth settings menu. The drivers also differ - you need to look for a specific phone model and firmware version. Programs designed to work with Android (Android File Transfer for MacOS) will work with all Samsung devices.

Meizu

Smartphones from Meizu are also Android devices. There may be some changes in menu navigation in different firmwares and models. As with Samsung, Android File Transfer works great with them. Mobile devices of this company require drivers for a specific type of phone and software.

If you have eliminated the most likely causes of the problem, but you still have not succeeded in connecting the phone to the laptop, then it is recommended to contact a specialist. Perhaps we are talking about more serious problems with one of the devices.

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