How to turn on USB file transfer on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open USB

   Plug in the cable, then open Settings and tap Connected devices. Under Other devices, USB said Charging this device. Tap it.

   Done

2. 

   Check USB controlled by

   USB preferences opens. USB controlled by had Connected device and This device. Ours was This device.

   Done

3. 

   Look at Use USB for

   The choices are File transfer/Android Auto, USB tethering, MIDI, PTP, Webcam and No data transfer. No data transfer was selected on ours, so the phone only charged.

   Done

4. 

   Tap File transfer/Android Auto

   To copy files, tap File transfer/Android Auto. Google says a file transfer window then opens on a Windows computer, where you drag the files. We didn't do this.

   Done

5. 

   Options below

   Under File transfer options, Convert videos to AVC was greyed out and off on ours. Under Power options, Charge connected device was off.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No "Charging this device via USB" notification? Google's steps start by tapping that notification. When we looked in the notification shade, ours had none to tap, so we went through Settings, Connected devices, USB. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device
• Steps don't match? Google says some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up, so older Android versions may look different. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device
• Copying to a Mac? Google's page has steps for Windows and Chromebook only, not for a Mac. We didn't test a Mac. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device

If this does not work

• The computer doesn't see the phone? Google says to unlock the phone first. Then check that Use USB for is on File transfer/Android Auto, not No data transfer. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device
• Still nothing? Google says to try a different USB cable, as not all cables can transfer files. Connect to a different computer to test the phone's port, and restart the phone and the computer. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device
• Windows doesn't react? Google says to check that Windows automatically detects new hardware. Source: Transfer files between your computer and Android device

About this guide

To copy photos or files to a computer with a cable, the Pixel has to be switched from charging to file transfer.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. It was connected to a computer, and we left it on No data transfer, so we didn't copy any files.

Good to know

Done copying? Google says to eject the phone from Windows before you unplug the cable.

USB tethering on the same list shares the phone's internet. Without a cable: how to turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot on a Google Pixel.

Want a copy of everything, not just a few files? See how to back up a Google Pixel.

In short: Plug in, Settings, Connected devices, USB, Use USB for: File transfer/Android Auto.