Samsung phone not showing up on a computer: USB file transfer fixes

By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 5 steps · Published 6 October 2026

Device

Android

Shown on

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16

App

Photos

Real screenshots

3 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. Connect and unlock the phone

   Plug the phone into the computer and unlock it. A locked phone does not share its storage.

   Done

2. 

   Open USB settings

   Tap the notification that the phone is charging over USB. The USB settings page opens. Ours was set to Charging phone only.

   Done

3. 

   Choose Transferring files

   Under Use USB for, tap Transferring files / Android Auto. The phone now appears as a drive on Windows, or in the Android File Transfer app on a Mac. We left our setting as it was.

   Done

4. 

   Photos only? Choose Transferring images

   Transferring images shows only the camera folders, which some photo apps on the computer need.

   Done

5. Try another cable and port

   If the notification never appears, the cable may charge only. Use the cable that came with the phone or another data cable, and a USB port directly on the computer, not a hub.

   Done

About this guide

A Galaxy only charges from a computer until you allow file transfer on the phone. Charge-only cables, which have no data wires, are the other common cause. We only looked at these screens on our phone and changed nothing.

The screenshots are from a Samsung Galaxy A57 5G with One UI 8.5 and Android 16, in Dark mode. Other Galaxy phones on One UI 8 use the same menus; on older One UI versions a few names and positions differ.

Good to know

If the phone asks Allow access to phone data?, tap Allow. On a Windows PC that still does not show the phone, Samsung suggests installing its latest USB driver.

On a Mac, a Galaxy does not appear in Finder; use Android File Transfer or Samsung's Smart Switch.

Transcode exported video, further down the same page, converts HEVC videos so older computers can play them.

In short: Plug in, unlock, tap the USB notification, Use USB for: Transferring files / Android Auto. Otherwise another cable and port.