File transfer with USB cable

[realaud]

OK, I don't know which board to put this in, so I'm just going to put this here.  I have been trying to connect my A54 to my Windows 10 computer via USB cable so that I could do a Smart Switch backup of the whole device.  However, I cannot get the phone to do anything but recognize the PC as a charger.  This has never been an issue for me, as when I want to do individual file transfers, I do it via a wi-fi connection with an app that connects my phone to my computer, or I use phone link to transfer photos.  

I even turned on the developer options and made sure the default USB configuration was for file transfer (which I assume will also allow for charging), closed out the setting and rebooted my phone.  This did not help at all, both my laptop and my desktop don't see the phone as a device, the phone immediately lights up the charging animation and Smart Switch on the PC does not see a device attached.  None of my flash drives have enough capacity and my two external hard drives are formatted as NTFS and Smart Switch does not like that.

Sooooo, how can I make my phone recognize that it's attached to a computer, not a charger?

[johnbright]

Have you tried s different USB c cable

[realaud]

I have.  I even tried connecting with a USB A to USB C connector (until I realized, that is, that my computers had no USB C ports 😀).  That connection worked fine for the flash drives but, alas, the drives did not  have enough capacity.

[Robin621k · Accepted solution]

I just reread this whole thread. You don't have a type c port on your computer. What cable are you using to connect from phone to computer? It has to be the cable. You need a USB A to C with 2.0 capable of data transfer. or you can get an A to C adapter for the port in your computer.

[realaud]

I thought that might be the case.  I will get an adapter next time I am electronics shopping. It thought it might be my ancient computers, but as long as USB 2.0 is good enough for transfer, I guess my computers are not quite as antique as I thought.

[Robin621k]

2.0 has been around a long time. The port on your A54 is 2.0.

[realaud]

So have my computers 😀.  I think they were some of the first with USB 2.0. Up and running since 2011. (You can tell I really hate to upgrade)

[Robin621k]

The best way for you to do Smartswitch is to have a thump drive.
I have a Sansdisc USB A to C 512gb that I paid $15 for. I update it once a week and carry it with me in my purse for emergencies. I've had a phone mysterious factory reset on me, so I always carry a backup just in case.

[Ziahh]

Omg thats really smart 🤔 i never even thought about this...

[3Fees]

Cables come into 2 varieties: charge and charge with 2 extra wires for data transfer.

Can download usb driver's from Samsung to get your phone recognized, can find them by any search engine.

Cheers
3Fees