How to connect Galaxy S5 Active to a PC???

[Bognerman]

Hey all! I am about to upgrade my S5 Active to an S6. Problem is, I can't get the files off my phone. I have a lot of personal music files on the phone and can't get them transferred to my laptop or desktop PC. I can't find any music sites that are free where I can upload the songs and I can't get the phone to connect to a PC. When I try, I get a message that says "USB device unrecognized" on any PC I connect my phone to! What gives. Any idea? I can't get it to connect. I tried 3 different PCs.

Thanks!

 

[Jfalls63]

Have you installed the Samsung USB drivers on your PC? If not, download Kies3 to your PC.
You will get all the necessary USB drivers and Kies3 has options for backup and Transfer files.
Also look at Smart Switch.
http://www.samsung.com/in/support/usefulsoftware/KIES/

 

[mikedt]

Hey all! I am about to upgrade my S5 Active to an S6. Problem is, I can't get the files off my phone. I have a lot of personal music files on the phone and can't get them transferred to my laptop or desktop PC. I can't find any music sites that are free where I can upload the songs and I can't get the phone to connect to a PC.

FYI, "free" might might be difficult to come by or are limited, because servers do cost real $$$ to run of course. There's Google Drive, you couid use that. And doesn't Samsung offer any online storage for their devices?

 

[Bognerman]

Hi, yes I did install KIES. Unfortunately, it can't be used to back up an S5. It stopped support at the S4.

So I beieve the drivers are there. This just started recently so maybe a setting changed on my phone. It may not be a big deal now because I was able to back up everything to Google Drive last night.

 

[Bognerman]

Oh, could it be something in Developer Settings?

Thanks!

 

[A bochur]

Did you try connecting with a different wire? Cuz I've had cases where the wire was the issue

 

[Jfalls63]

Android version 5 and above, the default USB connection is charge only. After you connect to your PC, pull down on the top drop-down menu and see if you have options to change to MTP.

 

[Bognerman]

What's MTP?
I know I have the Developer option, Debugging enabled. That must be on.

Oh, you may have nailed it with the cable. I may have only tried my charging cable! Ugh! My fault. Luckily I backed it all up online so I should be good. Thanks guys!

 

[Jfalls63]

MTP is Media Transfer Protocol. Good explanation here
https://www.howtogeek.com/192732/android-usb-connections-explained-mtp-ptp-and-usb-mass-storage/
USB debugging needs to be enabled to use ADB.
Not necessary for file transfer.
Some USB cables are for Charge only. Best to use a high quality cable like the original OEM Samsung cable that came with the phone.

 

[Bognerman]

Interesting because the cable I used, that dis not work, was the cable that came with the phone. I assumed it was a charge only phone since it came with the AC connector. I was going to try one of the cables I purchased that I know have worked in the past.

 

[osumom2003]

Have you installed the Samsung USB drivers on your PC? If not, download Kies3 to your PC.
You will get all the necessary USB drivers and Kies3 has options for backup and Transfer files.
Also look at Smart Switch.
http://www.samsung.com/in/support/usefulsoftware/KIES/

how do you pick which one for windows to choose?

 

[Jfalls63]

If you want just the USB drivers, look here
https://developer.samsung.com/galaxy/others/android-usb-driver-for-windows