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Previously, when connected by usb to my Windows 11 pc, I was able to access all my photos easily on my mobile phone by using This PC app on the computer and then transfer all of the files in one easy manoeuvre.
This procedure had now stopped working. I've plugged the phone in by using different USB to C cables, and C to C cables also, the computer "bings" and then immediately "bings" again and the phone is never recognised in This PC app.
This worked fine up until a month ago. I have done a search on Google and followed all the suggestions, but none have been of any use.
I have run "sfc scannow" using administrators rights using Command Prompt.
I've checked for Windows updates. I've updated all my drivers. I've factory reset my phone, but still it's not connecting.
I was told about linking my phone using the android "Link To Windows" app and the "Phone Link" on my pc. I installed both apps but found that they were useless. They connected ok but I tried moving photos from my phone to a folder on my desktop and I had to change the filename of every file as Windows kept overwriting each one with the same file name. I have since uninstalled both apps!
Does anyone know of a way I can get back to how things were, simple and fast?
Annoyingly, my phone connects using a usb lead plugged into my friend's pc which is running Windows 10! I don't want to downgrade if I don't need to.
Regards, Ken
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi,
Thank you for your reply and suggestion.
I have done this, but the problem remains.
I connected my phone, chose " Use USB for File Transfer/Android Auto" but it still doesn't connect.
In Device Manager's Portable Devices it shows my Seagate drive connected but not my Pixel 7 phone.
Have you anything else I can try?
Regards, Ken
Hi,
Sorry to hear you're suffering like me!
I have just finished a clean install of Windows 11, inserted my lead into the phone and computer and voilà, the phone is still not recognised by Windows. I tried my wife's Google Pixel 6 also and her's wasn't recognised either.
The phones work with Windows 10 but 11 is a no go.
My son directed me to purchase a "C" USB flash drive. He plugged his into my phone and was able, eventually, to transfer photos from my phone to my computer.
Slow, but an option.
Hi Ken Maughan，
Welcome to Microsoft Community.
It looks like we can try uninstalling the USB device driver and reinstall it to see how it works.
Please click the search box on the taskbar, type "Device Manager" and open it.
In the device manager, first check whether there is a device with your phone name, if there is, please right-click on the device; If not, go to the next step.
Please click to expand the "Universal Parallel Series Bus" device and uninstall the following USB serial port.
Then click "Actions" - "Detect scanned hardware changes" on the Device Manager menu, rescan the USB serial ports, wait for them to appear in the device list again, and connect your phone to the PC again.
Thank you for your patience and understanding! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave us a message.
Sincerely
Manson | Microsoft Support Specialist
I am a developer and am having the exact same issue. My phone is a Google Pixel 5a.
Hi,
When I plug my USB cable into my computer I get a pop up on my phone but not on my computer. As I mentioned before I have used a few leads connecting to my computer by all the usb ports and by the C port which is the same as the connector which goes into my phone port. Nothing works.
I have spoken at length with the Google Pixel web agents and as the phone connects to my friends computer running Windows 10, they say there's no problem with my phone.
Regards, Ken
