How to fix the “Charging This Device Via USB” Notification not showing? Do you have an Android phone or tablet and a computer running Windows? If so, there’s a good chance you’ve tried to connect the two devices, only to find that your computer doesn’t recognize your Android.
Whether you’re connecting your phone or any other mobile device to transfer photos, videos, or any file type, you may find that computer doesn’t recognize the device when you connect the smartphone to a computer, laptop, or tablet. Your phone may also connect to your computer but your computer shows that the phone file is empty, showing no files to transfer to your PC.
Now it’s possible that over time, you haven’t really continued seeing that notification, and it gets you worried as you’re either not sure that the cord is working fine, that it’s charging, or that it’s even able to transfer the files you’d like. So this article will discuss reasons why you’re probably not seeing the “Charging This Device Via USB” notification and working tips to either have it start showing again or use it without the said notifications.
Windows Doesn’t Recognize Your Android Device? Here’s How To Fix It
Check USB Connection Settings
By default, most Android devices are configured to engage the charging mode when a connection to a Windows computer is detected. This means that you won’t be able to view your Android system on your computer as soon as you plug it in. To do so, you need to change the settings and select File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).
- With your Android connected to your computer via the USB cable, swipe down and tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification.
- Select “File Transfer” from the “Use USB for” menu.
A file transfer window should now open on your PC, allowing you to access your Android’s local storage system and transfer files as you wish.
Changing the Cables
In some cases, we’ve had a device fixed and gotten it working by just swapping out your USB cord. In our cases, we were using the USB charging cord that came with our Samsung device, and simply getting an Amazon Charging cord and using it allowed us to see the notification again.
If you’re using the Type C to Type C USB cord (and this is especially true for people using Google Pixel 6 and older devices and anyone using a Samsung device, we recommend getting and using a USB-C to USB-A USB cord, and that should help with file transfers.
Troubleshoot Your Computer
If your Windows 11 computer doesn’t recognize your Android device, there’s a possibility that your computer isn’t configured to detect new hardware devices automatically.
- Make sure the Android device is connected to your computer.
- Open the Device Manager by typing “device manager” in the Windows search bar.
- Double-click on “Ports (COM & LPT)” and make sure that there’s no exclamation mark (!) next to any of the USB serial communication ports displayed on the screen. If any port has an exclamation mark, right-click on it and select “Uninstall” from the popup submenu.
- Double-click on the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers icon” and again make sure that there’s no exclamation mark next to any “USB Composite Device.” If you notice an exclamation mark next to any USB Composite Device, right-click and select “Uninstall.”
- Click on the “Action” tab at the top of the Device Manager window and select “Scan for Hardware Changes” from the context menu.
Enable or disable developer mode
I will recommend that you try enabling the developer mode or at least disabling it if it’s already enabled when you stop seeing this notification.
To enable the developer mode on your Android device, go to the Settings app >> scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap on About Phone >> look for Build Number and tap on it 7 times. You’d generally see a popup on the screen that shows, “You’re a developer now.”
Now you have to go to Settings >> Advanced (or System & updates for Huawei and Vivo phones >> Developer Options >> Default USB configurations (or Select USB configuration.
Now you will see what options are available, but since you’re not getting the “Charging This Device Via USB” notification and your device just starts charging when you connect a cord, chances are that what you have here is charging. You just have to select any of the File Transfer options.
After selecting the option you want, you can restart your mobile device and see if that fixes the issue.
Try a Different Port
If your Windows 10 computer can’t recognize your Android device, you should consider connecting the device to another computer. Your USB port might be faulty, in which case no amount of troubleshooting will help because your computer has a hardware problem. But, before switching to a different computer, you should try a different port and check if that works.
Also, ensure that the Android device’s USB port is free from obstruction. Lint or sticky items can sometimes jam the ports and prevent them from connecting. If the port is dirty, try cleaning it with a soft brush or toothpick.