How to transfer files from a phone

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This is probably the wrong place to ask this but is it possible, and if so, how, can I transfer files from a Nokia Android phone to a desktop PC? It used to be so easy, with a Windows phone and Windows 7, now it seems impossible.

When I plug the phone into the PC via a USB C cable (supplied) it charges fine, but in File Explorer it just sits as “Nokia 5.4” under My PC. It is, of course, completely empty. I’ve tried installing a Windows 10 driver from Nokia to apparently connect the phone and do all sorts of wonderful things. It does nothing. It looks like it’s installing but it didn’t because I can’t find that driver anywhere.

If someone knows, please help. My wife is driving me crazy because I’m the “PC Guy” and she’s trying to get some photos ready for ebay.

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Which version of Android?

On mine (using Resurrection Remix, based on AOSP (open source bit of Android) 10, I think), I have to set the option to share files using USB each time I plug it in. If you go into the settings and search for “USB,” it might have an option like “Use the USB connection for:” and you’d pick the one for file sharing.

It is also possible to email the images to oneself, then use a different device to read the email, or using something like Dropbox to hold them temporarily, if she needs the files before you get this figured out.

 

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Tom

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Using Android you have (for now) free unlimited Google Photos storage to which you can upload from your Android device and access using a browser.

Connecting Android via USB you should select to connect ‘for data’.

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Unfortunately, using  Google to store photos is not an option.

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I am using an iPhone and iPad and backing up all my Photos to free Google Photos.
The service is first class and can be accessed from any device, anywhere.
Policy is changing on June 1.

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I do know that there are two protocol types for android that windows can utilize for that. On my phones I have gotten a popup asking which protocol to use. I have had either work but if I recall last time I tried one did and one did not. Try both if you do not have that popup you may have turned it off some place in settings on your phone.
(You could also try FTP over a wifi connection. Or maybe windows file sharing via SMB??. )

I have also used a thumb drive on my NAS router.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)
Media Transfer Protocol (MTP)
are the two.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I had the exact same problem except using a Samsung S7. It just wouldn’t work on a Windows 10 laptop. Tried the drivers, tried installing and reinstalling, called support, posed the question to MS, phone forums and here…. but it would never recognize data transfer option.  Even tried different cables.

I just lived with it, and did a few transfers via email and also used a flash drive to get files between the phone and the computer using a “to go” adapter.

• After a few years of messing with that, the phone was old and I just ended it by buying a new phone. Works like a charm now.

Mike

 

 

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I use Dropbox to transfer files from my phone to my computer.  A free Dropbox account has a lot of space, so it should be an easy task.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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When I plug the phone into the PC via a USB C cable (supplied) it charges fine, but in File Explorer it just sits as “Nokia 5.4” under My PC. It is, of course, completely empty

Have you been into the Autoplay settings and told Windows what to do when you plug the Phone in?

Does the phone need to be unlocked first by Password/PIN/Fingerprint? – if so and it isn’t unlocked, the phone will be ’empty’ in Explorer till you do

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The trick to getting it to work is setting the correct USB transfer mode on your phone not your PC. The problem is, by default, all Android phones enter “charge” mode when plugged into a PC.

Here’s how to change that to file transfer mode.

1. Unlock your phone.
2. Connect your phone to your PC with the USB cable.
3. On your phone, tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification (note: if the notification doesn’t appear or disappears too quickly, swipe down from the top of the screen.)
4. Under “Use USB for“, select File Transfer.
5. Explorer should automatically open on your PC (if not, open it manually)
6. When you’ve finished transferring files to/from your phone, eject it and unplug the USB cable.

Once the mode is set for file transfer, Windows 10 will automatically install any new drivers needed to allow file transfers with the phone.

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