How to fix Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working | PC not detecting device

Are you having a problem with your Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working? Learn what you can do to fix this problem by checking our solutions in this post. We mention nine possible solutions that you can try. We hope that this article will be of help.

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How to fix Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working | PC not detecting device

If your Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC is not working, there are a number of factors to check. This article will help you with that.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #1: Refresh the connection

If the USB connection to a PC on your Galaxy Note10+ is not working, the first step that you must do is to ensure that the connection is refreshed. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. On your Galaxy Note10+, pull down the Notification Bar from the top.
  2. Tap on USB for File Transfer.
  3. Tap on Charging phone only.
  4. Tap on Transferring files.
  5. Check to see if your PC is now detecting your phone and you are able to move files.

When trying to move files between the two devices, make sure that you select the Transfering files option. If you select the Charging mode option, the data transfer functionality won’t work. However, your PC should still indicate that it is recognizing your Note10+. If it’s not, then continue with the troubleshooting steps below.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #2: Verify USB cable is working

The next troubleshooting step that you want to do is to ensure that there’s no problem with the USB cable. Like the device itself, a USB cable can go bad due to misuse, factory defect, or some other factors. If the Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC is still not working, try another USB cable and make sure that it’s an official Samsung cable. Try to avoid non-Samsung USB cables to ensure that you have a fully Samsung quality tested accessory. Try to borrow an official Samsung cable from someone or buy a new one if the first option is not possible.

Alternatively, you can try to see if the current USB cable is working by using it to move files from another Samsung device to a PC. 

Not all Type-C USB cables are created the same. Some may work with your Galaxy Note10+ while others may be problematic, or will completely fail. To be on the safe side, make sure that you use the USB cable that came with your phone. If you can’t find the official cable, make sure that the replacement is verified to be working properly.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #3: Install updates

Updating Android and apps may not be a known way to fix problems but sometimes it does. Be sure that Android software is running the latest version all the time. If you have a carrier-branded Note10+, it should automatically inform you of pending updates and all you have to do is to tap on the notification. If you want to manually check for software updates you can simply go under Settings > Software update.

To check for Play Store app updates on your Galaxy Note10+:

  1. Open Play Store app.
  2. Tap More settings icon at the upper left (three-horizontal lines).
  3. Tap My apps & games.
  4. Tap Update or Update All.

If you are on Cellular Data connection, we suggest that you update via wifi only to avoid additional charges. Here’s how:

  1. Open Play Store app.
  2. Tap More settings icon at the upper left (three-horizontal lines).
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap App download preference. 
  5. Select Over wifi only (select Over any network if you don’t have wifi).
  6. Tap Done.

Make sure to also keep your apps updated all the time by enabling auto-update option.

  1. Tap Auto-update apps.
  2. Tap Over wifi only (select Over any network if you don’t have wifi).
  3. Tap Done.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #4: Clean Galaxy Note10+ charging port

A dirty charging port may block or affect charging and data transfer functionalities on a Galaxy Note10+. As an end user, the only thing that you can do is to check if there’s dirt or foreign object blocking the charging cable. If you regularly expose your Galaxy Note10+ to dusty or humid environment, there’s a chance that the charging port may be preventing a solid connection to your PC. Try to check the charging port in a well-lighted environment and examine its charging port. If possible, use a magnifying tool to see the inside more clearly. Keep in mind that the purpose of this exercise is not to fix the charging port but merely to scan it for visible problems. If you think the inside of the port is humid, make sure to dry the phone for a few hours. Water naturally evaporates if left in room temperature for a several hours so what you have to do is to simply let it stand in your room. Don’t attempt to dry out the port using compressed or canned air as that might push moisture inside.

If there’s visible port or lint inside but no moisture, you can try compressed air to take them out. Do not stick anything inside to remove dirt as that might damage the system.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #5: Restart Note10+

Sometimes, USB connection bugs can be fixed by restarting a phone. Make sure this is done at this point if your Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC is still not working.

This is because some minor bugs may develop if a system is left running for an extended period. Try restarting your Note10+ and see if that will help. There are three ways to restart your Galaxy Note10+. Let’s see each of them below.

Method 1: Try restarting it normally first by pressing the Power button to access the boot menu. Then, select Restart option and see if that works.

Method 2: Another way to restart the device is by pressing and holding the Volume Down button and the Bixby/Power key at the same time for 10 seconds or until the device’s screen turns on. This simulates the effect of having disconnected the battery from the device. If this works, this may unlock the device.

Method 3: If doing the regular restart won’t help, then try this:

  1. Press and hold the Volume Down button first and don’t release it.
  2. While holding it down, press and hold the Power key.
  3. Keep both keys held down for 10 seconds or more.

The second restart procedure tries to simulate the effects of removing the battery pack. On older devices, disconnecting the battery is often an effective way in fixing unresponsive devices. If nothing changed though, proceed to the next suggestions.

Rebooting your device regularly at least once every week can be beneficial. If you tend to forget things, we suggest that you configure your phone to reboot on its own. You can schedule it to do this task by doing these steps:

  1. Open Settings app.
  2. Tap Device Care.
  3. Tap the 3-dot at the top.
  4. Select Auto restart.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #6: Use Smart Switch

A good way to move files between your Note10+ and PC is with the use of Smart Switch app. This is an official Samsung app that can work with any Samsung device and computer. You want to install this app in your PC in order to begin using it. 

To install Smart Switch on your computer:

  1. Open the internet browser on your computer and visit the installation page for Smart Switch app.
  2. In the middle of the page, click on the appropriate download link for Windows. There should be three different options :
    • Get it on Google Play
    • Download on the Mac Store app
    • Get it on Windows.
  3. Click the Get in on Windows option.
  4. Follow the rest of the installation instructions by first clicking on Run button.  Afterwards, select the appropriate settings for you.
  5. Confirm that you accept the terms of the license agreement by clicking the two check boxes.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Wait for the installation to finish. This should take a few moments.
  8. Complete the installation process by clicking the Finish button. After that, the newly installed Smart Switch app will run automatically.

Once Smart Switch has been installed on your PC, reconnect your Galaxy Note10+ to your PC via USB cable. If your PC can now detect your Note10+, you can begin using Smart Switch to create a backup.

  1. Begin by opening the Smart Switch app on your computer.
  2. Connect your Android device to your computer via USB cable.
  3. Make sure your phone is unlocked.
  4. On the Smart Switch app click on MORE at the top right.
  5. Click Preferences.
  6. Click Backup items tab. In this tab, you will be able to customize what items to copy and keep as back up. All items are selected by default by if you want to speed up the copying process, you may want to select the important boxes only.
  7. Once you’ve selected what items to include in your backup, click OK. Otherwise, simply click Cancel.
  8. Click Backup.
  9. Tap Allow on your phone if Smart Switch asks for permission.
  10. Once the backup is complete, you get a breakdown of all the data that was successfully backed up. Click OK to finish.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #7: Wipe cache partition

A bad system cache can sometimes lead to all sorts of Android problems. Make sure that you clear the cache partition on your Note10+ to see if you have a cache partition issue. Follow these steps to clear the cache partition:

  1. Turn off the device.
  2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby / Power key.
  3. When the green Android logo displays, release both keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  4. The Recovery screen menu will now appear. When you see this, release the buttons.
  5. Use the Volume Down button until you are highlighting ‘Wipe cache partition.’
  6. Press the Power button to select ‘Wipe cache partition.’
  7. Use Volume Down to highlight Yes.
  8. Press the Power button to confirm the action to clear the cache.
  9. Wait for a second as the system wipes the cache.
  10. Press the Power button again to reboot the device. This will return the device to the normal interface.
  11. That’s it!

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #8: Connect to PC on Safe Mode

Another possible reason for the problem may be due to a bad third party app. To check, run the device to safe mode. When on safe mode, all third party apps are blocked. If your PC can detect your Note10+ while it’s running on safe mode and data transfer is possible, it means that you have a bad app is running in the system. You can check this possibility by running the phone on safe mode first. Here’s how:

  1. Disconnect your Galaxy Note10+ from your PC.
  2. On your Galaxy Note10+, press and hold the Power button until the Power off window appears then release.
  3. Touch and hold Power off until the Safe mode prompt appears then release.
  4. To confirm, tap Safe mode.
  5. The process may take up to 30 seconds to complete.
  6. Upon reboot, “Safe mode” appears in the lower-left of the home screen.
  7. Reconnect your Note10+ to your PC via USB cable.
  8. Check for the problem.

If your Galaxy Note10+ can transfer files to your PC on safe mode, this can indicate that a bad app must be blocking data transfer. To identify which app is causing the problem:

  1. Boot to safe mode.
  2. Check for the problem.
  3. Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
  4. After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
  5. If your Galaxy Note10+ is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.

Galaxy Note10+ USB connection to PC not working fix #9: Factory reset your Note10+

If the problem still remains at this point, you should consider doing a factory reset. This will help you check if the problem is caused by an unknown software bug. Just make sure to create a backup of your personal data using other means. You can use Samsung Cloud or your Google Drive to save important files ahead of time.

To factory reset your Galaxy Note10+:

Method 1: How to hard reset on Samsung Galaxy Note10+ via Settings Menu

This is the easiest way to wipe your Galaxy Note10+. all you have to do is to go under Settings menu and follow the steps below. We recommend this method if you have no trouble going under Settings.

  1. Create a backup of your personal data and remove your Google account.
  2. Open Settings app.
  3. Scroll to and tap General management.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Select Factory data reset from the given options.
  6. Read the information then tap Reset to continue.
  7. Tap Delete All to confirm action.

Method 2: How to hard reset on Samsung Galaxy Note10+ using hardware buttons

If your case is that the phone is not booting up, or it boots but Settings menu is inaccessible, this method can be helpful. First, you need to boot the device to Recovery Mode. Once you successfully access Recovery, that’s the time that you begin proper master reset procedure. It may take some tries for you before you can access Recovery so be patient and simply try again.

  1. If possible, create a backup of your personal data ahead of time. If your problem prevents you from doing that, then simply skip this step.
  2. Also, you want to make sure that you remove your Google account. If your problem prevents you from doing that, then simply skip this step.
  3. Turn off the device. This is important. If you can’t turn it off, you’ll never be able to boot to Recovery Mode. If you are not able to shut the device off regularly via the Power button, wait until the phone’s battery is drained. Then, charge the phone for 30 minutes before booting to Recovery Mode.
  4. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby / Power key.
  5. When the green Android logo displays, release both keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
  6. The Recovery screen menu will now appear. When you see this, release the buttons.
  7. Use the Volume Down button until you are highlighting ‘Wipe data/factory reset.’
  8. Press the Power button to select ‘Wipe data/factory reset.’
  9. Use Volume Down to highlight Yes.
  10. Press the Power button to confirm the action to clear your phone data.

 


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