What to do if Galaxy S10 is not recognized by PC | easy ways to troubleshoot computer not detecting your S10

There may be a time when you want to create a copy of your photos, videos, documents, or other types of data to your computer. If you want to do that but your Galaxy S10 is not recognized by PC, there should be a set of troubleshooting steps that you must do to fix it. This article will show you how to easy ways to troubleshoot your computer not detecting your S10.

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What to do if Galaxy S10 is not recognized by PC | easy ways to troubleshoot computer not detecting your S10

Wondering how to troubleshoot your S10 that’s not recognized by your PC? Just follow the suggestions below and you should be good.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #1: Check the basics

When connected to a computer, your Galaxy S10 will present to a user a few USB options so it knows how to handle the new connection. You can access these options by pulling down the notification bar from the top and tapping on Android System. There will be two sections that should show up: USB controlled by and Use USB for. Under USB controlled by section, you can either select Connected device or This phone. If you’re planning on moving files between devices, select This phone.

The next section provides USB options such as:

  • Transferring files
  • USB Tethering
  • MIDI
  • Transferring images
  • Charging phone only

If there’s no problem between the two devices, all of these options should be accessible. However, if there’s no indication at all that your PC is reading or detecting your S10, that can be a totally different situation and further troubleshooting may be required. Continue with the troubleshooting steps below to deal with the problem.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #2: Use official Samsung cable

Not all Type-C USB cables are created the same. Some may work with your S10 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.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #3: Does it charge?

If your S10 is not recognized by PC but continues to charge when USB is connected to the computer, that can mean there’s a driver problem. To address the issue, make sure that your computer runs the latest Operating System version and that you install Smart Switch to it. This should take care of the driver issue and allow the PC to recognize your S10 the next time it’s connected.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #4: Clean the charging port

If you regularly expose your S10 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.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #5: Connect to another computer

If the port is clean or free of moisture, the next good thing to do is to check if your S10 can be detected by another computer. This will allow you to know if there’s a device issue and if the current USB cable is bad. If a second computer still fails to recognize your S10, you should consider either getting a new cable, or continue to troubleshoot your device. Having the same issue on another computer tells you that the problem is not on the computer side but rather on your device or cable.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #6: Install updates

As mentioned previously, you should make sure that your PC runs the latest Operating System. This makes sure that the latest drivers are installed for it to recognize your S10. by default, the factory version of Windows 10 should already be equipped to detect and recognize your Galaxy S10 so even if your PC’s software is not up-to-date, it should still be able to read your Android. If you’re trying to transfer files, the default Photos application in Windows 10 should be able to allow you to.

If you’re older version of Windows, be sure that it’s updated.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #7: Use Smart Switch

If you’re running Windows 10 or older and your S10 is still not recognized by PC, then you should install Smart Switch to it. Smart Switch is an official Samsung app designed to allow transfer of files between a Samsung device and another one easy.

Be sure to visit the official Samsung website if you want to download and install it to your computer.

Related reading: How to create backup from Samsung device to your computer via Smart Switch

S10 not recognized by PC fix #8: Factory reset your S10

If your PC is already updated but still not recognizing your connected S10, the next good thing that you must do is to check whether or not there’s a software issue on your S10. You can do that by wiping the phone’s software with factory reset. This should return all software settings to their defaults.

For reference, here are the two ways to factory reset your device:

Method 1: How to hard reset on Samsung Galaxy S10 via Settings Menu

  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 S10 using hardware buttons

  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 button and the Bixby button at the same time.
  5. While still holding the Volume Up and Bixby keys, press and hold the Power button.
  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 factory reset.

S10 not recognized by PC fix #9: Get Samsung help

If your Galaxy S10 is not recognized by PC even after a factory reset, you should consider having the phone checked. There may be a problem with its USB port or in the motherboard that we’re not aware of. Before sending it to them, try to see if one of the computers in Samsung Service Center can recognize your device. If the problem remains after that, go ahead and send it in for repair.

 



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