Tackled in this context is a pertinent issue involving the Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 2018, in which the device is not recognized by the computer even when it’s plugged in securely. Read on and find out what options to try on should you too will encounter the same problem as you attempt to manage data from your smartphone using your computer.
Computers play a vital role when it comes to data management in mobile devices be it iOS or Android. This is made possible with the help of iOS and Android file management tools. All you have to do is download the compatible data management software on your computer and then connect your smartphone to the computer port using the USB or data cable. But there are just times when the simple process becomes even more complicated to the point of not being completed. This is when syncing problems occur.
For smartphone owners who found our site while trying to find a solution, try to see if your phone is one of the devices we support. If it is, then visit the troubleshooting page for that device, browse through it to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. However, if you still need our help after that, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.
How to troubleshoot Galaxy A8+ 2018 that can’t be recognized by computer
Before you begin troubleshooting both devices, remove any other external accessories attached to your computer via USB. Sometimes, this can cause conflict and somehow mess up the connection between your phone and your computer. Also remove any SD card inserted on either device to prevent it from inflicting conflict. More importantly, use only the original/OEM data cable or USB cable when connecting your phone to the computer. Other non-Samsung cables may not be compatible and so won’t work as intended.
If all those recommendations are met but your computer still cannot detect your Samsung Galaxy A8+ 2018 smartphone, then move on and troubleshoot software issues on both devices.
First method: Reboot your phone (soft reset) then reconnect to your computer.
A soft reset or device restart can help fix minor software issues on the phone that might have prevented it from having access to your computer or the other way around. There are two ways to perform a soft reset on your Samsung A8+ 2018 handset.
First is the usual reboot procedure that is done with these steps:
- Press the Power button for a few seconds or until the phone shuts down.
- Then after 30 seconds, press the Power button again to turn the phone back on.
The other method is a soft reset using the hardware keys, also referred to as force restart. It works the same as the prior soft reset method but carried out in a slightly different manner.
- To force your Samsung A8+ to restart, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously for about 10 seconds or until your device restarts.
Both these restart methods effectively resolves random software errors that might have caused momentary syncing issues.
Second method: Enable safe mode on your phone then reconnect to your computer.
Booting your phone into safe mode will bypass all third-party apps and services so it will be easier for you to determine if they’re the culprit. So here’s what you should try next:
- Power off or shut down your phone by pressing and holding the Power button for a few seconds or press the Power button once and select the option to Power Off.
- Wait for a few seconds until your phone shuts down completely.
- Then, turn your phone on again by pressing the Power button.
- When you see the Samsung logo, press and hold the Volume Down button until you see the Safe mode badge on the left corner of your phone screen.
While in safe mode, connect your phone to your computer via USB and see if that fixes the problem. If your computer is able to detect your phone in safe mode, then it you will need to find out which from your downloaded apps is the trigger. It has to be removed or temporarily disabled so that you can do the syncing anytime without having issues.
Third method: Update your phone software to the latest version.
Software updates can also be the potential fix especially if the root cause of the problem is a system bug on your phone. Updates usually contain fix patches to address existing device issues attributed by system bugs and apps glitches. If you wish to try your luck in updating, follow these steps:
- Open the Apps screen by swiping up on an empty spot from the Home screen.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll to and select Software update.
- Tap the option to Download updates manually.
- Wait for your phone to search for available updates.
- If an update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to proceed with the update download and installation.
Restart your phone after the update then connect it to your computer again to see if it’s now detected.
Fourth method: Reset your phone to factory defaults (optional).
While this may not be a feasible option given that it will wipe all your data from your phone, a full system reset might be the only way for you to resolve the issue especially if the trigger is a complex error on the phone system. Should you wish to proceed, back up your data beforehand for safekeeping. Here’s how to get this done:
- Open the Apps screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Go to Cloud and accounts.
- Tap the option to Backup and restore.
- Enable or disable options to Restore and Back up my data as you would prefer.
- Go back to the Settings menu.
- Tap General Management.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Factory data reset from the given options.
- Tap Reset device.
- If prompted, enter your PIN or password.
- Tap Continue.
- Then select Delete All to confirm.
Fifth method: Restart your computer then reconnect your phone.
Just like smartphones, minor software issues on your computer can also be remedied by a restart. It’s also the simplest solution to try whenever a certain program on the computer is not working properly like rogue apps do on your phone. The restart process may vary between operating systems.
- In Windows PC, it’s basically done through the Start menu then Restart.
- In Mac computers, it’s usually done through the Apple key and then select the Restart option.
There are also other ways like using key combinations based on the operating system version.
So regardless of what platform your computer is running on, just give it restart to clear and refresh the system from minor glitches that might have caused you trouble syncing both devices.
Sixth method: Disable security programs like firewall and antivirus.
As mentioned earlier, security programs on your computer may likewise block your phone from having access to the computer system especially when security threats are perceived. The moment your phone is plugged into the computer’s USB port via USB cable, the computer system will read is as an external device like SD cards, keyboards, mouse, and other paraphernalia. And if the security programs running on your computer would sense your phone as potential threat, access will be denied. Often times, this would trigger a warning message or error prompt telling you of what’s going on and at the same time requiring you some actions.
Seventh solution: Verify and ensure all required drivers are installed.
Some computers especially Windows PCs would require specific drivers to be installed first so they will be able to read your device whenever it’s plugged into the computer port via USB/data cable. This information is usually available on the official site of your computer manufacturer or Samsung Support online.
Other options
Contact the manufacturer or your computer and ask more help in configuring your computer settings in such a way that allows full access to your Samsung Galaxy A8+ 2018 smartphone. They will also be able to help you download and install the required drivers or modify computer settings accordingly.
If you suspect that your firewall or antivirus software is to blame, then you can request further assistance from the security software developer and manage program settings properly.
Connect with us
We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.