# Why won't my Samsung J7 talk to my computer any longer (photos)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249 "2020-06-26T18:42:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/1 "2020-06-26T18:42:28Z")
Used to be, I’d plug in the phone to my laptop via USB, and after a bit of searching, it would upload my photos. Now: nothing. It’s charging the phone, so I know the cord is good. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/2 "2020-06-26T18:47:35Z")
Is there a setting that can be switched from “Charge Only” to “Connect to Computer” (or something like that) in your phone’s USB connection settings? I know that’s something I have to switch on with my Android tablet. I don’t know why that might have changed, however. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/3 "2020-06-26T19:13:28Z")
Well, there was a recent update, so that might have screwed things up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/4 "2020-06-26T19:16:27Z")
I don’t see anything obvious in Settings that deals with USB connection. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/5 "2020-06-26T19:18:40Z")
Mine is under Settings -\> Connected Devices -\> USB, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/6 "2020-06-26T19:25:38Z")
I have a menu called “Connections”, but it has nothing about USB. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/7 "2020-06-26T19:28:17Z")
Are you using the same cable to connect? Some are only rated for power, not data transfer. If so: With a USB cable, connect your phone to your computer. On your phone, tap the “Charging this device via USB” notification. Under “Use USB for,” select File Transfer. A file transfer window will open on your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/8 "2020-06-26T19:30:17Z")
Like I said, it used to work like that. Now it doesn’t. And yes, I’m still using the same cable. I get no notification other than showing that the phone is charging. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/9 "2020-06-26T19:30:43Z")
On my Android phone, the message is in the notifications when plugged in to the USB port. It will say it’s charging but if I tap on it, it opens up the option for file transfer, and if you tap on that you can see it as a drive on the computer. But if it ever had the option to automatically upload photos, I don’t know,as I prefer to decide for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/10 "2020-06-26T19:32:10Z")
Well, it actually would show a screen saying that the computer was scanning the device for photos, then gave a screen asking which photos to upload. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/11 "2020-06-26T19:33:53Z")
> **[How to Configure Your Android’s USB Connection - dummies](https://www.dummies.com/article/technology/electronics/cell-phones/androids/how-to-configure-your-androids-usb-connection-151881/)** > > Upon the successful connection of your Android phone to a computer, you have the option of configuring the USB connection. A menu appears, either automatically If that doesn’t work get a new cable. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/12 "2020-06-26T19:48:57Z")
Maybe I should clarify. Data USB cables have dedicated wires and contacts for data transfer. They’re often damaged for various reasons and the cable will often still work for charging. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/13 "2020-06-26T20:00:19Z")
I went out to the RV and got our spare Samsung cord. Turns out, you’re right, as I am now getting the screen I expected. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-my-samsung-j7-talk-to-my-computer-any-longer-photos/913249/14 "2020-06-26T20:03:41Z")
Could be a connector pin wearing out in the phone’s port. If you have have had a history of loosing connection with the computer for whatever reason (cable a little wiggly) it will eventually flag the device as bad and to recognize it again you have to delete some configuration file somewhere. (I have had to do it before, but don’t remember specific details.) I think that the option on the phone for changing the USB connect method is in the Developer’s Options menu, which you have to do a trick to unlock. (Google for details.) (edit–writing this while the above was posted, but leaving it anyway.)