I’m trying to transfer files between my Samsung S20 and my computer, but my device doesn’t show up as an MTP device when I connect it via USB. I’ve checked the cable and different USB ports, but nothing seems to work. Does anyone know how to manually enable or troubleshoot MTP mode for file transfers on the Samsung S20? Any help would be appreciated.
Getting Your Samsung S20 Into MTP Mode: An Everyday Guide
Alright, so you just plugged your phone into your computer, and nothing’s happening except maybe a hum of disappointment? Same! Here’s the lowdown on making your Samsung S20 and your computer talk to each other via MTP—without all the nerd jargon.
Real Talk: Turning on MTP on a Samsung S20
Step 1: Plug your S20 into your computer with a USB cable. (Don’t trust that bent old cable from the junk drawer—get a good one!)
Step 2: Your phone might just start charging. Don’t panic. Swipe down from the top of your S20 screen to pull down those notifications.
Step 3: Look for a notification about USB options—usually says something like “Charging this device via USB.” Tap that.
Step 4: Now, pick “File Transfer” or “MTP.” Boom. Your phone should now show up on your computer like an extra drive, and you can move files around.
This is about as basic as it gets, but if your PC and phone are still giving you the silent treatment, try switching cables, USB ports, or restarting both devices. Tech is drama sometimes.
Quick Heads-Up: Backing Up Your Android to Mac
If you’re trying to do more than just swap a few photos—like grabbing a full backup of your S20 to your Mac (and trust me, that’s a whole other project)—check out this thread where people are swapping battle stories and tips: backup android to mac
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Weirdly enough, I’ve had this exact headache with my S20—and yeah, you’d think plugging it in would just…work. Sometimes following the standard notification steps (like @mikeappsreviewer laid out) doesn’t cut it. If you’re still invisible on your PC, my secret sauce is toggling Developer Options.
Here’s how I roll:
- Go to Settings > About phone > Software information, and tap “Build number” like six times until it says you’re a dev (hey, congrats?)
- Back out, and under Settings, find “Developer options”
- Scroll way down to where it says “Default USB configuration.” Choose “File transfer” or “MTP.”
This sets MTP as the default every time you plug in, so you don’t have to keep fishing for notifications that might not even appear.
One thing though: Sometimes Windows needs its own “USB drivers” for Samsung phones. If you’re on Windows, download Samsung’s USB drivers—trust me, it fixes a bunch of weird issues, especially if your phone just charges or shows nothing.
Also, not to step on @mikeappsreviewer’s take, but their method assumes you’ll always get that notification… I swear half the time it just doesn’t show unless you unlock your phone, or if you’ve got Dex enabled, which overrides normal MTP mode! If Dex pops up, exit out and then pull your notifications again.
Last thing: Crazy as it sounds, I’ve also had to restart both my phone and PC after installing drivers before anything worked—like some ancient ritual.
If you’re still dead in the water, I’d wonder if you’re trying to connect to an old-school USB 2.0 port—try USB 3.0+ and avoid plugging into a hub.
And for Mac users, skip the MTP drama, Android File Transfer is a necessary evil (it sucks, but it usually works). Or use AirDroid/WiFi transfer if cabled life is a lost cause.
Hope something in this mess helps—android file transfer is stuck in 2013 and I’m over it lol.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record after @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles, I just want to toss in a less-talked-about snag I’ve hit with these Samsung MTP adventures: sometimes the culprit isn’t your phone or your cable, it’s the COMPUTER. Yep, especially if you’re on a company laptop or borrowed PC with weird security settings, admin blocks, or outdated Windows Media Player (yeah, that thing!). Windows, for reasons lost to the ages, ties up parts of its MTP support with Media Player and something called “Windows Media Feature Pack”—if you’re using something like Windows 10 N or KN editions, it literally won’t show MTP devices until you install said pack. Total facepalm.
Also, don’t trust that “it charges so must be working” logic. Charging is the lowest-common USB denominator, has nothing to do with data. Oh, and don’t let Samsung’s fancy Dex mode throw you off—if Dex launches by itself, your PC is probably not seeing the phone’s standard MTP handshake at all. Actually, maybe RELYING on the notification (like @mikeappsreviewer says) is part of the problem—those things are NOTORIOUSLY finicky. I’ve had phones where you unlock the screen and, magically, USB options appear. Sometimes turning the screen off/on even triggers it. Makes about as much sense as Android emojis.
If you’ve tried all the above (including @chasseurdetoiles’ Dev Options ninja-move, which is clutch), and nada:
- Open Device Manager on your PC, see if anything pops up under “Portable Devices” or if there’s a yellow bang on “Unknown device.”
- Try the Samsung “Smart Switch” desktop app instead, which sometimes bullies Windows into noticing your phone even if MTP is lost in the void.
- If NOTHING works, pop your SIM into another Android and see if it shows up on your PC. That rules out cable/port/PC.
Honestly, Android file transfer to PC feels like playing tech lottery. The Linux-heads will scream “use ADB push/pull!” but I get that not everyone wants to live in the command line. At the end of the day, half the time I end up emailing myself the file I needed anyway.
If you find The Ultimate Fix, clue us all in. I keep a dedicated, 8-inch-long “miracle cable” that I never lend to anyone, because apparently, the USB gods demand sacrifice.
Let’s get real: MTP file transfer between your Samsung S20 and your PC is somehow the least “smart” part of a smartphone—sometimes I swear the process was designed as a cosmic joke. The advice above hits most of the basics (USB cables, notifications, fiddly pop-ups), but let’s peel back another layer for those still banging their heads.
First, if the USB notification drop-down just isn’t showing MTP/File Transfer, dig into Settings > Developer Options > Default USB Configuration and set it to File Transfer. (If Dev Options are hidden: Settings > About Phone > tap ’Build number’ seven times.) This is more “set and forget” than relying on ephemeral notifications.
If your device still flat-out refuses to show up and you’re using Windows, check Device Manager for weird yellow triangles—tons of connection issues happen here, not on the phone. Unlike some folks, I’d actually skip uninstalling/reinstalling random drivers unless you see an “Unknown USB Device.” Instead, consider restarting your PC with the phone plugged in—Windows has a weird habit of suddenly “discovering” things on boot.
Now, I’ll fight back a little against the idea that only your cable matters. True, good cables are key, but I’ve had success with surprisingly janky ones while brand-new official Samsung cords sometimes do nothing. YMMV.
The Samsung Smart Switch desktop app, as suggested above, deserves a shot, especially for folks wanting more than drag-and-drop. Biggest con: way bulkier than you’d need just for a quick file swap, but it does handle backups and sometimes resolves driver glitches where raw MTP fails. Pro: All-in-one convenience without sifting through device manager or settings. (Competitors like Google’s Android File Transfer on Mac, or even third-party tools, have their own quirks—sometimes brutal on older hardware or with large files.)
Weird tip: If you have Samsung DeX launching, try disabling DeX entirely for transfers—sometimes it hijacks the USB dialogue. Also, don’t even bother with Windows Troubleshooter, it rarely finds anything useful for MTP issues.
Final note, and I feel this deep: Sometimes the only solution is… cloud. Google Drive, Dropbox, or just uploading to your email when Windows and Android give you the runaround. Wish it wasn’t so, but until USB grows a brain, workarounds rule.
In summary: cable matters, but not always; Dev Options is a hidden gem; Smart Switch can save the day; and never underestimate the raw power of dragging and dropping to the cloud. Good luck, and may your notification actually show up! Cons: Smart Switch is heavy-handed for simple tasks, may install extra Samsung services you never wanted; Pro: typically “just works,” even when MTP itself fails.