How to solve the error: When connecting the mobile to the PC, it only charges

Today almost all of us have a mobile phone, smart or not, which we can charge both on the wall with its own power connector and on a computer using a USB cable. And since now, connecting a mobile to the PC is a task that has become increasingly common in the digital age in which we live, since we are not only looking to charge the battery, but also the transfer office and multimedia files, both for leisure and entertainment and for work or study.

However, sometimes this task is not as simple as it seems. Since, sometimes, «when connecting the mobile to the PC it only charges», not allowing file transfer. Therefore, in this article, we are going to explore the possible technical causes of this problem and the steps necessary to solve it.

But, before we begin, it is important to note that this is not an impossible or difficult problem to solve, because with a few steps and actions, such as the activation of some basic settings, we can quickly start transfer office and multimedia files to our computer.

And of course, much of this, to explain, could vary slightly depending on the make and model of the mobile device or smartphone used, and even the operating system implemented on the computer, that is, Windows, macOS and GNU/Linux.

When connecting the mobile to the PC, it only charges: How to solve it?

Causes of the problem: When connecting the mobile to the PC, it only charges

There are several reasons or technical causes why «when connecting the mobile to the PC it only charges». And some of the most common are usually the following:

Lack of controllers or drivers

Most of the modern mobiles use the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) protocol to connect to the PC. For this protocol to work correctly, the appropriate controllers or drivers are needed. If the drivers are not installed correctly, the mobile will only charge when connected to the PC.

To solve this problem, it is necessary to download and install the appropriate drivers for the mobile, following the necessary steps according to the type of operating system on the computer.

USB cable problems

Another possible cause of the problem is a faulty USB cable. If the USB cable is not connected correctly or is damaged, the mobile will only charge when it is connected to the PC.

To fix this problem, you need to check the USB cable and make sure it is connected correctly. Or try another temporarily or permanently to rule out/confirm the damage of the previous one. And, if the cable is damaged, then it will need to be replaced.

Mobile configuration

On some occasions, the mobile configuration may prevent the transfer of files when connected to the PC. If the mobile is configured to only charge when connected to the PC, it will not be possible to transfer files.

To solve this problem, it is necessary to go to the mobile settings and change the USB connection option to “File transfer” or “MTP”. Take into account that some Android iOS smartphones, when connected via USB, show a message on the screen in the notification area, where you can quickly access this configuration window, and others do not.

Problems with the USB port of the PC

It is also possible that the problem is in the USB port of the PC. If the USB port is damaged or not working properly, the mobile will only charge when connected to the PC.

To fix this problem, you need to try different USB ports on your PC and make sure they are working properly. Which can be easily done by testing a device such as the mouse or keyboard in each one, to validate its correct operation.

More details to solve each technical cause

Once the possible technical causes of the problem have been identified and we know how to fix it, it is time to execute the necessary steps in each case. Therefore, below and in a very general or generic way, the most basic or essential steps to be executed in each case should be the following:

Installing the appropriate drivers or drivers

To install the appropriate drivers or drivers, you need to follow the following steps:

• Go to the mobile manufacturer's website and search for the appropriate drivers or drivers for the specific model of the mobile, and depending on the operating system used on the computer, if possible. Many times, complete mobile management software and its contents are usually offered.
• Download the controllers (drivers) or management software and save them on the computer. Yes, what is downloaded is a management software, it is recommended to install it first and follow the instructions for use of its installation wizard or graphical interface. Otherwise, the ideal is to continue with the next step.
• Connect the mobile to the computer using the USB cable.
• Go to the device manager of the PC and look for the mobile in the list of connected devices.
• Click right on the mobile and select “Update Driver” or “Update Driver Software”.
• Select the “Browse my computer for driver software” option and browse to the location where previously downloaded drivers or drivers were saved.
• And finally, we execute the installation of the drivers and restart the computer to test all the proper functioning and connection between the two.

USB Cable and USB Ports Review

To check usb cable and make sure it is connected correctly, you need to follow the following steps:

• Disconnect the USB cable from the mobile and the computer.
• Inspect the USB cable for damage, such as cuts or tears.
• Connect the USB cable to the mobile and the PC, making sure that it is correctly connected.
• Validate the correct detection of the mobile and try to transfer files from the mobile to the PC to verify if the problem has been solved.
• If the failure continues, try the USB cable in other ports and then other USB cables in the available USB ports, having previously checked their operation with other USB devices.

Change mobile settings

In some Android phones with versions prior to 10, it is customary, to change the mobile configuration and allow the transfer of files when connecting to the computer, the following steps:

• Go to the mobile configuration menu and look for the option "USB connection" or "Developer options" where, in turn, you can find the option "USB configuration".
• Once here, we can select the option “File transfer via USB”, “MTP”, “PTP”, “MIDI” or other similar ones.

Finally, and continuing with the steps to change mobile settings and allow file transfer When connecting to the computer, it is important to remember the following if necessary:

• If the "Developer Options" option is not visible, you need to activate it. To do this, you must go to the "About phone" section and press several times on "Build number" until a message appears indicating that the developer option has been activated.
• Once the developer option has been activated, go back to the settings and look for the option “Developer options”.
• Within the developer options, look for the “USB debugging” option and activate it.
• Connect the mobile to the PC via the USB cable and select the “File Transfer” or “MTP” option when the pop-up window appears on the mobile.
• Once the file transfer option has been selected, you should be able to transfer files from mobile to PC without any issues.

More on troubleshooting Android

At this point, surely many will have achieved detect the technical cause of the problem and managed to solve the same. Therefore, in case you still want to learn more about solving problems on your Android mobile devices, we invite you to explore the list of all our publications (Tutorials, Guides and News) related to the Android operating system.

Or failing that, and as usual, remember to explore the Official Google support for Android and the Official Apple Online Support for iOS, in case of more problems or doubts.

In short, if at any time you experience the error of «when connecting the mobile to the PC it only charges»Well, then this can be due to various technical causes, such as lack of controllers or drivers, problems with the USB cable, mobile configuration or problems with the PC's USB port. In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to identify the specific technical cause and take the necessary steps to solve it. With these tips, anyone can easily share their files between a mobile device and a computer.

And, if you have previously gone through this difficulty and have managed to solve it in some way mentioned here or another alternative, we invite you to tell us about your experience or opinion. via comments on said topic. Also, in case you found this content interesting and useful, we recommend the share it with others. Also, don't forget to explore more of our guides, tutorials, news and various content from the beginning of our website.