Defective cable? / How to find status bar?

kuepper

I've connected a cable between laptop and phone )moto e4plus) and it's charging the phone ok but I can't find how to transfer files. My manual says swipe down the status bar and change setting from charge only to file transfer but I don't know what the status bar is. I've swiped down from the top of the screen but all I get is symbols for wifi signal, phone signal, torch, battery, portrait, bluetooth,and do not disturb ie nothing about charging and file transfer. Do I have a defective cable or am I doing something wrong?

simon.griggs

Dear Kuepper,

Usually when you unlock your phone, Windows should register its presence and show you the drives contained on it.

I hope this helps

Regards

Simon G

kuepper

simon.griggs said:

Dear Kuepper,

Usually when you unlock your phone, Windows should register its presence and show you the drives contained on it.

I hope this helps

Regards

Simon G

unfortunately the phone doesn't show up when I unlock it

forgotmyname

Probably need to allow it access.   When connecting to the PC it should ask how you want to connect.

I use MTP   (Media Transfer)   Just comes up on the PC as another drive with the phones name.

A_Lert

Try another cable. There are rare nonstandard cables that will charge but won't transfer files; I seem to remember the original chromecast was supplied with one.

IvanOpinion

A slim possibility, depending on how you have connected the cable, could it be plugged in a charging only port or cable?

debitcardmayhem

When you swipe down click on the settings cog then search for usb , click file transfer. If it doesn't show up on the pc you may just have a charging cable rather than a dat cable

J_B

forgotmyname said:

Probably need to allow it access.   When connecting to the PC it should ask how you want to connect.

Don't you have to do the same on the phone too?

IIRC, we had a similar problem and had to dig around in the phone settings to enable usb transfer

Maybe this? https://support.motorola.com/us/en/solution/MS148668

molerat

As above. When you swipe down there should be a white bar "Android system  - Charging this device via USB" .  Click it, Tap for more options, USB preferences opens up, click on File Transfer.  You will need to do this every time you connect.  It can be set permanently by opening up "Developer Options" and changing the settings but that is a hidden menu that takes a bit of getting to.

HoofeHearted

When you first connect the phone to the computer, Windows usually tries to install the drivers to communicate properly with the phone.  Did this happen?

molerat

HoofeHearted said:

When you first connect the phone to the computer, Windows usually tries to install the drivers to communicate properly with the phone.  Did this happen?

With the majority of Motos you have to specifically allow the phone to communicate with the PC each time unless it is set by the phone to connect automatically. No external software or driver is going to overcome that.