How to Connect Samsung Phone to PC/Laptop? - 100% Work

Are you facing issues connecting your Samsung phone to your computer? Well, you are not alone. Even though Samsung is a premium smartphone brand, connecting its phone to a PC or a laptop has been a regular issue.

Samsung phone not connecting to PC only charging is a common complaint from Samsung users. However, lucky you! Here we will illustrate all the different ways on how to connect Samsung phone to computer successfully. Let's check it out!

Way 1. Connect Samsung Phone to PC via AirDroid Personal [Recommended]

Most Samsung users face the issue of Samsung phone not showing up on PC or laptop when connected through a USB cable. The most effective solution to connecting Samsung phone to PC successfully is using a third-party app.

After trying different third-party app, we highly recommend AirDroid Personal which is tailor-made to connect Samsung phone to PC effortlessly. AirDroid Personal lets you connect your Samsung phone to your PC or laptop wirelessly.

Key Features of AirDroid Personal:

Here are the features of AirDroid Personal that make it perfect for Samsung phone connect to PC.

Transfer & Manage Files

You can transfer files and documents without USB from your phone to your computer and vice versa using AirDroid Personal. Your phone and your computer should be connected to a cellular network or Wi-Fi network.

In fact, you can use its Nearby feature to transfer files to nearby connected devices without even an internet connection.

Remote Control Phone from PC

Once you connect your Samsung phone to PC, you can remote control your phone from your PC. This means you get full control of your phone from your PC and your phone does not need to be rooted for remote control. Therefore, you can control your phone from your laptop even when you are miles apart.

SMS & Notification Management

You can check out the notifications on your phone from your computer. AirDroid syncs all the notifications on your phone to your computer including social media app notifications.

You can reply to them directly from your computer. Also, you can send and receive SMS and make calls directly from your computer through your phone.

Remote Camera

You can get access to your phone's camera from your computer. Thereafter, you can see and listen to the surroundings of your phone. This is useful in monitoring family members remotely.

Screen Mirroring

You can mirror your Samsung phone screen to your computer screen. This helps to view phone content on a bigger screen. Your phone and your computer do not have to be on the same network and hence, you can screen mirror your phone to your computer remotely.

How to Connect Samsung Phone to PC with AirDroid Personal?

Here are the steps to connect Samsung phone to PC wireless successfully using AirDroid Personal.

Step 1: Click the below button to download and install AirDroid Personal app on your computer as well as on your Samsung phone.

Step 2: Launch AirDroid Personal app and create an AirDroid account. Sign in with the account credentials on both your Samsung phone and your computer.

Step 3: Connect your phone and your computer to the same Wi-Fi network. From AirDroid Personal app, tap on Me option at the bottom of the app screen. Tap on Security & Remote Features option. Turn on the features such as Files, Camera, Remote Control and others.

Step 4: From AirDroid Personal app on your computer, click on your Samsung phone under My Devices. Thereafter, you can perform any desired activity as per your requirements.

Way 2. Connect Samsung Phone to PC via USB

The most common way to connect your Samsung phone to your computer is by using a USB cable. However, many complain that after connecting via USB cable, their Samsung phone only charges but does not transfer files.

This could happen due to missing out on an important step and not selecting the correct option. Here are the steps you need to follow to get the connection successfully.

Step 1: Take the connecting USB cable. Connect the micro-USB end to Samsung phone and the USB end to your computer.

Step 2: If Samsung phone connects to PC successfully, you will get a notification on your phone that your phone is connected to your computer. Tap on that notification and you will see a pop-up message on the screen.

Step 3: The pop-up message will have certain options and you have to select Transfer Files or File Transfer option.

Step 4: On your computer, you will get a pop-up message and you have to select "Open Device To View Files" option.

Step 5: A new window will appear on your computer screen where you will see the files and folders stored on your phone.

Way 3. Connect Samsung Phone to PC via SideSync

To connect your Samsung phone to your computer successfully and sync the data properly, Samsung has an application called SideSync. You can compare SideSync to AirDroid Personal but AirDroid is far better and more feature-rich than SideSync. While AirDroid Personal is a third-party app, SideSync is the official app from Samsung to connect phone and PC.

Here are the key features of SideSync that you should be aware of:

Here are the steps to connect Samsung phone to Pc using SideSync.

Step 1: Install SideSync app on your Samsung phone from Play Store.

Step 2: Download SideSync on your computer from Samsung Download page. SideSync is available for Windows as well as Mac. Install SideSync from the downloaded installer file.

Step 3: Open SideSync on your phone and computer. Connect your phone to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi network.

Step 4: Click on Start button on SideSync so that it starts detecting the connected device.

Step 5: Once the connected device is detected successfully, you will get a confirmation message. Click on Ok button to start syncing the devices and thereafter, you will be able to transfer files.

SideSync is the best solution to your query "How do I sync my Samsung phone to my computer?"

Way 4. Connect Samsung Phone to PC via Microsoft Launcher

If you want to connect your Samsung Galaxy phone to your PC having Windows 8 or above, you can use Microsoft Launcher. You can connect your Samsung phone to your computer wirelessly over an internet connection. Here are the steps to follow.

Step 1: On your Windows PC, go to Start menu and open Settings app.

Step 2: Click on Phone option and click on Add a phone button.

Step 3: Enter your phone number and tap on Send option.

Step 4: Check your Samsung phone and you will see a text message. Open the text message and tap on the link in the message.

Step 5: This will open up Microsoft Launcher app installation page. Install the app and launch it.

Step 6: Tap on Get Started button and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be asked to sign into your Microsoft account. Make sure it is the same account that you are logged into from your computer.

Thereafter, your phone and your computer will be connected. You can use Microsoft Launcher as Samsung phone laptop app if your laptop has Windows 8 or above.

Way 5. Connect Samsung Phone to PC via Link to Windows

If you own a high-end Samsung phone such as Samsung Galaxy Note series, you can connect your phone to your PC using Link to Windows app by Microsoft. Your PC must have Windows 10 or above.

Link To Windows app is comparable to Samsung SideSync and AirDroid Personal app though AirDroid is more reliable and feature-rich. Here are the steps to connect Samsung Phone to PC using Link to Windows app.

Step 1: Check from the official Microsoft page if your Samsung device is supported for Link to Windows app.

Step 2: Update your Windows to the latest version. Go to Start＞ Settings＞ Update & Security and click on Check for Updates button.

Step 3: On your computer, install Your Phone Companion app from Microsoft Store. Open Your Phone Companion app on your computer and click on Get Started button. Log into your Microsoft account if prompted.

Step 4: Turn on the option "I have Your Phone Companion.." and choose Pair with QR Code option. Make sure that both your computer and your phone are connected to the same network.

Step 5: On your Samsung phone, open Play Store and install Link To Windows app. Launch the app and log into your Microsoft account that is linked to your computer.

Step 6: From Link to Windows app, go to Link your phone and PC and tap on Continue. Scan the QR code on your computer screen and hit Continue.

Step 7: Give all the permissions necessary and follow the on-screen instructions. When the devices are connected, tap on Done button. On your computer, use Your Phone app to control your phone.

Way 6. Connect Samsung Mobile to PC via Kies

If you have a Samsung featured phone or Samsung smartphone released before Galaxy Note 3, you can connect it to your PC using Samsung Kies. You can sync Samsung phone to PC easily and Kies is available for Windows PC. For the latest Samsung phones, you can use SideSync or Smart Switch app. Here are the steps on how to connect to Samsung phone from PC.

Step 1: Download and install Samsung Kies on your PC.

Step 2: Connect your Samsung phone to your computer using USB cable.

Step 3: From Notification panel on your Samsung phone, tap on MTP mode.

Step 4: Thereafter, Samsung Kies will detect your Samsung phone automatically.

Way 7. Connect Samsung Mobile to PC via Bluetooth

So far we have stated that you can connect Samsung phone to PC USB cable and wirelessly via Wi-Fi. You can also connect your Samsung phone to PC wirelessly via Bluetooth if your PC has Bluetooth service.

More than personal computers, every laptop comes with Bluetooth facility. Here are the steps to activate Bluetooth on different Windows versions. Thereafter, you need to activate Bluetooth on your Samsung phone and pair the devices.

1. On Windows 11

Step 1: Go to Start menu option. Open Settings app.

Step 2: Click on Bluetooth & other devices and turn on Bluetooth to activate the service.

Step 3: Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung phone from Quick Settings.

Step 4: On your computer, click on Network icon from the system tray.

Step 5: Select Manage Bluetooth Devices and under Not Paired, select your Samsung phone.

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions on both devices to pair the devices. Finally, select Done option.

2. On Windows 10

Step 1: Go to Start menu and open Settings app.

Step 2 Click on Devices＞ Bluetooth & other devices.

Step 3: Enable Bluetooth option to activate the service.

Step 4: Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung phone from Quick Settings.

Step 5: Select your Samsung devices from the list on your computer.

Step 6: Match the codes on Samsung phone and your computer for pairing successfully.

Step 7: Finally, click on Connect option on your computer and tap on Pair option on your Samsung phone.

3. On Windows 8.1

Step 1: Click on Start button and type "Bluetooth".

Step 2: Select Bluetooth Settings and enable Bluetooth option.

Step 3: Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung phone from Quick Settings.

Step 4: On your computer, your Samsung phone must appear under connected devices. Select your Samsung phone from the list.

Step 5: Tap on Pair option and follow the on-screen instructions to pair successfully.

4. On Windows 7

Step 1: Go to Start menu and then to Administrative Tools.

Step 2: From Administrative Tools, go to Computer Services＞ Services and then to Bluetooth Support Service.

Step 3: Right-click on Properties and choose Startup type.

Step 4: Under General, select Automatic and click on Apply and Ok button.

Step 5: Go to Control Panel and click on Computer Management.

Step 6: From Administrative Tools, go to Device Manager＞ Bluetooth Adapter.  Right-click and select Enable option.

Step 7: Turn on Bluetooth on your Samsung phone from Quick Settings.

Step 8: Go to Start menu and select Devices and Printers.

Step 9: Click on Add a device and select your Samsung phone. Click on Next button.

Step 10: Match the codes of the devices and pair the devices successfully.

Why My Samsung Phone Can't Connect to PC?

There are several reasons why your PC cannot recognize your connected Samsung phone. Sometimes, the reasons are very simple and their solutions are very basic. Here are the possible reasons for Samsung phone not connecting to PC and their corresponding solutions.

1. Possible Reasons:

Check USB Cable – Sometimes, the issue could be due to a faulty USB cable. Therefore, when your phone is not connecting to your PC, you should try the USB cable with another phone. If that phone connects, then the USB cable and even USB port are working properly.

USB Connect Mode - You might have set the default USB connection mode to charging only as an automatic choice on your PC. In that case, every time you connect your Samsung phone to your PC, it will charge and won't show options for file transfer.

MTP USB Drivers – When you connect your Samsung phone as a media device to your PC, your computer's operating system must have the latest MTP USB driver. But if your PC does not have it installed, your phone won't connect to your PC as a media device.

Windows Drivers – Driver issue in Windows OS is extremely common. If your operating system is outdated, it won't recognize the latest Samsung phone due to the lack of a driver present. There are several driver troubleshooter applications available that you can run to fix the driver issue.

Hardware Problem – Sometimes, the problem could be with your Samsung phone only. If it is a phone hardware problem, it won't work with any computer. Therefore, you should try and connect your Samsung phone to another computer and see if it connects properly.

2. Ways to Fix Problem:

Apart from the solutions we have already mentioned to connect your Samsung phone to your PC successfully, here are some basic solutions you can try out and fix the connection issue instantly.

A. Select Proper USB Connection Mode

Step 1: Connect your Samsung phone to your PC using USB cable.

Step 2: From the notification bar on your phone, look for Android System notification. You will see the USB connection mode such as charging, transferring media files, and likewise.

Step 3: Tap on Android System notification and you will see different modes.

Step 4: Select File Transfer or Transfer Files option. Your phone storage must now appear on your PC in File Explorer.

B. Update the MTP USB Drivers

Step 1: Connect your phone to your PC via USB cable. Press Windows + X keys together. Select Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Click on the Down arrow icon beside Portable Devices or Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Find your Samsung phone from the list.

Step 3: Right-click on Samsung phone and select Update Driver option. Thereafter, select Browse My Computer for Drivers option.

Step 4: Select the option "Let me pick…" and select MTP USB Device and click on Next button. This will update the drivers and you should reconnect your phone and see if it works properly.

C. Run Windows Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

Step 1: Press Windows + R keys together. On Run dialog box, type "cmd" and press Enter key.

Step 2: In Command Prompt, type "msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic" and press Enter key.

Step 3: You will see Hardware and Device Troubleshooter window on your screen. Click on Next button for the troubleshooter to detect the issue while your phone is connected to your computer.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen troubleshooting solutions to fix the issue.

D. Update Operating System

Step 1: If you have macOS, click on Apple logo and choose About This Mac option.

Step 2: Click on Software Update button to check for any update available. Click on Update Now button to update macOS if it is available.

Step 3: If you have Windows OS, go to Start menu button and open Settings app.

Step 4: Click on Windows Update and click on Check for Updates button to update Windows if it is available.

Conclusion

You want to connect your Samsung phone to PC or laptop via USB cable. If it is not working, you can go for wireless connection. There are official apps available for wireless connection such as Samsung SideSync, Samsung Kies, Samsung Smart Switch, Microsoft Launcher, and Link To Windows.

We have stated how you can connect your Samsung phone to computer using these apps. But we recommend AirDroid Personal as the most reliable and effective method to connect Samsung phone to computer.

FAQs about Connecting Phone to PC

How do I transfer files from my Samsung phone to my computer?

Elsa

You can transfer files from your Samsung phone to your computer by connecting via USB cable. You have to select transfer File mode in that case. You can also transfer files wirelessly via Bluetooth. The most effective way is by using AirDroid Personal app especially when the traditional ways are not working.

How do I get Windows 10 to recognize my Samsung phone?

Elsa

If you have a high-end Samsung smartphone, you can get Windows 10 to recognize your Samsung phone using Link to Windows app. Besides, you can use Samsung SideSync app for proper connection. If you have an older Samsung phone, you need to go for Samsung Kies app for Windows 10 to recognize your Samsung phone.

How do I transfer files from Samsung to PC wirelessly?

Elsa

You can transfer files wirelessly from Samsung phone to PC using Bluetooth. Samsung SideSync and Microsoft Launcher as well as Link to Windows are popular apps through which you can transfer files easily. But the most effective and reliable way to transfer files wirelessly from Samsung to PC is by using AirDroid Personal app.

How to connect Samsung phone to PC when screen is broken?

Elsa

You can use AirDroid Personal app to connect your Samsung phone to PC when the screen is broken. Thereafter, you can use screen mirroring your phone screen to your computer. Besides, you can remotely access all the basic features of your phone directly from your computer using AirDroid Personal.