Detailed instructions for connecting the tablet to a PC via USB cable + problem solving

Owners of tablet PCs sooner or later are faced with the need to connect the tablet to a computer via USB. For example, to free up internal memory by transferring photos and videos. Then a desktop computer or laptop comes to the rescue, which has a much larger hard drive and can accommodate hundreds of thousands of files, photos, videos. In this article, we will look at how to connect two devices, tell you about other connection methods, and give advice on how to avoid mistakes.

Using standard cable

Cable is the most affordable and easiest option. The connection principle is the same for everyone:

• Connect the devices by inserting the corresponding ends of the cable into the connectors;
• Install or update the necessary drivers on your PC;
• Confirm the connection on your tablet by clicking the corresponding button in the pop-up window or notification shade.

There are four main types of connectors:

1. Type-C (the most modern),
2. Micro-USB
3. Mini-USB (obsolete),
4. Lightning (for Apple equipment).

Usually supplied with a tablet PC.

Don't forget that Apple gadgets connect to your PC through a special program - iTunes.

If you have a tablet with Windows OS, then when connecting, you must initially install special software. You can also connect via a local network or homegroup.

Micro-USB

Currently, this is the most common option for most budget portable gadgets (Prestigio pmp5785c3g, Dexp, Digma, BQ, Bravis, Ainol), including the largest manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, Wacom bamboo, Xiaomi mipad, Huawei ). The only ones that stand out from this group are Apple.

Please remember that there are several types of connectors:

• Type-A - not very common;
• Type-B - this is what is most often used in modern devices.

Type-C

This is a new type of cable with high speed and data transmission power that can be inserted on either side. This version of the wire was used by Apple in 2015 for the MacBook and for Thunderbolt 3. The main advantage is the ability to simultaneously charge and exchange large amounts of data.

If your personal computer does not have this connector, then you should use a Type-C - Type-A wire for connection.

Lightning

This type of cable is proprietary to Apple iPad products. It is also double-sided, on the opposite side it has a standard connector for connecting to a PC. Can transmit video in HD quality.

conclusions

Connecting via a USB cable is the most affordable and easiest way to transfer and process information from tablet-type devices. However, it significantly expands the possibilities of simple use of a pocket device and is not limited to surfing the Internet.

The world of computer technology is growing and developing very rapidly. Knowing basic techniques for working with gadgets has become a vital necessity. A skilled user can easily cope with sorting and transferring information, and keeps important files in order in convenient places. And he simply doesn’t look like a user in the eyes of everyone he knows. Therefore, it is possible and necessary to expand your knowledge in this direction. And I will try to help you do it easily and quickly.

Did you like the article? Encourage your friends to subscribe to blog updates and come visit more often! If you don’t know what to do with a device that has gone crazy (for example, the tablet has stopped charging), I will definitely help with this!

Thank you for your attention! See you again on my blog. Sincerely, Rostislav Kuzmin.

USB operating modes

There are several modes of operating the Android system from a PC. You can use the device as a flash drive or modem, or you can simply put it on charge.

The choice of a specific connection parameter is made in the tablet settings or in the pop-up window when connecting:

• Click on the connection notification on the touchscreen;
• Select the required mode (highlighted in red in the picture);

Don't forget to confirm that you joined.

Charger

It is not present as a separate menu item in all versions of the OS. When you select this option, fast charging occurs, but all other functionality is disabled. You will not be able to transfer data, use the device as a modem, flash drive or external camera.​

Like a flash drive + SD card access

USB drive or USB-large storage - this is the item you need to select to carry out a wide variety of actions: file sharing, uploading photos and videos.

Photo transfer (PTP)

RTP transfers photos using camera software.

There is one more item in the mode menu - MRI. It is almost identical to RTR, but here data transfer is carried out unilaterally - only to the computer.

USB Debugging

Debugging via USB is a mode for a developer that allows you to make changes to the OS and debug applications and gadgets, and perform flashing.

The developer function opens an overview of several hidden parameters and allows you to make changes to the factory settings of the tablet computer. Gaining access is quite simple:

• Tablet settings - About device - Build number - click 7 times;

You are now the tablet administrator.

• For developers - USB Debugging - check the box;

The function is activated and you can make the necessary changes.

WiFi

You can also create a connection via Wi-Fi, which will be an alternative to USB. You will need to download special software for your computer and gadget.

TotalCommander is suitable for laptops, and Wi-Fi Transfer is suitable for tablets:

• Launch the application through the gadget, the FTP address and WLAN status will appear there.
• Launch TC on your laptop and select “Connect to FTP server” through the “Network” menu item.
• Click add, think of any name for the connection.
• Server line: Enter the FTP address provided by the Wi-Fi Transfer application.

• Then click OK. Now enter your WLAN in the Username line.
• You can also enter a password, but this is not required.

After this, all the contents of your tablet will be displayed in Total Commander.

A similar FTP connection can be made using other programs. TotalCommander is still useful, and you can download any app from the app store that will display FTP and IP. For example, FTPServer and Speedtest, which will be quite easy to understand and find the data you need there.

KIES

Samsung tablets have a KIES program that allows you to establish a connection quite quickly. It must be installed on both devices. It is better to download the program from the official website.

After connecting your computer and tablet to a common Wi-Fi network, you need to find KIES in the Wi-Fi settings using the gadget. There we select an available connection. Then enter into the program window open on the computer the code that will be displayed on the device. That's all, the connection is established, now we can also transfer files or flash the tablet's firmware.

So, we have looked at the main ways to connect a tablet to a computer. With their help, we can quickly establish a connection via USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and then transfer the files we need.

One of the main advantages of Android is its open file system. This means that you can not only copy, delete and archive files directly on the device, but also move them from your computer to your tablet and back using regular Windows Explorer. Just connect your tablet to your computer using a USB cable and follow a few simple steps.

Setting up a connection on your tablet

Undoubtedly, for free file management, it will be most convenient to connect the tablet in external storage mode. However, most manufacturers now offer their own file sharing software, requiring installation of both a PC client and tablet drivers. This is the connection mode that most modern android devices are configured to use. For this reason, the first thing you need to do is disable this mode. To do this, go to “Settings” on the tablet, select “For Developers” and activate the “USB Debugging” mode by checking the box next to it. Then in the window that appears, which only tells us to enable external storage mode, click “OK”. If this item is not in the menu, it must first be activated. There are instructions at the end of this section on how to do this. Your tablet is now ready to connect.

Disabling the tablet

To disconnect the tablet, click on the USB drive icon again, select Disconnect USB Drive, after which a similar button will appear. This will make the tablet's internal storage inaccessible to Windows again, but don't rush to unplug the cable from the USB connector.

First, in the computer tray, click on the “Safely remove devices and disks” icon and in the list that opens, select the disks that appeared when you connected the tablet. Windows will then display the message "The hardware may be removed." You can now disconnect the cable from your tablet or computer.

Network connection via 3G (4G)

1. If your tablet has a built-in modem, setting it up is very easy. How to connect your tablet to the Internet? To do this, simply insert the SIM card into the appropriate slot and configure the connection according to the parameters that are usually included with the SIM card. Often, for the Internet to work properly, you need to check the “Network data transfer” option in the settings.
2. Connecting via an external modem is a more complex process.

• The first thing you need to do is make sure that external modems can be connected to the tablet at all. Typically a standard USB port is used for connection.
• The second step is the most difficult. You have to "convince" your modem that you need it as a "modem" and not as a virtual disk or memory card reader. By default, the device is a modem, virtual disk, and card reader.
• Once you have configured your modem to the desired mode, simply go to the APN settings and enter your network operator's settings. You can find them in your contract or simply on the Internet using a search engine.
• Then, having saved the access point, the tablet will automatically connect to the Internet when you connect an external modem.

Safely disconnect from your computer

It is very important to safely disconnect the tablet from the PC. Do not neglect this to avoid problems, especially if you have reinstalled the operating system or checked and updated your antivirus program.

To do this you need:

1. On a tablet PC - go to the menu for working with a USB device and disconnect it by selecting “Disable drive”;
2. On a desktop PC, right-click on the icon for attaching external media and select “Safely remove devices and disks”;
3. Wait for notification about the possibility of removing equipment;
4. After this, you can disconnect by removing the wire.

4.Settings menu item “Battery”.

Displays the device's battery level (in percentage), information whether it is being recharged from the network or whether the tablet is running on battery power. On the tablet screen in the lower right corner, the “Battery” icon displays the charge level as the battery is full in blue; if the charge level is less than 15%, the color turns orange.

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If the PC does not see the device

Situations often arise when Windows displays an “Unidentified device” error or does not respond at all. There may be several reasons.

Check mode

All modern gadgets with pre-installed Android OS have a device connection confirmation function. Most often, this is an automatically pop-up message in the center of the screen or in the notification panel.

Check which PC settings you have installed. If there is a checkmark next to the “Charging” item, then the laptop will not see files on the tablet. Select USB storage and wait for the drivers to install. After this, the external removable drive will appear in “My Computer”.

Use a different wire

The symptoms of a faulty cable, regardless of type, are simple: the cord will not charge or transmit information. Damage is not always visible visually. But if you carefully probe the wire with your fingers, you can find exactly where the crease or break occurred.

To avoid wasting time on repairs, use a different wire. If you have a regular Micro-USB or Type-C, then finding it will not be difficult: every smartphone and other portable equipment always comes with a cable and charger. But owners of devices from the Apple manufacturer are not so lucky.

Check connectors

Mechanical damage or clogged connector is another reason why there is no contact. To check the socket, try connecting a flash drive, smartphone, camera, keyboard. Often the PC does not contain a single USB connector: we recommend trying them all.

We recommend inspecting the slot on the tablet for damage and dirt; read how to properly clean it yourself here.

Reboot both devices

Sometimes a crash or glitch in the operating system prevents you from establishing contact. Reboot both devices and try connecting again.

Disable antivirus or firewall

An antivirus or firewall may block the attachment of third-party gadgets. Temporarily disable antivirus software on both your tablet and desktop computer and try synchronizing again.

Install updates

Do not neglect updating the operating system, because it is not for nothing that in most gadgets it happens automatically. Many people disable this feature to reduce Internet connection traffic. In this case, we recommend checking for software updates manually.

Major tablet PC manufacturers periodically publish new software on their official website. In Windows, even if you disable automatic downloading, a message about new updates pops up, and all you need is to agree to download them.

Reinstall drivers

Synchronization between the tablet and computer occurs successfully only if the latter has the appropriate drivers. If your mobile PC is not detected - the message “Unknown device” appears on the screen or nothing happens at all, then this is precisely the problem. To download, do the following:

“Start” - “Control Panel” - “Device Manager” - “USB Controllers” - “Update Drivers” - “Automatically search for updated drivers”;

After installation, you need to reboot both devices.

If this procedure does not help, you will have to Google and search for drivers manually on the manufacturer’s website.

Difference in USB protocols (versions 1 and 3 are incompatible)

As noted above, there is far more than one version of USB protocols, and sometimes there is a conflict of standards. In order to connect devices of different generations, it is necessary to maintain port compatibility. There are three main protocol versions: USB 1, 2.0 and 3.0/3.1. It should be remembered that specification 3.0 is fully compatible with 2.0 and earlier, but version 1.0 is not compatible with 3. We recommend using a more modern PC.

Firmware problems

Incorrect updating of the operating system can become a problem when synchronizing devices. The only way out in this situation is to install suitable firmware and, as a result, reset all settings to factory settings. In this case, all personal data will be lost, so you should not flash it without creating a backup copy. How to reflash correctly is described here.

The board or controller is burned out

If a controller or information exchange board has burned out, then you cannot do without the help of specialists. Diagnostics and accurate identification of operational problems are necessary. Replacing the module yourself, without special knowledge and equipment, can lead to disastrous results.

How to connect your tablet to your computer via WiFi

You can also connect your tablet to your computer using a Wifi wireless network. In this case, you do not need USB, but you will have to install a special application on the tablet.

For example, you can use the WiFi File Transfer app. The operating principle of this application is very simple. A small web server runs on your tablet. With this web server, you can manage files on your tablet from any computer that is connected to the same local network.

So, in order to connect the tablet to the computer using WiFi File Transfer, you need to launch this program on the tablet, and then click on the “Start” button.

After this, you need to open a browser on any computer (connected to the same local network) and enter the web server address that the WiFi File Transfer program gave you. As a result, a small file manager should open in the browser.

With this file manager you can transfer files from your computer to your tablet and back.

With which you can play games, watch movies, read books, listen to music, and do much more. It’s just more convenient to download large files: videos or gigabytes of music on a PC, and only then exchange them with your device. So you need to know how to connect your tablet to your computer or laptop.

There is nothing complicated here, but sometimes it is worth understanding in detail so that later you can perform these actions conveniently and automatically. Next, you will learn how you can connect your tablet to its larger brother in easy ways: USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

In addition, by connecting to a PC, you can do things like flash the device, install updates, programs, and use the tablet as a kind of storage medium.

The easiest way, and also the most frequently used. It only requires a USB cable. It always comes as a charger element with every modern tablet.

1. We insert one end of the cable into the MicroUSB connector of your gadget, and the other into the USB connector of the PC.
2. The computer will immediately recognize the new connection, and the tablet will also display a notification.
3. On the device you need to tap on the notification, after which a menu or window will open in which you need to allow the device to exchange files with the computer. This is done so that when exchanging files it cannot be done accidentally or without the knowledge of the owner.
4. Opening My Computer, we will see that the device is now displayed as a removable storage device. If you have equipped your tablet with a memory card, it may appear as an additional removable storage device.
5. Inside, everything is sorted into the appropriate sections, so it’s better to transfer files directly to the necessary folders: music - Music, photos - Pictures.

All! We easily connected the tablet to the PC.

Formally, the same can be done using a simple SD card if you use it as a file storage device. We simply remove it from the device, then use a regular card reader or USB adapter to connect it to the PC. In this way we can easily transfer all the necessary data. If you then need to move them to the gadget’s internal memory, we can do this from any file manager.

iPad

The situation is a little different with how to connect a tablet to a computer with Apple technology. You can also connect the iPad to a laptop via USB, but we will not be able to view all files and programs.

iTunes program

To download movies, music, books or anything else from USB, you need to install iTunes on your PC. With its help, all this can be done in the appropriate section. iTunes also allows you to install applications.

The Bluetooth communication standard has not been canceled; even today it is a fairly convenient way to connect a tablet to a computer. If for some reason you don’t have a cable at hand and you can’t connect to your laptop via USB, then bluetooth can be a big help.

We just turn it on on the computer, make it available for connection, and then do the same with the gadget. After this, we create a connection between the two devices; most often you will also need to enter a password. That's it, now we can transfer files via Bluetooth.

Bluetooth today is a fairly powerful communication standard; you can transfer files through it very quickly. This method is suitable for gadgets from different manufacturers.

Wireless methods

WiFi

Synchronization via wifi is possible only if the appropriate module is installed in the PC, which supports a wireless connection. There are several applications that help transfer data:

• MyPhoneExplorer - in addition to transferring files, this program has the function of viewing calls and SMS messages received on the tablet, organizer and memory assessment.
• AirDroid is an application with even more advanced functionality. You can work in a browser without installing a program on a desktop computer and control your tablet.
• Samsung owners can use the Kies application, Huawei - the HiSuite program.

More detailed information can be found here.

Bluetooth

To pair two gadgets, you need a Bluetooth adapter on your PC. If you don't have it, you can always purchase it. Choose version 4.0 and higher. The minimum version for a desktop PC is 2.1. Install all the necessary drivers and settings: only then can you connect:

• Enable Bluetooth on the tablet;
• On the PC, go to Settings - Devices - Add Bluetooth;

• In the list on a desktop computer, select our gadget;
• Confirm actions on the tablet PC display;

Connection features

Before you connect your smartphone and PC, you need to remember a few simple rules, without which normal Internet distribution will not be possible:

1. Availability of Wi-Fi adapter. If the connection is to a stationary system unit, then most likely it will not have a wireless data transfer function. In this case, you need to purchase it separately. This small device will cost from 300 rubles in a store, and if you order it online, it will be cheaper. In modern laptops, such modules are already built into the motherboard.
2. Having a good router. If a router of outdated models is installed in the house, then its range of action may be relatively small. To do this, it is recommended to purchase routers of modern models, preferably with two transmitting antennas - this increases the range significantly.

Connecting a smartphone to a computer or laptop

Having fulfilled all the conditions for a high-quality connection, you can start setting up. Before this, you need to determine what operating system is installed on your smartphone. This is not difficult to do, just go to the phone settings on the “System” tab, where you can see data about the device.