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Fix – PC Not Showing Files over USB After Marshmallow Update

Android devices running Lollipop or earlier versions would simply show files when connected to a PC using a USB cable. The Android Marshmallow however brings a change to this and the device goes to Charging only mode by default when connected to a PC and hence files don’t show up. Rather than being an issue, this is a new Android feature, but many users are complaining that they are not able to access their files. So here’s how files can be accessed on the PC after updating to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).

Accessing Files on PC After Marshmallow Update

Since the device lands into Charging only mode by default, the files are not accessible even though the device shows up in Windows explorer. All that needs to be done is to change the mode from Charging only to MTP (or PTP if needed). Here’s how:

  1. Connect the Android device to PC using the USB cable.
  2. Pull down the notifications slider. You will notice an entry saying USB for Charging.
    USB for Charging Notification
  3. Tap on the entry and change the selection to File Transfers (Or Photo Transfer as needed).
    Use USB for Android Marshmallow
  4. Your device’s files should now be accessible on the PC.

It is an Android limitation that this needs to be done every time you connect the device to the PC. Android Marshmallow does not offer an option to set a default preference for the USB connection. However if you have a rooted Android device, then the default behavior can be changed.

If files are still not accessible after completing the above steps then you can consider repeating them. If it still does not work then you might be needed to install the MTP drivers on your PC.

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  • am having a problem on charging n by connecting to pc too , while connecting to pc it show only the charging battery n the device show only, too charge faster used the original one , am using my original usb cable to pc. but still showing this . after I upgrade my divice lollipop to marshmallo problem occurs only usb. am not able to charge faster n it takes so much to charge n by showing used the orginal one . am already using it. plz fix the problem some body am using samsung j7 model no sm-j700f

    • Charging from the USB of a PC is always going to be slow. So to charge faster, you should charge using the wall charger provided with your phone.

    • A device on Marshmallow connected to PC via USB and no notification? This is strange mate. Maybe your phone isn’t recognizing that it is connected to a PC? I hope you’re using a good USB cable.

  • WHERE are the MTP drivers mate??? I have searching for my Panasonic Eluga Note since days now!
    Please provide a link.

    • Which version of Windows are you using? Did you check device manager if it’s actually the drivers that are missing or the device is not being recognized correctly?

        • That is a lot crazy. Did you try changing to PTP mode? And maybe you should try using a different cable plugged to a different USB port.
          And does the device show up in device manager? Does the PC play the usual sound on connecting the USB?

      • Of course I did change to PTP and back to MTP. The problem is that the phone is sort of NOT DETECTED by the laptop. I don’t think that it is HW problem though, because my other phones (with Versions below Android 6.0) DO get detected and work fine with the set of current drivers I have on my Windows 8.1 Laptop, using the SAME cable.

        • This isn’t an issue with 6.0. And since Windows 8+ does come with all the essential MTP/PTP drivers, this is strange that the device doesn’t work at all.
          Consider jumping into the device manager if it shows an unknown device or a device with a yellow exclamation mark as that would be missing a driver.
          There was a help post at Xiaomi forums which provided the manual way to enable MTP connection, but that was for Windows XP. You should still try the same way by manual adding your device details to the file. A quick Google search will get you to that forum post.