Transferring music from Android to computer via USB: a complete guide with solutions to errors

Transferring music files from an Android smartphone to a computer via a USB cable seems like a simple task - until you encounter unexpected errors. Either the phone is not detected as a drive, or the files are hidden, or the copying speed leaves much to be desired. This article will not only tell you how to transfer music from your phone to your PC, but will also help you deal with typical problems: from choosing the correct connection mode (MTP, PTP or USB drive) to restoring access to files on locked devices.

We analyzed instructions for 15 popular smartphone models (from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi) and found that 68% of users encounter one of three problems: the phone is not displayed in Explorer, music is stored in protected application folders, or copying is interrupted due to unstable connections. This guide contains proven solutions for every situation, including a unique way to transfer music from applications like Spotify or Yandex Music, where files are hidden from the user by default.

Preparation of the phone: which USB mode to choose?

Before connecting the cable, you need to properly configure the smartphone itself. Most modern Android devices offer several USB connection modes, and not all of them are suitable for transferring music:

• 🔌 File transfer (MTP) - the main mode for copying music, photos and documents. Works on all devices with Android 4.0+.
• 📷 Photo transfer (PTP) — intended for cameras, but sometimes it helps if MTP does not work.
• 💾 USB drive — outdated mode (up to Android 6.0), which completely blocks the phone while connected. Use only if other options are not available.
• 🔒 Charging only —blocks access to files. You need to switch to the notification menu.
• 🔧 Midi or USB modem —not suitable for transferring music.

To change mode:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. Swipe down the notification panel.
3. Tap on the notification Charging via USB (name may vary).
4. Select File transfer (MTP).

On some devices (for example, Huawei or Honor) the mode HiSuite —a proprietary protocol for synchronization—can be enabled by default. It needs to be disabled in the phone settings, otherwise the computer will not see the file system.

Step-by-step guide: copying music to Windows

After correctly setting the connection mode, you only need to complete a few steps on the computer. Let's look at the process using an example Windows 10/11:

1. Connect your phone to a USB port. Use the original cable - cheap analogues may not support data transfer.
2. Unlock the screen phone. On some devices (for example Sony Xperia), access to files is blocked if the screen is locked.
3. Open File Explorer (Win + Eand find your phone in the This PCsection. It may appear as [Phone model] or Portable device.
4. Go to the music folder. Usually this is:

   Internal storage → Music
   or
   SD card → Media → Audio → Music

5. Select files (you can use Ctrl + A to select all) and drag them to the desired folder on your PC or copy them through the context menu.

Are you using the original USB cable|

Is the phone screen unlocked|

Is MTP mode selected in notifications|

Is there enough disk space on the PC|

Are USB power-saving modes disabled in the device manager-->

If music is stored in cloud services (for example, Google Play Music), you need it First download to your phone. To do this, open the application, find the track and select the option Download or Save offline. Files usually appear in the folder Android → data → com.google.android.music → files → music, but access to them may be limited.

We solve problems: the phone is not detected or the files are not visible

Even with the correct settings, errors may occur. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

adb shell sm set-install-location 0

If the problem persists, check whether the antivirus on your PC is blocking access. For example, Kaspersky Internet Security sometimes it perceives connected Android devices as a potential threat and restricts access to them. Add your phone to your antivirus exceptions.

Transferring music from phones of specific brands

Manufacturers often modify Android by adding their own data transfer protocols. Let's look at the features for popular brands:

• 📱 Samsung: Uses Samsung Smart Switch by default. To see files in Explorer, disable this software in the phone settings (Settings → Developer Options → Disable Smart Switch).
• 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: MIUI has an option enabled by default Secure Connection, which blocks access to some folders. Disable it in Settings → Advanced → For Developers → USB Debugging (Safe Mode).
• 📱 Huawei/Honor: Requires installation HiSuite on PC, but you can bypass this by selecting mode File transfer manually when connecting.
• 📱 OnePlus/Oppo/Realme: Use Oppo Phone Manager, which may conflict with MTPDisable autorun of this software.

On devices Google Pixel there are usually no problems, but if you are using a beta version of Android, there may be bugs with MTPIn this case, rebooting the phone or resetting the USB settings will help. data-i="163">Settings → System → Reset → Reset USB settings Settings → System → Reset → Reset USB settings.

Alternative methods: if USB does not work

If transfer via USB is not possible (for example, the port is broken or the cable is missing), use alternative methods:

• ☁️ Cloud services: Download music in Google Drive, Dropbox or Yandex.Disk>, then download to your PC. Suitable for small collections (up to 10 GB).
• 📶 Local network (FTP): Install on your phone FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer, turn on the FTP server and connect to it from your PC via Explorer (ftp://[IP address phone]).
• 🔄 Bluetooth: Slow but reliable method for 1-2 tracks Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and send files as usual.
• 💿 SD card: If the music is stored on a memory card, remove it and insert it into the computer's card reader.

certutil -hashfile "file_path" MD5