SOLVED! The Connected Device Is Unable To Access Data On This Device 

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The process of connecting Android phones to computers for data transfer is usually a straightforward affair. However, errors like “The connected device is unable to access data on this device” could still give people a hard time on occasions. In most of the cases, the best solution for errors during data transfer is to disconnect and reconnect the devices. Additionally, you could restart the devices, modify USB configuration, download and install Android File Transfer/Samsung Smart Switch,… Read to the end to learn what must be done to be able to transfer data between devices as you see fit. 

Causes Of The Error

It’s not uncommon for Android to act up out the blue but once it comes to the error “The connected device is unable to access data on this device”, you should consider these possibilities: 

  • Bugs.
  • Ill-configured USB settings. 
  • The absence of data transfer apps. 

What Must Be Done

Disconnect And Reconnect The Devices 

If you come across the error “The connected device is unable to access data on this device” all of a sudden, don’t panic. Instead, you should proceed to disconnect the devices, wait for a bit and reconnect them. You should also use the opportunity to take a look at the USB cable and look for signs of damages. If the cable is damaged, it’s strongly recommended that you pick up a replacement at the earliest opportunity, 

Restart The Devices 

All in all, despite its simplicity, restart is good at getting rid of bugs that plague electronics. Thus, if you struggle to connect your phone to your computer for data transfer, restart the devices.

For Phones

  • Step 1: Press and hold the Power button.
  • Step 2: Hit Power off then confirm your decision if prompted.
  • Step 3: Allow your phone to shut down all the way. Next, press and hold the Power button to turn on your phone. As soon as you see the home screen, connect your phone to your computer and see how things turn out. 

For Computers

Windows
  • Step 1: Open Start menu. 
  • Step 2: Click the Power icon then pick Restart. 
  • Step 3: When the screen comes back on, connect your phone to your computer and witness the result. 
MacOS
  • Step 1: Open Apple menu.
  • Step 2: Hit Restart.
  • Step 3: After the restart finishes, connect your phone to your computer and determine whether the issue persists. 

Modify USB Configuration 

  • Step 1: On your phone, open Settings, hit About and tap Build number seven times to enable Developer Mode. 
  • Step 2: Back out to Settings, go to Developer Options and toggle on the Default USB Configuration switch.
  • Step 3: Proceed to tick the circle next to File transfer. 

Download And Install Android File Transfer/Samsung Smart Switch

To facilitate data transfer between Android phones and computers, you need data transfer apps like Samsung Smart Switch and Android File Transfer.

Android File Transfer

  • Step 1: On your computer, launch the web browser and visit the Android.com website.
  • Step 2: Find Android File Transfer then download it.
  • Step 2: Open the AndroidFileTransfer.dmg and drag Android File Transfer to Applications on your macOS. 
  • Step 3: Connect the phone to macOS using a USB cable, and double-click Android File Transfer to open the app. Now, you should be able to move files from your phone to your computer and vice versa. 

Note: Only available for macOS. 

Samsung Smart Switch 

  • Step 1: On your computer, launch the web browser and visit the Samsung website.
  • Step 2: Make your way to Download Smart Switch, pick your computer operating system (macOS or Windows), wait for a bit and click the downloaded file at the bottom of your screen. Remember to hit Keep if prompted. 
  • Step 3: Run the download file to initiate the installation of Samsung Smart Switch then restart your computer after the installation finishes. 
  • Step 4: Launch Samsung Smart Switch, agree to the license agreement and hit Next. Allow the SmartSwitch – InstallWizard reaches 100%.
  • Step 5: Perform the file transfer at your leisure. 

Note: Available for macOS and Windows computers. Make sure that your phone also has the same app, which can be downloaded from Google Play Store. 

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