Solved My Phone (using Phone Link) Shows in File Explorer Navigation Pane, but no content.

jameswesthead · Dec 26, 2024

I have been having a lot of trouble with Phone Link.
After Uninstalling and re-installing several times, and doing the same with the Link Windows App on my mobile phone, I have finally managed to connect the phone to the PC.
I can click on the top ribbon of phone link and I can see messages, photos and calls.
However, when I look in File Explorer, I an see the phone in the Navigation Pane, but when I click on it, I just see "This folder is empty".
See screenshots.
Any ideas?

Berton · Dec 26, 2024

I don't use the Phone Link but connect my Samsung phone via USB-C cable [same as the charging cable] to my computer then on the phone Allow access. Where your File Explorer shows moto g62 5g [Motorola?] I get a longer id so I click that then in the right panel I get the Internal storage and the 4GB SDHC card I have in it, phone looks like any other external drive. Opening the Internal icon I can get to other things, main one is the DCIM for the photos I've taken so I can Copy what I need then back under This PC choose when I want to store on the computer or on my NAS drive.

Edwin · Dec 26, 2024

jameswesthead said:
I can see the phone in the Navigation Pane, but when I click on it, I just see "This folder is empty".

You need to grant Link to Windows All files access...

I don't use Phone Link either!
Like @Berton , I just use a USB cable.
Phone Link is a glitchy, convoluted PC toy!

Scott · Dec 27, 2024

You don't need Phone Link to use the Explorer feature, just Link to Windows on your phone, and to set it up in windows.
So much easier than messing around with cables and so much faster as well.

Enable or Disable Android Phone Access in File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off access to your Android phone mobile device in File Explorer for your account in Windows 11. If you turn on Allow this PC to access your mobile devices, you will be able to link and manage your mobile devices directly from your PC. This link...

www.elevenforum.com

Dronix · Dec 27, 2024

jameswesthead said:
I have been having a lot of trouble with Phone Link.

What Microsoft is offering is the worst I've seen from them. It's just a DISASTER.

jameswesthead · Dec 27, 2024

Berton said:
I don't use the Phone Link but connect my Samsung phone via USB-C cable [same as the charging cable] to my computer then on the phone Allow access. Where your File Explorer shows moto g62 5g [Motorola?] I get a longer id so I click that then in the right panel I get the Internal storage and the 4GB SDHC card I have in it, phone looks like any other external drive. Opening the Internal icon I can get to other things, main one is the DCIM for the photos I've taken so I can Copy what I need then back under This PC choose when I want to store on the computer or on my NAS drive.

View attachment 120382
View attachment 120383

Thank you for your response. Te reason why I want to use Phine Link is precusely to avoid having to use cables.

jameswesthead · Dec 27, 2024

Dronix said:
What Microsoft is offering is the worst I've seen from them. It's just a DISASTER.

It certainly seem sto be very erratic

jameswesthead · Dec 27, 2024

Edwin said:
You need to grant Link to Windows All files access...

View attachment 120386

I don't use Phone Link either!
Like @Berton , I just use a USB cable.
Phone Link is a glitchy, convoluted PC toy!

When I set Phone Link and Link to Windows up, I was asked to grant access to multopler types of file - SMS, Photos and so on. I don't recall ever being asked to gant access to "All files", but I woid have done so if asked. Since reading your post. I ave had another rummnage around inside Link to Windows (a syou suggest), and NOWHERE is there any option to grant such access. If there was, I would happily grant it. I agree thta it glitchy.

jameswesthead · Dec 27, 2024

It has suddely (I.e. overnight) started to work. I can see files copied from Phone to PC and vice-versa, just using Drag and Drop.
AS far as I can see, these apps - Phone Link and Link to Windows, are extremely glitchy, and don't inspire me with much confdence.
However, thank you all for your help.

Scott · Dec 28, 2024

I'm glad you got it working.

jameswesthead said:
Phone Link and Link to Windows, are extremely glitchy

On my system, Phone Link has been rock solid. I'm surprised at how well it actually works.
As for Link to Windows, it came preinstalled on my phone from the factory. Its an embedded
app that I can't uninstall or update. I can only turn it on or off. I'm sure Samsung updates it
when they roll out system updates.

Edwin · Dec 28, 2024

Scott said:
Its an embedded app that I can't uninstall or update. I can only turn it on or off.

You can Disable it.

Solved My Phone (using Phone Link) Shows in File Explorer Navigation Pane, but no content.

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