Fix Google Pixel File Transfer Not Working: 6 Top Ways

Why does Google Pixel file transfer not working?

When you need to move data from Google Pixel, you may find that the data transfer always fails. Why does this issue occur? There are some common reasons.

⛔ The USB cable is not in good condition. 

⛔ The USB configuration settings are wrong.

⛔ Your phone or computer doesn’t grant necessary permissions for file transfer.

How to fix Android file transfer not working Google Pixel

With this significant issue, you can not efficiently transfer Pixel data to PC or edit any files on PC. But don’t worry, now you can keep on reading to find solutions. Before the fix, there are some things you need to know.

 Use a USB 2.0 port on your PC instead of USB 3.0, as certain cables might not be compatible with USB 3.0. If you're unsure about your PC's USB type, refer to the initial computer manual for clarification.

 Opt for a USB A to USB C cable for data transfer between phones and PCs rather than a USB C to USB C cable for better compatibility.

 Stick to the official cable that came with your Pixel. Not every USB cable may be compatible with your smartphone, so using the provided one ensures compatibility.

Method 1. Restart your Pixel

A quick restart might solve USB issues on your Pixel.

Just press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously for a few seconds > Once the restart window appears, tap on the restart or reboot option > Allow your phone to complete the reboot process.

If the USB problem persists even after the restart, you can proceed with further troubleshooting methods.

Method 2. Change the USB configuration

Sometimes, your phone's default action when connected to a PC might hinder file transfer. You can change it to solve the Google Pixel file transfer not working problem.

Step 1. Open Settings on your Pixel and access About > Tap on Build number seven times to activate developer options. A pop-up confirms you are now a developer.

Step 2. Return to the main Settings page and navigate to System > Locate and enter Developer Options > Find USB configuration and set it to File Transfer.

Following these steps should enable smooth file transfers between your Pixel and your PC. If issues persist, there's another solution to explore.

Method 3. Install the drivers

Ensuring your PC recognizes your Pixel correctly is crucial for successful file transfers. If the automatic driver installation doesn't occur, manual installation may solve the issue.

Step 1. Connect your device to the PC via USB > Download the USB drivers from the provided link > Extract the downloaded file to any location on your PC.

Step 2. Press Windows Key + X, then select Device Manager > Expand the Other Devices section, where you'll find your connected device marked with an exclamation mark.

Step 3. Right-click on it, choose Update Drivers > Opt for Browse my computer for drivers > Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers > Choose Show All devices and click Next > Click Have Disk, then browse to the downloaded USB drivers folder.

Step 4. Select the android_winusb.inf file and click Open, then OK > Now choose Android Composite ADB Interface and click Next > If prompted, click Install to proceed.

The installation will commence, and upon completion, you'll receive a notification.

This process should properly recognize your Pixel device in the Device Manager, enabling file transfers between your Pixel and your PC.

Method 4. Reinstall the drivers

To fix the Google pixel not working to transfer files to computer issue, uninstalling and reinstalling drivers may help solve the problem.

Step 1. Press Windows Key + X, then select Device Manager > Expand the Android Device Section > Right-click on Android Composite ADB Interface > Choose Uninstall Device > Restart your PC.

Step 2. Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable > Allow some time for the automatic installation of USB drivers on your PC > Once the installation completes, verify if your PC recognizes the connected Pixel device.

Method 5. Turn on the PTP mode

This workaround addresses picture transfer specifically, using the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP). If standard file transfer settings aren't functioning and you're solely transferring images, this method might help.

Step 1. Open Settings on your Pixel and navigate to About > Tap the Build number seven times to enable developer options.

Step 2. Return to the Settings main page and access System > Locate and click Developer Options > Select USB configuration and switch it to Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP).

This setting change should facilitate picture transfers without encountering issues.

Method 6. Switch to a USB device

That's a creative workaround if the other methods haven't solved the Google Pixel android file transfer not working issue. Some USB sticks offer USB-C compatibility, allowing you to transfer files from your PC to the USB stick, then from the USB stick to your Pixel device. Keep in mind, though, that this method is limited by the USB stick's storage capacity.

Bonus: How to airdrop data from Android to Android

When it comes to transferring data from Android to Android, using Bluetooth may be a common way. But its slow transfer speed can be so annoying when you need to move multiple files. Is there any convenient way to make it? Of course, FoneTool for Android can help you a lot.

With this powerful tool, you can easily move data from Android to Android and Android to iPhone no matter what phone models you are using. It’s important to note that FoneTool doesn’t require any Wi-Fi connection or consume any cellular data, so you can move lots of files easily.

Now you can download FoneTool on your Android to get how to finish the Android-to-Android data transfer.

Step 1. Launch the app on both Android devices, then allow the tool to use WLAN. (Don’t need to connect to Wi-Fi, just enable the Wi-Fi option.)

Step 2. Go to Connect Device and tap the device name on either device to establish a connection.

Step 3. On your source Android phone, go to File Transfer > Choose the data you need > Click Send to continue.

Step 4. On your target device > Click Confirm to receive the files > Once the transfer is finished, you can go to the Transfer Records to check the data.

With this app, you can easily transfer gallery, contacts, music, etc. to another Android device.

Conclusion

Now you can know how to fix the Google Pixel file transfer not working issue. Hope these 6 ways can help you a lot. If you need to make an Android-to-Android or Android-to-iPhone transfer, the professional data transfer app - FoneTool can be the best choice.