Windows Phone is not recognized - you can do that
If your Windows Phone is not recognized by the computer, this can have various causes. For example, the cable may be defective, a driver may not be installed correctly, or something may be wrong with the software on the smartphone. In our practical tip, we will show you what you can do to fix the problem.
Check USB connection between Windows Phone and computer
A possible cause for the cell phone not being recognized can be a defective USB cable or a defective USB connection.
- Try another USB cable to rule out a broken cable or loose connection.
- Clean the USB socket on the Windows Phone. It works best with compressed air. You can also carefully remove dust and dirt with a toothpick.
- Also test another USB port on the computer or connect the device to another PC to ensure that there is no problem with the PC.
Computer does not recognize Windows Phone - device restart
A simple restart often helps to solve problems with electronic devices.
- Disconnect your Windows Phone from the computer and restart it.
- Also restart the PC and then reconnect the cell phone.
Windows Phone: Update software
Check whether the latest software is installed on your Windows Phone and carry out an update otherwise.
- Tap on "Settings" in the application list and select the item "Handyupdate".
- Use the "Check for updates" button to check whether new software is available.
- If an update is found, follow the device's instructions to install it.
- Then try connecting again.
Connect Windows Phone: Update driver
If the USB cable, the mobile phone and the USB socket on the PC are intact, the Windows Phone is displayed in the device manager. You should update the drivers to fix the problem.
- Open the device manager. To do this, type "Device Manager" in the search function. In Windows 7 you will find this in the Start menu, in Windows 8 you can type in the search query directly on the start page. Click on the search result "Device Manager".
- Your Windows Phone should be listed under "Portable Devices". If it does not work properly, it can also appear under "Other devices" as "Unknown device" or "USB device".
- Right click on the device and select "Uninstall".
- Confirm that you want to remove the device drivers.
- Then disconnect your Windows Phone from the PC and reconnect it. The latest drivers should be installed automatically.
Windows Phone is not recognized: reset the device
The last way to solve the connection problem is to reset the Windows Phone.
- First save your data in a backup.
- Then reset your cell phone to the factory settings.
- Try connecting the phone to the PC again.
PC still does not recognize Windows Phone - repair case
If none of the above steps help, there is probably a defect in the USB port of your mobile phone.
- This defect will be repaired free of charge within the warranty period. Contact the manufacturer to clarify the next steps.
- If the warranty period has expired, you can contact an online repair provider.
- Before you send in your device, you should back up the data and reset it completely.
In another practical tip, we will show you all the new functions in Windows Phone 8.1.