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If the phone only charges, the cable may be charging-only, the phone may still be in a different USB mode, or the access prompt may not have been approved. Those problems have specific fixes described below.
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What you need before transferring
Prepare the connection before opening File Explorer. The Galaxy S20 Ultra uses a USB-C port, while a laptop may have USB-C ports, USB-A ports, or both. Use whichever cable matches the ports:
- A USB-C-to-USB-C cable for a laptop with a USB-C port.
- A USB-A-to-USB-C cable for a conventional USB-A port.
- A cable that supports data, not only charging. Samsung notes that some USB cables cannot transfer files.
Keep the phone unlocked during the initial connection. Have the laptop awake and signed in so you can respond to the phone’s permission prompt and see the USB notification. Samsung’s menu names can differ slightly by software version, region, model configuration, or carrier, but the file-transfer choice is generally labeled Transferring files or MTP.
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Windows: copy photos with a USB cable
1. Connect the unlocked phone
- Unlock the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
- Plug the USB-C end into the phone and the other end into the laptop.
- Watch the phone for a request to allow access to its data. Tap Allow.
Do not assume that charging means the data connection is ready. A charging connection can provide power while leaving the phone’s storage unavailable to Windows.
2. Select file-transfer mode
Swipe down from the top of the phone screen to open notifications. Tap the USB notification, then choose Transferring files or MTP. This changes the connection from a charging-only state to the file-transfer mode that Windows can browse.
If there is no USB notification, disconnect and reconnect while the phone is unlocked. Also check that the plug is fully seated at both ends. A loose connection can appear to work for charging while failing to expose storage.
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3. Open the phone in File Explorer
- On the laptop, open File Explorer.
- In the navigation pane, select the connected Galaxy S20 Ultra.
- Open Internal storage.
- Open DCIM, then Camera.
Samsung’s Windows guidance places camera photos in Internal storage > DCIM > Camera. Select individual files with Ctrl, select a range with Shift, or select the entire folder if you want every camera image currently stored there.
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4. Copy the selected photos
- Right-click the selected photos and choose Copy, or press Ctrl+C.
- Navigate to the destination folder on the laptop. You can create a folder in Documents, Pictures, or another drive with enough free space.
- Right-click an empty area and choose Paste, or press Ctrl+V.
- Wait for the copy window to finish before closing File Explorer.
Copying leaves the originals on the phone. Do not choose a move or delete command unless you deliberately want to remove the phone copies. Large selections can take longer than a few individual images, so keep the cable connected until Windows reports completion.
Where to look when photos are not in Camera
The standard camera location in Samsung’s instructions is DCIM > Camera. If you are looking for pictures that were not captured by the phone’s camera, they may be stored elsewhere on the device, depending on the app that created or saved them. Start with the Camera folder for photographs taken with the S20 Ultra, then inspect other folders only when the missing image came from a different app or import route. Avoid deleting folders while searching; copy files first and verify the results on the laptop.
Fix a phone that charges but does not show photos
Check the cable’s data capability
The most common explanation for charging without file access is a cable that carries power but not data. Try a different USB-C cable known to support data transfer. A cable supplied for another device is not automatically suitable; Samsung specifically warns that not all USB cables transfer data.
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Disconnect the cable, then use another USB port on the same laptop. If the computer has both USB-C and USB-A ports, use the matching cable for the alternate port. Reconnect with the phone unlocked and watch for the permission request again.
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Approve the phone prompt
Windows cannot browse the phone until the phone authorizes data access. If you dismissed the prompt, unplug and reconnect, unlock the phone, and tap Allow when asked. Keep the screen awake long enough to complete this step.
Set USB to MTP or file transfer
Open the phone’s notification shade after connecting and tap the USB message. Select Transferring files or MTP, not a charging-only option. Then close and reopen File Explorer and check for the phone again.
Use Samsung’s driver-repair step only if needed
If a known data cable, another port, the permission approval, and MTP still do not make the phone appear, Samsung’s troubleshooting guidance provides a Smart Switch driver-reinstall procedure for PC or Mac connections. Treat that as a later recovery step, not a prerequisite for ordinary selected-photo copying. Driver repair is most relevant when the computer consistently fails to recognize a properly configured phone.
Prevent an incomplete or damaged copy
- Keep the phone connected while the Windows copy dialog is active.
- Wait until the progress window closes before unplugging.
- Open several copied images on the laptop to confirm that the destination files are usable.
- If only part of a large selection arrived, copy the remaining files after reconnecting rather than deleting the originals immediately.
Samsung’s Australia guidance cautions against unplugging while file-copy windows are running. A completed progress window is the practical point at which it is safe to disconnect.
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Alternative ways to move photos
USB copying is usually the shortest path for a few selected pictures on a Windows laptop, but Samsung also lists wireless and storage-based options. Their availability and menu labels can vary by Galaxy model, software version, carrier, and computer operating system.
| Method | Best fit | Connection or equipment | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB manual copy | A few photos, folders, or a predictable Windows workflow | Data-capable USB cable | Requires the phone to be unlocked and set to file transfer; cable quality and port compatibility matter |
| Quick Share or Nearby Share | Wireless transfer of selected items when both devices support the feature | Compatible phone and laptop software with wireless connectivity | Availability and exact labels vary by model, software version, and carrier |
| Samsung Flow | Wireless sharing between supported Samsung devices and computers | Compatible Flow installation and device software | Support depends on the connected devices and their software |
| Cloud storage | Moving photos without a cable or accessing them from more than one computer | Cloud account and internet connection | Upload and download time depends on the connection and account capacity |
| External storage | Keeping a separate physical copy or avoiding a computer connection | Compatible external storage and, where necessary, an adapter | Compatibility varies by accessory and phone software |
| Smart Switch | Migrating supported content from an old device to a Galaxy phone or tablet | Smart Switch on the relevant devices or computer | It is not needed for basic photo copying, does not transfer content to an iOS device, and supported content varies by the connected device |
For a simple laptop backup, manual USB copying avoids installing a migration utility. Smart Switch is framed by Samsung as a device-migration tool, especially when moving content to a Galaxy phone or tablet, rather than as the required way to place a handful of photos in a laptop folder.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using a Mac laptop
Do not apply the Windows File Explorer path mechanically to macOS. Samsung describes a separate Mac workflow, but the available instructions are based on newer Galaxy and macOS versions than every S20 Ultra setup may use. Confirm the current software on both the phone and Mac before following Mac-specific directions.
The same preliminary checks still matter: use a cable that supports data, unlock the phone, approve any access request, and select the phone’s file-transfer mode if the USB notification offers it. If the Mac does not provide a compatible browsing workflow for the phone’s software, use a supported wireless, cloud, or external-storage method instead of repeatedly reconnecting a charging-only cable.
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Choose the right method for your situation
You need a few photos on a Windows laptop
Use the USB procedure. It puts the files directly in a folder you select and does not require Smart Switch. The key decisions are having a data-capable cable and selecting MTP or file transfer after connecting.
You need an entire device migration
Consider Smart Switch when the goal is moving supported content from an old device to a Galaxy phone or tablet. Check the connected device’s compatibility because Samsung says supported content can vary. Do not select Smart Switch merely because File Explorer is unfamiliar; it is a broader migration tool than the selected-photo task.
You cannot use a cable
Check whether Quick Share or Nearby Share, Samsung Flow, a cloud service, or external storage is supported by the S20 Ultra, laptop, carrier, and current software. Wireless options avoid cable problems but may involve additional setup or an internet connection.
You are transferring to an iOS device
Smart Switch is not the solution for transferring content to an iOS device, according to Samsung’s stated limitations. Select a method that supports both the source phone and the destination system, and verify compatibility before starting a large transfer.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist
- Phone unlocked before and during connection.
- USB-C cable supports data, not just charging.
- Data-access prompt approved with Allow.
- USB notification set to Transferring files or MTP.
- Windows path opened: Internal storage > DCIM > Camera.
- Destination folder selected before pasting.
- Copy window finished before disconnecting.
- Smart Switch reserved for device migration or later driver troubleshooting, not required for ordinary photo copying.
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