I've spent the better part of the day trying to get the pictures from my Samsung phone to my new laptop. The usual method (attach phone to laptop with USB, accept permission when prompt appears) does not get the pictures onto my phone. They look like they're transferring, but they never actually get to the laptop.

If I use Explorer, the phone doesn't show up as an attached device the way it does on my older laptop.

It used to be that I could at least email myself from my phone through text messaging and attach specific pictures that way, but my new Samsung S 23 phone does not allow for that for some reason.

I have a warranty complaint to send, and I have to have have the picture I've taken, but until I can actually get the pictures, I'm hooped.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on and what I can do?

If I remember correctly when I did this with my S 20, I first had to "link" my phone to my computer. Go to Settings and Connected Devices on your phone. I think all I did was select Link To Windows. There are a lot of Youtub videos out there too.

You can also go to Settings on your PC and select the Phone heading and see if there is anything there that will help. I think you have to link the device to your Microsoft Account there.

I generally just email photos to my Gmail account on my computer or vice versa. Don't use text; use the email account itself.

I tried using my email account on the phone but it has no option to attach photos.

So I went to link the devices, and it wants me to scan a QR code with my phone, which is supposed to generate a code on my computer, but the code never appears. Instead I get something that looks like a long URL.

I clicked the URL that is generated from the QR code, and the screen on my computer asks me to generate another QR code. I scan scan the new QR code, click the link, and around we go, back to the page that tells me I need to generate a QR code. It never connects.

It's so frustrating. I mean, it should be EASY to get pictures from a phone, yet none of my phones have linked to my computer without a huge hassle. This is an entire day of reading how-to's, trying things, and never succeeding.

EDIT: I meant to add that my laptop doesn't have a phone setting anywhere, not that I can see. It's Windows 11, not 10.

I did this tonight. Scanning the QR code does not generate a code. It immediately links your phone to your computer. The code is only generated if you do not use the QR code method, but want to link them manually. You must be signed in to your Microsoft account on your phone for this to work. I was signed in under another account, so when I finally figured that out, I was able to scan the QR code and was connected immediately. One thing I had to do was make sure my phone was in the "selfie" mope so I could see what I was scanning!

What email are you using on your phone? I have a Gmail account which I use to attach photos and send them to my computer.

I booted up my Windows 11 laptop and it didn't have that phone setting. So I just typed a search into the search box... how to link a phone to Windows 11. I got several hits.

I have a webmail account, which does not allow attachments if I use it from the phone. Also, my new phone has no options to use email from messaging through my contacts, like my previous phone did. I notice that the messaging on the new phone is SMS/MMS, which seems different.

So when I scanned the QR code with my phone, it did not link my phone to my computer. It just generated a link that took me back to the page that told me to generate a QR code. In the end I used the manual option, which generates a PIN. I think my phone and computer are now linked, but that still does not allow me to actually transfer pictures to my computer. It just allows me to see what's on the phone from my computer. Not helpful in this context.

I believe this does allow you to use a cable? Not sure.

So, what webmail are you using? Since this is becoming an issue, I would just create a new Gmail webmail account and use that account to create email and attach files from your phone to your email address on your computer.

Hagatha, I'm resurrecting this thread because I transferred a picture from my computer to my phone and then did one from the phone to the computer and it made me think of you. Did you ever get this sorted out?

No, I never did. I seem to be completely unable to handle any kind of technical problem right now. My brain just shuts off as soon as I try. Very frustrating. I guess it's just not the time. Maybe when I'm not preparing for a move?

I'd say that's a wise decision! One thing at a time. But just so you know that it is possible and when you are more settled, you can get it set up then! Moving that photo of our new baby chicks just made me thing of you.

I don’t know if this will help but when I get that scan code request if I look a few lines below I see an option to send a sms ( my letter later my be wrong) which sends a text (Code)to my messages.