Skip Navigation
BlackBerry Blog

How to Copy Files to and From PRIV Using a Windows PC

BB10 DEVICES / 06.03.16 / Ty Williams

Do you know how to copy files to and from PRIV using a Windows PC?

If you are not familiar with this process, check out the rest of this post for everything you need to know

Using Mac OS X? Check out this post specific to using PRIV with Apple computers

Step 1 – Install the PRIV USB Drivers

In order to connect to PRIV so you can access its device memory and media card contents, you need to install the PRIV USB drivers first.

To obtain these drivers, click here & select BlackBerry Android USB and Tether Drivers (Windows) followed by clicking Next and finally Download Software.

When the drivers have finished downloading, double-click on the file to install the drivers on your PC. If prompted, restart your PC after installing the drivers before proceeding.

Step 2 – Connect PRIV to your PC, and select File Transfer mode

When connecting to your PC there are two important things you need to know.

The first is that PRIV must be unlocked if you have a device password set. This is a security precaution that prevents someone from taking your PRIV, connecting it to their PC and having access to your personal data.

The second is that if you are using Android 6.0 or later, aka Marshmallow on PRIV, you must enable File Transfer mode after connecting PRIV to your PC. To do this, on PRIV, after connecting to your PC, swipe down from the top of display using two fingers, tap on the Connecting in charging mode notification followed by tapping File Transfer.

usbcopy

Step 3 – Copy files to and from PRIV using Windows Explorer

After selecting File Transfer mode, access PRIV by opening Windows Explorer and look for your device to be listed along the left as per the screenshot below (it will appear as BlackBerry STV100-X, with X being your specific regional variant of PRIV). Click BlackBerry STV100-X and you will be able to access your PRIV device memory, or your media card if one is inserted into the device.

priv_usb_win_filetransfermode

Warning: Deleting files from your PRIV using Android File Transfer is permanent!

Troubleshooting:

My computer isn’t detecting PRIV? Why?

If PRIV isn’t being detected by your computer, try the following:

  • Restart PRIV
  • Restart your computer
  • Use a different USB cable
  • Connect PRIV directly to the PC, avoiding USB hubs and docking station USB ports

If the device still doesn’t connect, consider trying another PC to verify if the issue is specific to the computer or PRIV. Ultimately, call our support team so we can help you out at 1-866-533-8067 – (Canada & United States), or 800-141-3330 (United Kingdom).

PRIV appears in Window Explorer but all I see is ‘This folder is empty.’ Why?

This will occur if PRIV hasn’t been placed into File Transfer mode. To do this, on PRIV, swipe down from the top of the display using two fingers and tap on the Connected in charging mode notification followed by tapping on File Transfer.

After doing this, close and re-open Windows Explorer and you’ll be able to see your PRIV device memory and media card contents.

priv_usb_win_chargingmode

To learn about PRIV or troubleshoot an issue, there are several great options available to help. Visit http://blackberry.com/privsupport for access to product documentation, how-to demos, tips and tricks, YouTube videos, support forums, knowledge base articles, Twitter support, and contact information for your region.

Ty Williams

About Ty Williams

Connect with me on Twitter @TyWilliamsCA