«This folder is empty» when viewing internal storage of USB-connected Android phone on Windows10

I’ve used my Dell Inspiron 13 Windows 10 laptop to connect to a Huawei Honor 9 Android phone for a year or more. It’s always worked well. I transfer photos and sound recordings from the phone to the laptop using Explorer. The files are in the phone’s internal storage.
However, since a few weeks ago, I have started to have intermittent problems connecting. The green indexer bar in the address bar spends longer than usual (and «usual» has meant «painfully slow» for a long time already) crawling across, and when it finishes I just see «This folder is empty» for the internal storage. Sometimes I can get the folders to show by repeated disconnect/reconnect or cycling through the USB connection options on the phone (files > photos > charging > files again), and then often it fails with the same error at the next folder down (e.g. going into DCIM or Sounds). Every now and then it works, but I can’t seem to find a repeatable method of getting it to work. Even when I do get it to work eventually, I can now waste an hour or so doing a simple file transfer that used to take two minutes. This is not good!
(I think that in general the W10 search indexer service is flaky: I nearly always have to wait for it to do its business whenever I open a folder (local, USB or networked). I don’t remember it being this bad on Win7, and on my old WinXP machine that I keep for running music software it’s wonderful to do file operations without having to wait for that damn indexer to finish poking around!)

If I connect the phone to another laptop (an old E6400, also running Win10), everything works fine, just as it used to do with my main machine: I can see all internal storage folders and copy files with ease. So I’m fairly certain that I don’t have a hardware problem (e.g. the USB lead, the phone’s port), and there are no issues with the phone’s setup.

Tonight I had to wrestle with it for an hour to get it to copy my files across, and even then it refused to copy a sound recorder m4a file. Explorer was «not responding» while attempting to copy, eventually giving «the requested value cannot be determined». The same file copied across easily on the old laptop (so at least I have a workaround to get at my files).

On web forums, similar USB phone issues are discussed, but they don’t seem to be cases where the process has suddenly stopped working after months of working well. Alleged fixes have involved making sure the computer is trusted by the phone’s OS (well, it worked fine before, and it’s the same computer — also I didn’t have to set this for the second computer which had never connected to this phone before) and removing and re-installing the USB storage driver (not sure about this either — again, it used to work fine and the driver has not been changed).

My guess is that this problem is something that has come in with a recent Windows update, as there have been many updates recently. Both laptops are set to allow all updates, but the old laptop — despite having much slower processor and less RAM — still starts and runs Win10 reasonably fast, whereas the new one (which came with Win10 pre-installed) now starts and runs appallingly slow, with constant HDD access (Task Manager usually shows this to be due to another update running in the background!). It got noticeably worse about a year ago (maybe with the update that blocked the look-ahead reads on security grounds), and with every new update now it just gets slower and slower.

I’m thinking about at the very least rolling it back to an old restore point to see if this helps or as a last resort doing a factory reset and starting all over again, but I need to very carefully check and back up my stored files and software before doing this, so finding the time will be difficult.

So my question is: has anyone else had this problem start to occur recently? If so, has rolling the system back to a previous restore point helped? If not, is there anything else that might work?

FIX: This folder is empty error on Windows 10

• Sometimes users report problems when they plugin USB flash drives.
• The following guide will show you how to fix This folder is empty error on Windows 10.
• Take a look at our Windows 10 page for the most common Windows 10 errors and how you can easily resolve them.
• For many other helpful troubleshooting guides, don’t hesitate to visit our dedicated Fix page.

• Find files on your PC, laptop and other devices
• Locate themin multiple places: local, network or cloud storage
• Get back pretty much everything you lost at a snap

find all the files,
even in cloud and network

This folder is empty error occurs occasionally for some users when they plugin USB flash drives.

File Explorer displays this annoying error for a USB drive even though the flash drive’s storage bar highlights that there are certainly files and folders in it.

As such, users can’t open the folders and files in their USB drives.

To fix these annoying Windows 10 errors for USB devices, check out some of the resolutions below.

How can I fix This folder is empty error on Windows 10?

1. Use Copernic Desktop Search tool

Copernic Desktop Search is a free tool to search for lost files of various types of extensions on your own PC, and also text, pictures, music and video files.

With this great tool you don’t need your entire hard drive to be searched. You can easily set up the specific USB flash drive which you want to be searched, and t he search results you get are accurate and comprehensive.

The search findings are presented in date order, and useful search options are offered. You can install it now and get back your relevant data. This desktop finder recognizes over 150 file types.

You can use it also to locate lost emails, documents and contacts, or to get back pretty much everything that you suddenly lost.

Copernic Desktop Search

2. Scan the USB drive with a file recovery software

Stellar Data Recovery helps you to recover files that seem to be lost or cannot be opened or used.

Need more info on how this recovery tool truly works? Just take your time to check out this detailed Stellar Data Recovery review.

Long sort short, after starting the program, the appealing interface shows all drives available on the computer.

It is also possible to read and restore files from deleted partitions, USB sticks, smart cards, or scratched CDs/DVDs.

Once you have selected the media, you need to select a location and then click on the Scan button at the bottom right to start the search for lost files.

If the file you are looking for is not among the items found, you can still perform a deep scan.

Stellar Data Recovery

3. Insert the flash drive in an alternative USB slot

1. Insert the flash drivein another USB slot.
2. File Explorer might not show the USB drive’s content.
3. If that is the case, there’s probably something wrong with one of the USB ports.

4. Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

1. Plug the USB flash storage into your desktop or laptop.
2. Next, press the Type here to searchCortana button on the taskbar.
3. Enter the keyword troubleshoot in the search box.
4. Select Troubleshoot.
5. Select Hardware and Devices.
6. Press the Run the troubleshooter button.
7. Follow the on-screen solutions to fix your USB stick.

5. Select the Show hidden files, folders and drives option

1. Open the Cortana app’s search box.
2. Enter folder in the search box.
3. Select to open Show hidden files and folders.
4. Select the Show hidden files, folders and drives option.
5. Then deselect the Hide protected operating system files option.
6. Click the Apply and OK buttons.

The flash drive’s content might not be visible if the Show hidden files, folders and drives option is not selected. Selecting that option will ensure that there are no invisible folders and files.

6. Show invisible files with the attrib command

1. Press Win key + X key and select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:*.* in the Command Prompt, and press Enter.

Follow each of these steps, and let us know which one worked best for you by leaving a comment in the section below.

«This folder is empty» Windows 10

Replies (2) 

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. Let me help you.

Have you tried with a different USB port? What is the status?

I suggest you to perform the following troubleshooting steps and check if it helps.

Please follow the below methods and check if it helps,

Method 1: Run hardware and Device troubleshooter

Connect your phone and then perform the below troubleshooter,

Click on the Start button, and type “Troubleshooting” on the search bar.

Click on troubleshooting, then click on “Hardware and sound”.

Under Hardware and sound, click on “hardware and devices”.

A pop-up will appear, click on the “Next” button and your hardware troubleshooting will start.

Method 2: Uninstall and reinstall the latest USB drivers from manufacturer’s website .

Follow these steps to un-install the drivers:

1. On the search bar type “Device Manager ”

2. On the left pane locate “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” and expand by clicking on it.

3. Right on all the USB adapters and click “Uninstall’

4. Download the latest USB adapter setup file from the manufacturer’s website and install it.

Check if it resolves the issue.

I hope the information helps. If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us again. We will be happy to assist you.

How to Solve This folder is empty on This PC/USB

Your PC/USB drive pops up with a ‘This folder is empty’ message but you know it contains files with some volume. Do you want to retrieve them? Try these two solutions below to solve this annoying problem when your folder shows up with ‘This folder is empty’ but you know darn well that it’s full! These quick fixes are compatible with Windows 10, 8 and 7. Good Luck!

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Check the Solutions of «This Folder is Empty»

«This folder is empty» on USB, but it has size and files, how to fix this problem? Check the effective solutions below.

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Run attrib command	Click on «Start», type cmd in the search box.В Run CMD as administrator Enter this command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:\*.*. Full steps
Fix 2. Use a data recovery tool	Run EaseUS Data Recovery WizardВ Find and preview the found folder with files Restore and save the found folder. Full steps

«How to fix a USB flash drive when it says ‘This folder is empty’, but it’s not! Certainly, the folder is there with my files because I never deleted it. The files in the folder are of great importance to me with which I can continue my ongoing study project.В Please help me to solve this irritating problem. «

Overview

When you try to open folders inside an external USB disk, SD memory card or a pen drive on your PC with Windows 10/8/7, you may receive a warning that «This folder is empty» like the screenshot shows below.В

At this time, you may even scream and shout that «it’s not true!» My folder has a bunch of pictures, videos, and docs, and they can’t just disappear without any reason or trace. In fact, if the files were not manually removed from the specified folder, then the message should be wrong. And your files are very likely hidden. Or you just don’t have permission to access the folder. To address this problem, read the following guides.В

Solutions to Recover Files from a Folder Showing Empty

We’re going to introduce you to two of the most popular ways to fix ‘this folder is empty’ error and recover hidden files with aВ free USB recovery software and attrib command.

Solution 1. Run Attrib Command to Show Invisible Files

To show hidden and unseen items in Windows, you must first = open File Explorer, click on the ‘View’ tab, select the option ‘Show hidden files, folders and drives’ and uncheck the checkbox. This option works sometimes. However, If doesn’t, try command prompt instead.

Step 1. Click onВ «Start», type cmd in the search box. Right-click on «Command Prompt», and choose «Run as administrator».

Step 2. Enter this command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:\*.* and press Enter. (replace g with your own USB’s drive letter)

Step 3. Close the command prompt window. Now, check if the folder is displaying files.

Solution 2. Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to Restore Files from «this folder is empty» Folder

A third-party data recovery software is another suggested way to find files from a folder with an empty error message. In many cases, «This folder is empty» issue is caused by the virus. Luckily, EaseUS virus file recovery software is able to recover files from virus infected hard drive, memory card, and USB flash drive.

So, when you experience the frightening issue that the folder shows empty but it has files, don’t hesitate to download EaseUS Data Recovery WizardВ to restore the hidden files.

Your first move is toВ delete or remove the virus by using cmd. And then restore files from «This folder is empty».

Step 1. Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and scan lost folder.

Select a hard drive, external device and click «Scan» or choose the exact location where you lost folderВ under​ «Specify a location» and click «OK». Wait and let this program to scan and find your lost folder.

Step 2. Find and preview the found folder with files.

Find the found folder in «Deleted Files», «Lost Files» or you can use «Search» to quickly find your lost folder by searching the folder name. Double click found files to preview them.

Step 3. Restore and save the found folder.

Last, select the found folder with files, click «Recover» and browse to save this folder back to a secure location on your PC.