Windows 10: Pixel 3A Not showing up on Windows 10

Hello. I'm trying to transfer files from my Pixel 3A XL to my Windows 10 Laptop but I don't see the device in File Explorer. I have been trying to resolve this for days and getting different outcomes each time. I'm beyond frustrated and hoping someone can help.

- I am using the original USB-C cable it came with and the laptop makes the beeping sound when a device has just been connected but it repeats the sound over and over again even for hours while I was trying to solve the issue. I have tried 2 different cables the other also being an original for a Pixel and a USB-C cable...and everytime the laptop dings repeatedly as if confirming the connection over and over again, so i'm inclined to think it's not the cable.

- I have selected the option to "Transfer Files" on my phone so it connects as storage but is still not visible in Control Panel-->Devices & Printers. I noticed it showing up twice in the numerous times I have tried. The first time, it popped up under unknown devices?, the second time, correctly as Pixel 3A XL. Both times, it disappeared after about 5 seconds into my victory dance.
- Sometimes the device shows up under Device Manager --> Portable Devices. Sometimes as an MTP device and sometimes as the 'Pixel 3A XL'. I have tried updating & re-installing the MTP driver from here as well both automatically and manually, and it says the drivers have been updated but it still doesn't show up in File Explorer.
- Portable Devices option under Device Manger is not consistently visible under Device Manager. I've had to add it in twice before but . This time, it took at least 15 minutes after that to to re-appear, and when it did, it now shows MTP it's not longer showing the Pixel.
- When I tried to enable USB debugging on my Phone, the device disappeared from Device Manager Portable Devices also disappeared once. It could totally be a coincidence based on how this seems to happen at random from what I can tell.

- I checked the windows 10 version and it appears to me that the Media Feature Pack is already installed.

- Today, for the first time after days of trying different things, Windows popped up a message acknowledging the Pixel was connectd and gave me options to download files/transfer pics to Onedrive etc. I selected the option to open device in File Explorer Big mistake! but then it indicated it could no longer find the device or that it was disconnected. This has made things worse, because now, if the device is connected, I get a pop up from Explorer every 2 seconds, making it impossible to actually use the laptop to do anything including trying to fix the issue!.

I'm not technical and cannot figure out other options to fix this. Please help as I'm out of storage and need to get things off my phone As a secondary back-up asap!!


thanks!

:)

 

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