Has anyone else has had or does have the error that assets can not be loaded?

[Anke]

Did you watch the video here?

Facing issue with AI companion connection

It almost seems like I'm the only one with the USB connection working. For me it works on 2 different notebooks, on 3 different PCs with Win7 / Win10 with 15 different test devices (Android 4.x, 5.x, 7, 8.x, 9, 10, 11) and that for many years; actually since my first days with App Inventor.

USB - video

So where could the problem be?

@Wes_Savage

One thing I did do is to attempt installing "the provided apk" and it wants to overwrite MIT AI companion apk.

Yes, you need to temporarily uninstall AI2 online Companion or use another test device/phone like I do. One for AI2Online and one for AI2Offline (if possible with the same Android version). In addition, all .AboutScreen blocks must be removed from all screens in your projects (before importing them to AI2Offline) and there must also be no text for "AboutScreen" in the designer (the fields must be empty).

Note: The minSdKVersion is 19 for AI2Offline and not 7 as for AI2Online.