Linux, Android, and MTP

Webtm · 04-21-2015, 03:54 PM

Does anyone else find the lack of support for MTP bad?
I may be wrong here, and correct me if I am! I used to just use an SD card in my old android. Now, with the new phone I just got today (Droid Maxx), I am unable to connect it to my Debian laptop.

I have found this to be that my device isn't supported by libmtp. Although I am not certain of this. Has anyone had any problems/fixes for this?

frankbell · 04-21-2015, 06:16 PM

I have had the same experience. My solution was to install and use AirDroid on my phone for a local wireless connection (not to use the AirDroid "cloud." And turn off AirDroid when you are done, or it will keep hitting any wireless networks in range.)

Webtm · 04-21-2015, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I have had the same experience. My solution was to install and use AirDroid on my phone for a local wireless connection (not to use the AirDroid "cloud." And turn off AirDroid when you are done, or it will keep hitting any wireless networks in range.)

I sent a bug report and it looks like this device was added to the next release!

Timothy Miller · 04-21-2015, 08:06 PM

Same here, and using Jessie I still can't access phone. I used to use airdroid, but since they upgraded it and you have to sign up for an airdroid account to use it anymore, I switched to wifi file transfer. Works great, actually much better than Airdroid IMO.

frankbell · 04-21-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

since they upgraded it and you have to sign up for an airdroid account to use it anymore

That hasn't hit me. When it does, the app is gone from my phone.

Timothy Miller · 04-21-2015, 10:07 PM

Probably won't until you replace your phone (which I just did a few months ago, which is how I discovered it).

ondoho · 04-22-2015, 01:00 AM

old android devices would connect as normal usb devices, new ones need mtp.
it is still possible to connect the phone directly, though (no wireless needed).
basically installing libmtp and some other stuff should suffice, but for convenience:

Quote:

1 android-file-transfer-linux-git v1.0.r49.g9414aac-1
An interactive MTP client implemented in C++ using Qt toolkit
2 jmtpfs 0.5-1
mtpfs with better support for Android
3 jmtpfs-git v0.5-1
mtpfs with better support for Android

those are all git packages, search and you will find how to install them on your system.

schneidz · 04-22-2015, 08:12 AM

i agree mtp sux. i use airdroid, sshdroid, vncdroid, andftp, kies-air, file expert, ... (but each of those rely on a wifi router).

xset · 04-22-2015, 05:48 PM

I used to use Airdroid as well. I now have two other ways to transfer files to my android phone which is faster than using the wifi method. I am running kit kat 4.4.2.

I use PCManFM and android sdk using the adb command. PCManFM is a file manager and supports the MTP protocol.

Webtm · 04-22-2015, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

old android devices would connect as normal usb devices, new ones need mtp.
it is still possible to connect the phone directly, though (no wireless needed).
basically installing libmtp and some other stuff should suffice, but for convenience:
those are all git packages, search and you will find how to install them on your system.

There is no support for my device in libmtp.

xset · 04-22-2015, 11:43 PM

@ Webtm

Give PCManFM a try.

sudo apt-get install pcmanfm

After installation, connect your device with a usb cable to the computer and when your device asks how to connect, select Media sync MTP.

Next, launch pcmanfm. If all goes well, you should see a one or more android icons representing your internal and external storage.

ondoho · 04-23-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webtm

There is no support for my device in libmtp.

well it might be just a udev rule missing somewhere; try one of the utilities i suggested, or search github, or the web itself.

Ihatewindows522 · 04-26-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webtm

Does anyone else find the lack of support for MTP bad?
I may be wrong here, and correct me if I am! I used to just use an SD card in my old android. Now, with the new phone I just got today (Droid Maxx), I am unable to connect it to my Debian laptop.

I have found this to be that my device isn't supported by libmtp. Although I am not certain of this. Has anyone had any problems/fixes for this?

Had a similar issue with my Moto g. Turned out to be a bad cable. Bought a new premium cable from Monoprice and it works perfectly. May not be your issue, but it was mine and it costs next to nothing to try.

thambt029 · 07-03-2015, 01:40 AM

I used to use Airdroid as well. I now have two other ways to transfer files to my android phone which is faster than using the wifi method. I am running kit kat 4.4.2.

I use PCManFM and android sdk using the adb command. PCManFM is a file manager and supports the MTP protocol.
me too

sgosnell · 07-03-2015, 10:07 AM

Not all USB cables are created equally. Some are for charging only, and don't have data pins connected. They're actually rather common. You have to use a real data cable to connect a phone to a computer. This may or may not be the OP's problem (probaby not) but it's something to keep in mind if you're having problems connecting a phone to a computer. It's not that the cable is faulty, it's just the way it was built, with cost control being the overriding parameter.