[SOLVED] my android phone won\t mount in i3 window manager.

GeorgeBoyle · 12-16-2022, 04:44 PM

greetings,

I have two window managers, mate and i3.

In mate when I connect my phone via USB, I get a prompt on the phone to allow the mounting. In i3, I don't get this prompt and so I can't mount the phone.

I know my linux mint distro installed the tools to mount android filesystems because it prompts and then mounts the phone in the mate desktop. Why is i3 not prompting me to mount my phone?

Any help is appreciated.

TB0ne · 12-16-2022, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeBoyle

greetings,
I have two window managers, mate and i3.

In mate when I connect my phone via USB, I get a prompt on the phone to allow the mounting. In i3, I don't get this prompt and so I can't mount the phone. I know my linux mint distro installed the tools to mount android filesystems because it prompts and then mounts the phone in the mate desktop. Why is i3 not prompting me to mount my phone?

Haven't used the i3 desktop, but you should be able to mount/access it through the file manager of your choice, things I've read point to using Thunar, and enabling volume management.

It may not auto-prompt you, but it appears as if i3 is much more pared down than a more 'full featured' DE, like Mate.

GeorgeBoyle · 12-16-2022, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

Haven't used the i3 desktop, but you should be able to mount/access it through the file manager of your choice, things I've read point to using Thunar, and enabling volume management.

It may not auto-prompt you, but it appears as if i3 is much more pared down than a more 'full featured' DE, like Mate.

mate uses Caja file manager by default. I also install PCManFM. Both will mount the phone in mate desktop.

In i3, it only shows the name of my phone on the left side of panel. But doesn't show the internal and external storage or anything. It's just blank.

However, with adb I can connect my phone in i3.

aus9 · 12-16-2022, 07:06 PM

then try simple-mtpfs

Code:

mkdir Android
simple-mtpfs Android
ls Android/
Internal shared storage/ SD card/
# if that fails see if device detected with
simple-mtpfs -l
1: OppoFind 5 # my result

then use your file manager

2) also consider android-file-transfer if above fails

FlinchX · 12-17-2022, 04:28 AM

While this adds one more level of complexity, just setup Syncthing on both Linux and Android. It will automatically sync chances configured directory.

allend · 12-17-2022, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Why is i3 not prompting me to mount my phone?

Perhaps there is no running dbus notification server as i3wm does not supply one.
You could try a command like 'notify-send summary hi', which should pop up a small short lived message box.
If that fails, then you could try starting a dbus notification server. dunst is suggested here

GeorgeBoyle · 12-17-2022, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

then try simple-mtpfs

Code:

mkdir Android
simple-mtpfs Android
ls Android/
Internal shared storage/ SD card/
# if that fails see if device detected with
simple-mtpfs -l
1: OppoFind 5 # my result

then use your file manager

2) also consider android-file-transfer if above fails

i don't have simple-mtpfs in my linux mint repo.

I do have go-mtpfs though. It did work but in an opposite way than in mate.

I run go-mtpfs /mnt. It doesn't prompt allow on my phone until I open a file manager myself. After opening a file manager I then get the prompt allow message. I click allow and I can see both the internal and external storages when I click on the SAMSUNG name.

Thanks aus9 for guiding me on what to install. Thanks

GeorgeBoyle · 12-17-2022, 05:35 PM

I wasn't aware a tiling window was for more advance users. You basically have to configure everything from the windows, the status bar and other background services that a typical full desktop does for you.

But it's good. It makes you a better knowledgeable linux user.

GeorgeBoyle · 12-17-2022, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allend

Perhaps there is no running dbus notification server as i3wm does not supply one.
You could try a command like 'notify-send summary hi', which should pop up a small short lived message box.
If that fails, then you could try starting a dbus notification server. dunst is suggested here

I assume any window manager would have access to all like dbus,hald, systemd services and etc.

aus9 · 12-17-2022, 07:12 PM

I use sway which is a wayland clone of i3.

The secret to using a non-icon desktop is to make a good list of keyboard shortcuts for either i3 or sway etc.

syntax differs between them and I have never used i3 but you might like to peruse
https://i3wm.org/docs/refcard.html
https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#keybindings

Now that you are a power user