[Tip] How to access your phone storage over USB in 1.0.4

[jomirguez]

About getting access to internal Storage from PC in 1.0.4, the most simple way is activate MPT Transfer.

- Plug your phone to the PC via USB.
- Drop down the notifications.
- Push over the USB thing. [Admin: "Connected as media device - Touch for other options"]
- Select MPT Transfer mode (Multimedia Device).

[Burs]

It's MTP, Media Transfer Protocol, not MPT. We are all aware of MTP way to transfer files, it's just that thing is buggy as hell. My biggest complaint is often not being able to see a file which I want to copy, because it's locked by Android OS. There are other issues too, but it would be best to have good old USB Mass Storage Mode back again.

[bay]

Just to confirm, for us Mac users, the MTP combined with Android File Transfer (Osx app) work fine in accessing the core phone storage. This is both read & write & easy to get around files. But note that it won't show all of your file stored on Micro SD (strange but true!)

My only issue with this mode is that you have to download an item before you view it. This can be a little tricky when you're wanting to look at an image from a collection before you transfer it.

I agree - would be better to have the 'old' USB storage access back, but in the meantime this is a happy result at least! For mac users, a quick google search will take you to the Android File Transfer app (freeware).

UPDATE: Ok, people probably already found this out - but just re-tried Airdroid. Both storage systems (phone and Micro SD) seen and accessible for transfer / access, etc. The funny thing is that the phone storage is referred to as the 'External SD', and the Micro SD as 'SD Card'. If this helps, great, if you know - sorry about that!

[Burs]

UPDATE: Ok, people probably already found this out - but just re-tried Airdroid. Both storage systems (phone and Micro SD) seen and accessible for transfer / access, etc. The funny thing is that the phone storage is referred to as the 'External SD', and the Micro SD as 'SD Card'. If this helps, great, if you know - sorry about that!

Indeed, AirDroid is a remarkable app, but then again, transferring files wirelessly that way, would be multiple times slower than doing it via USB cable.

Did anyone tried if WiFi Direct works? Is it even supported? That would be most convenient alternative of them all. Speedy one and without cables. Best of both worlds. But both devices must support it, that's the only prerequisite.

[bay]

For me I guess i'm screwed on the wi-fi direct - as osx doesn't support it! But still, either android transfer or airdroid work well. I don't find airdroid the slow either in transferring files. Must just be me!

Still - solution nevertheless!

[Burs]

For me I guess i'm screwed on the wi-fi direct - as osx doesn't support it! But still, either android transfer or airdroid work well. I don't find airdroid the slow either in transferring files. Must just be me!
Still - solution nevertheless!

Yeah, it's not such a biggie if you're transferring small files, but for example, if you want to copy some .obb game file which can be even 2GB in size, then it will take like half an hour wirelessly over router to be finally done. It might vary, but that's my case. When I use USB Mass Storage mode, it's all done within minutes, which is quite a difference. Not mentioning that some retarded file managers stop copying when screen goes off (or at least drastically reduces the speed), so the screen must be on, and that drains the battery, so many "side-effects" and other things are also involved in the whole process.

[jomirguez]

You can switch modes easy with the same procedure, even when connected, and access External TF Card via USB Mass Storage. It's not perfect, but works.

Also, you can switch to charger only mode to hide the phone of connected PCs.

The real mess is the 'name translation' between. As on my old Xperia Arc, the 'internal memory' is the TF card.

This is what I really hate of this setup. If you lose your TF card (corrupted, damage, ...) You will lose important App data that can ruine your setup.

[nikstar]

If you use Airdroid and your router supports (n) the speed is almost as if you connected via USB.
In my case the speed i get is about 3mb/sec which acceptable. It takes 6' for a giga. And to be honest how many times we transfer so big files. Also in case of two partitions there are some problems on big files. One time I was trying to load a movie on my phone but I didn't make it. The reason is that the file was more than 4gb and I couldn't copy anywhere (internal and sd card) because of the limitations of FAT32 file system.
So we gain something with one partition setup.
The best scenario will be if we can use usb mass storage type and with a provided tool from google to read ext4 formatted drives.

[Burs]

If you use Airdroid and your router supports (n) the speed is almost as if you connected via USB.
In my case the speed i get is about 3mb/sec which acceptable.

Then your USB is slow
Ofcourse, it all depends on USB controllers on both devices, sd card class, USB cable quality, etc etc.
But in my case (not on V3), the speed increase is like 5x (15MB/s) compared you yours.
My router supports b/g/n, but I always get around 1.5-2MB/s, which is quite slow.
Other wired USB alternatives are around 4MB/s, but nothing comes close to true USB MSM.

[nikstar]

I agree but the usb connection does not wipe FAT32's limitations!
And you will tell me how many times you will need to transfer those files that cannot be written on FAT32?
And then I will tell you, how many times you will need to transfer those big over 1gb files?
The point is that both ways have the +'s and cons and I am not saying this is better than the other. I am saying neither are perfect and keep on mind that I am still on 1.0.3 because of this!