How To Transfer Files Using USB Cable? (SOLVED)

Using /e/OS User Queries
14

USB conections is allways setup to ‘charge only’ because so you can’t get any malware or spam or virus an you device when changing on the go on charing station or unknown computer or so.

3 Likes
15

I know that circumstance too. But with a Galaxy S7 “herolte” there is a setting option in StockROM Android 8.0.0 and /e/ OS 7 nougat:

Developer options - scroll far down and select > USB Configuration - Make selection …

16

Hi @archje, thanks. Yes, that’s exactly the trick I’m using every time I want to transfer files. The USB configuration is always set to MTP (I think it was preset in that position by default), but, when plugging it to the computer, it acts as it was set in charging. Continuing connected to the computer, if I change “MTP” to “Charging” and then back to “MTP”, then it gets detected. But the thing is that I have to do this back and forth thing every time I plug the phone to the computer, and that’s why I was wondering if there was a way for the computer to detect it as MTP from the beginning, without having to do that trick every time.

17

I just tried it again. There is a difference between StockROM Android 8.0.0 and /e/ OS e-0.7-n-

StockROM Androi 8.0.0.0 retains the last defined USB configuration, e.g. MTP (Media Transfer Protocol).

On the other hand, /e/ OS e-0.7-n forgets the last USB configuration, e.g. MTP, and after a restart, sets itself back to Charging by itself.

It’s not really tragic, but you could post it on → gitlab @graz, right?

18

Hi @archje, thanks for your help and for checking it with the stock ROM. I’ve raised the issue in gitlab.

In my case, its not that after a restart it sets itself back to Charging. It continues as MTP, but the computer doesn’t detect it as such.

19

FYI, to have Android File Transfer work via an USB connection between a Samsung S7 Edge /e/OS 0.7-2019110830013 and a MacOS Catalina computer, i need to have ADB enabled and USB connection set to MTP.

Detailed procedure:

  1. On the computer: Install Android File Transfer
  2. Plug the smartphone to the computer with a USB cable
  3. On the computer: Android File Transfer will try to connect automatically but will fail
  4. On the smartphone: Go on Parameters => down to About phone => Down to Build Number on which you need to tap 7 times to display the Developers options menu => Go back in Parameters => Enter Developers options menu => Enable USB Debugging (Android Debug Bridge) and set Select USB Configuration to MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)
  5. On the computer: Android File Transfer may crash, or there will be old window(s) (related to step 3) saying that it failed to connect => Just click on OK or restart Android File Transfer => Android File Transfer then successfully display the data content of the phone.
  6. When finished with Android File Transfer, you may want to disable ADB on the smartphone: Parameters => Developer Options => Disable the main switch at the top, it will disable Developer options menu and automatically disable ADB.
20

Maybe, for security reasons, it is best to have Charging by default ?

21

Hi there,
I tried to do everything you say but it doesn’t work, I have a Samsung S7 with /e/ pre-installed on it and my computer (mac) doesn’t show my phone when I plug it in, ther is nothing and with Android File Transfer it just says “Aucun appareil android trouvé”
Do you have an idea for me to be able to transfer my files from my phone to my computer ?
Thank you

22

A connection must be established. I know three ways to connect Android to Mac:

  1. USB connection: Connect Android device and Mac with cable (Android File Transfer)
  2. Wireless connection via Bluetooth between Mac and Android device
  3. Connecting Android device to Mac via a /e/cloud

Tip: Connect your Galaxy S7 “herolte” to the Mac with USB cable and check the connection via ADB and fastboot (SDK Platform Tools for Mac - platform-tools_r29.0.6-darwin.zip)

If this works, you’re a big step closer to, @Xyguma.

23

Is RNDIS (usb modem sharing connection) supposed to work (on the latest Nexus 5 rom)? I just noticed that this option is NOT even available in the notification area after the USB was connected. It’s possible to choose “file transfer”, MTP, etc. but there is no checkbox (or line) for RNDIS - once again, I’m talking about the notification area.
Interestingly if I go to the settings menu, developer options, usb-configuration, there IS an RNDIS (USB-Ethernet) checkbox. I can even check that box but the feature did not seem to work (file transfer, etc. work fine).

24

Anyway, I guess I can answer that question above by saying that reverse tethering is working. What does it mean? If there is no wifi available, but there is an USB cable, it’s possible to connect the Phone to a notebook or desktop PC (connected to the internet e.g. via ethernet) and use the internet from there.
Easy way:
Install android-tools (I’m talking about Linux here). If “adb devices” does not show the device, try “adb kill-server” and “sudo adb start-server”.
Enable USB debugging on the phone (Settings/Developer Options/Activate ADB Android Debug Bridge)
Install gnirehtet.

Connect the phone via USB to the machine, check that USB debugging is set. If the “adb devices” command works fine and gnirehtet is installed, simply run: “gnirehtet run” There should be now internet available on the phone (even if there is no wifi or sim).

It does not require sudo, neither a rooted phone. I noticed there is Settings/Tethering&Mobile Hotspot/USB-Tethering - but it does not have to be set (neither RNDIS in Developer Options).

As a sidenote: I noticed that checking System Updates does not work if the internet connection is established this way. So far could not figure out what is the reason for it. The app store does not work either, but f-drod or aurora store do work.

25

Thanks, jim-61, this was exactly what I was missing!

There’s no obvious indication that the user should look on the notification panel for these options. Would it be helpful to pop up something that says “USB connected, what do you want to do?” if there’s an attempt at a data connection (not just charging)?

1 Like
26

Hi there,

I have a similar problem. Trying to connect my /e/ S7 edge (Android 7.1.2) to a macbook (High Sierra). I read through this thread and followed the procedure from @GmK and @harvey186 . I enabled USB debugging and set USB configuration to MTP. The notification center also confirms that USB Debugging is activated and USB is for data transfer. However Android File Transfer is still not finding the device, even after restarting. (With my old android phone 8.1.0) it imediately works so I can exclude that it’s the cable or the Mac).

Has anyone another idea what I could do? Thanks in advance.

27

In terminal is

adb devices

showing your device ?

28

Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry, I haven’t yet used Terminal (my tech skills are just slowly evolving since my interest in data privacy is rising…). How I can use “adb devices”?

29

Mhm, how have you flashed your device with eOS without terminal and adb / fastboot commands ?

30

That was rather simple - I bought a pre-installed S7 from the /e/ store :wink: Having read a lot about flashing, I noticed that I am not able to do it myself.

31

ah, OK. understand. But without some knowledge about adb and fastboot and terminal itself it will be too much for my to explain all this.

But here is a good tutorial. https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/

32

Thanks anyway @harvey186 - I can understand that. I will try to to learn how to do it myself. Thanks for the starting link.