Database Users

Cant access USB transfer in TWRP.

Im having an issue with TWRP 2.2.2.0.
It seems that I cant mount USB storage from the recovery at all. I can hear the sound on my lappy that a USB device is connected but when I try to mount through the recovery, nothing shows up on my computer. I tried mounting all the options there with no luck. Is this a known issue or have I messed up with my Nexie somewhere?
Thanks in advance fellow forumites.

Are you trying with usb otg? as in, cable and flash drive?

chichoko said:
Im having an issue with TWRP 2.2.2.0.
It seems that I cant mount USB storage from the recovery at all. I can hear the sound on my lappy that a USB device is connected but when I try to mount through the recovery, nothing shows up on my computer. I tried mounting all the options there with no luck. Is this a known issue or have I messed up with my Nexie somewhere?
Thanks in advance fellow forumites.
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I couldn't figure that out either, I'm also using twrp. I had to use adb to transfer files. I don't think you messed up your nexie.

unclefrancis said:
I couldn't figure that out either, I'm also using twrp. I had to use adb to transfer files. I don't think you messed up your nexie.
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I am having the same problem.
With my Kindle Fire I could connect with a USB cable and see all the files on my pc, just like it was a drive. I can't get that to work on my N7. The only way I can do it is to use WIFI File explorer which works great, but I would still like to get the cable to do it's thing if possible.

goofball2k said:
Are you trying with usb otg? as in, cable and flash drive?
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Im trying to access the internal storage of the N7 from within the recovery. And it seems impossible :S
Right now for example, I wanted to do a NAND backup but I forgot to delete the previous one and Im out of space. The only thing I can do is reboot back to the system, plug in the usb and delete the backup, then reboot into recovery and backup -.- I wanted to avoid just that but it seems that USB mount doesnt work in TWRP at all. Is anyone using CWMR and can report wether it works there? I would re-flash the recovery in an instant...

Plugging my device into my PC, there is a TWRP folder that contains the backup I made. Couldn't you do this and just delete that folder? I'm not in debugging mode.

Some times windows detect USB device but fail to attribute a letter for that mass storage device. Look at disk managment for storage device without a letter.
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda premium

Visa Declined said:
Plugging my device into my PC, there is a TWRP folder that contains the backup I made. Couldn't you do this and just delete that folder? I'm not in debugging mode.
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I'm used to do all that stuff from within the recovery on my phone... So Im looking for the same thing for my Nexie. My biggest concern is that I wanted to have USB mount from within the recovery in case my Nexus fails to boot so I can transfer a new ROM and flash it with ease. Dont want to mess with ADB for basic stuff. I can access the storage when its booted normally just fine, its the recovery mount thats bothering me...
maztahbr said:
Some times windows detect USB device but fail to attribute a letter for that mass storage device. Look at disk managment for storage device without a letter.
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda premium
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That is something I completely forgot about, will check it later on and report back. Awesome advice, thanks man! :good:

unclefrancis said:
I couldn't figure that out either, I'm also using twrp. I had to use adb to transfer files. I don't think you messed up your nexie.
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How do I use adb to transfer files? Thanks

Adb push/pull file_name
I guess
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda premium

I don't have fast boot though .... What else should I do?

How annoyed are you by MTP?

I am thinking of getting the M, but it appears the device uses MTP when you connect it a PC. I am coming from ThunderBolt, and certainly enjoyed simply mounting the SD card in Windows, then copying whatever I wanted in and out. I even recovered some files that I accidentally deleted. I would also copy files to the phone for books (in random formats) , apps (apk), videos, photos etc.
Judging by the name I would guess you can copy MP3s to phone under MTP. Can you copy other types of files? Is there a way to just mount the internal storage in Windows? Thanks!
Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2

You should be able to copy everything, if you double click on the device in Explorer (on Windows, anyway). It should give you a display of all the folders on the device, I think.
But yes, MTP sucks. For whatever reason, it simply doesn't work with my current phone. Even on a fresh clean install of Windows 7, the driver will not install, and this is seen across multiple computers, stock ROMs and custom ones. I haven't been able to transfer data to or from my phone using the USB cable in ages. I can do it over WiFi, thankfully, and I can also just pop out the microSD card if needed, but MTP still frustrates me to no end.
It works with my tablet just fine, though, so it's the Motorola driver that's messed up.

Engadget review also reported a failure to install drivers for MTP on one of their test machines, despite best efforts to trouble shoot.
Is there even a benefit to MTP? To me it sounds like pure pain.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2

cowisland said:
I am thinking of getting the M, but it appears the device uses MTP when you connect it a PC. I am coming from ThunderBolt, and certainly enjoyed simply mounting the SD card in Windows, then copying whatever I wanted in and out. I even recovered some files that I accidentally deleted. I would also copy files to the phone for books (in random formats) , apps (apk), videos, photos etc.
Judging by the name I would guess you can copy MP3s to phone under MTP. Can you copy other types of files? Is there a way to just mount the internal storage in Windows? Thanks!
Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2
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Why would you be annoyed at all, you can just mount the device as Mass Storage (just like the Thunderbrick) and move files that way. MTP is not an issue.

jimmydafish said:
Why would you be annoyed at all, you can just mount the device as Mass Storage (just like the Thunderbrick) and move files that way. MTP is not an issue.
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That's the answer I was hoping for, thank you! One last question : how do you mount the device as mass storage, using the standard Android dialog that shows up in the notification bar?
Please be patient with me, I don't have the phone yet.
Finally, my Thunder hasn't bricked yet, but it's getting close...
Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2

cowisland said:
That's the answer I was hoping for, thank you! One last question : how do you mount the device as mass storage, using the standard Android dialog that shows up in the notification bar?
Please be patient with me, I don't have the phone yet.
Finally, my Thunder hasn't bricked yet, but it's getting close...
Sent from my ThunderBolt using Tapatalk 2
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It simply gives you the option when you plug it in - you can choose to mount it as usb storage, or mtp.

jntdroid said:
It simply gives you the option when you plug it in - you can choose to mount it as usb storage, or mtp.
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Not anymore! Since the JB update, the USB mass storage option is gone! This pisses me off since I need that to connect to my vehicle's audio system. WTF would they remove that feature?!

Yeah. It makes me angry... I hate mtp. Gawd Google y u no usb mass storage?!? ¡¿¡
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

I've never had this problem -- until I upgraded to KK. Now my work PC will not allow me to install the MTP driver. Haven't tried yet on my home pc, but I am not optimistic. Come on! Some genius hacker dude out there has to have figured this one out by now!

Wi-Fi file explorer is my method of choice.
Sent from my XT907 using XDA Free mobile app

I do not get it. My Maxx mounts what appears to be MTP but when in click on the phone icon in Win7 (actually Parallels desktop on a Mac) the internal SD is mounted! Just like before. That is with 444. So is 442 way different on the older msm8960s?
Now on a Mac it is doodoo.

I can access both SD cards from PC without any problem in MTP mode. I installed the drivers while I was on JB I think

mrkhigh said:
Wi-Fi file explorer is my method of choice.
Sent from my XT907 using XDA Free mobile app
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I used to use that on my old phone but forgot about it. I'll have to give it another go. Thanks for the reminder.

Can we mount internal storage within a custom Recovery?

When I'm in TeamWin or Clockwork I cannot find a way to mount the internal storage (the 8GB or 16GB) of the Nexus 4 so I can copy files onto it from my PC.
Have been able to do this with my past two phones, One X and the HTC Desire (usually an option called Mount USB storage).
Can anyone do this, or is there some sort of limitation right now on the Nexus 4? I'm using Windows 8 which has given me headaches installing drivers, but fastboot works fine at the moment.

Bump as I reworded my question to something completely different than it was before :good:

No you cannot. You can push or pull files with adb though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

El Daddy said:
No you cannot. You can push or pull files with adb though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
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Thanks so much, I've been tearing my hair out for hours installing/reinstalling drivers on Windows 8.
Is this something to do with the Nexus 4 not supporting OTG? As the One X has internal storage (32GB) and I was able to mount it through USB okay.

Audioboxer said:
Thanks so much, I've been tearing my hair out for hours installing/reinstalling drivers on Windows 8.
Is this something to do with the Nexus 4 not supporting OTG? As the One X has internal storage (32GB) and I was able to mount it through USB okay.
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Its because the nexus 4 and previously galaxy nexus don't use UMS. They use MTP.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

El Daddy said:
Its because the nexus 4 and previously galaxy nexus don't use UMS. They use MTP.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
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Thanks again for the explanations.
If I ever somehow bork my OS installation and require to get a new zip file to the internal storage for flashing I'd just use adb to push? Not that familiar with adb, but now is the time to learn all the commands :good:

Audioboxer said:
Thanks again for the explanations.
If I ever somehow bork my OS installation and require to get a new zip file to the internal storage for flashing I'd just use adb to push? Not that familiar with adb, but now is the time to learn all the commands :good:
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Yep. Look up efrants 101 guide in the general stickies. It has a ton of good info!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Well this blows.... So is there ANY way to use USB Mass Storage with the Nexus 4?
MTP SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moborobo works for me with it's own "file manager".
DroidBois said:
Well this blows.... So is there ANY way to use USB Mass Storage with the Nexus 4?
MTP SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Click to collapse

nwtspam said:
Moborobo works for me with it's own "file manager".
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Thanks, looks good I'll check it out.
Is there any other way to enable USB Mass Storage though? Particularly from Recovery?
MTP has to be the worst mistake every made in the telco industry, it really is a steaming heap of technological junk. They don't even bother to market it as a 'feature' - it's clearly just a way to exact control over the device by the manufacturer in some way.

No it is not possible. Unlike older devices the /sdcard partition on the nexus 4 is formatted as ext4.
This brings numerous advantages when accessing it within the android environment.
In android it is mounted as a fuse which makes it even harder.
In recovery it is mounted as ext4 which means it technically is possible to Mount as a mass storage device. But you would only be able to access it from a Linux or Mac box as windows cannot access an ext filesystem.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

EXT4 is totally fine, it's possibly one of the best file systems out there so I have no issue with that. I run both Linux Mint and Windows 8 and there are even Windows tools to at least READ EXT4 file systems.
So it IS possible to circumvent this MTP garbage then? I've formatted USB sticks and drives with EXT4 before and they mount perfectly fine in Linux and can even read them in Windows fine with the right open source drivers / utilities.

Kingston 64GB USB C to USB

I've just bought a 63GB flash drive. It's one of those which one side has USB C and the other USB 3.0. Although the 6p recognises the dive when plugged in i can't copy files across our create new folders etc. Using es file explorer.
Any ideas how to get this to work?

when its connected check the notification bar and set it to MTP

mo123456789 said:
I've just bought a 63GB flash drive. It's one of those which one side has USB C and the other USB 3.0. Although the 6p recognises the dive when plugged in i can't copy files across our create new folders etc. Using es file explorer.
Any ideas how to get this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Need to download an app called nexus media importer to have full control.

Are you stock ?
What filesystem is on the card ?
6P seems to like only fat32 (though I haven't retested this with 6.0.1).

jfive74 said:
Need to download an app called nexus media importer to have full control.
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I have this same drive. I didn't need an extra app to have full control. I can r/w and copy files back and forth from es files explorer. What exactly does media importer do?

Not sure what the problem was but after flashing 6.0.1 it seems to be working fine....

murphyjasonc said:
I have this same drive. I didn't need an extra app to have full control. I can r/w and copy files back and forth from es files explorer. What exactly does media importer do?
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what folder are you seeing the Flash Drive?

gd6noob said:
what folder are you seeing the Flash Drive?
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It doesn't give you a folder when you insert the flash drive. If you go to settings in ES while the flash drive is inserted you should see a setting to enable USB. When you check that it will show up in the local tab of ES.

USB OTG app

I have an OTG cable with a flash drive and I tried to use ES Explorer and Root Explorer to move files to and from the OTG but it's not showing the drive. I know I can just go to the Settings and Storage and USB but anybody have an app that works.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

jahciple said:
I have an OTG cable with a flash drive and I tried to use ES Explorer and Root Explorer to move files to and from the OTG but it's not showing the drive. I know I can just go to the Settings and Storage and USB but anybody have an app that works.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
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Did you try Stickmount?

bd177 said:
Did you try Stickmount?
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I'm not rooted yet.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

jahciple said:
I have an OTG cable with a flash drive and I tried to use ES Explorer and Root Explorer to move files to and from the OTG but it's not showing the drive. I know I can just go to the Settings and Storage and USB but anybody have an app that works.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
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Either that otg cable is dodgy or your devices does not like your pendrive. Try plugging a mouse and see if it works.

I agree with @kadopt
I just plugged my OTG able in and it popped right up.