Hidden folders are... Hidden, apparently. - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I'm aware of hidden folders remaining that way when enacting the usb transfer protocol mtp, but I'm not sure why hidden folders which were accessible on my older HTC device are not visible within a file explorer (such as es file explorer) on the phone.
This sorta cripples legacy applications reinstalled to the new device as they are unable to access the previously created data allocated to these areas.
Does anyone have any idea how to make these folders visible on the device [galaxy s4] without resorting to mounting the card directly to a windows os environment?

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As this has slipped into obscurity, I'm going to add some more information in hopes of generating more viewership.
Hidden folders are usually folders with a (.) at the beginning. These folders were once accessible on my former device and can be viewed on any other device than my GS4. Once I mount to the phone and open up any file explorer they are no longer visible.
Does anyone know why this is and if there is a way to reverse this?
EDIT: SOLVED.
I've determined that the only way to access hidden folders on the device is to check "show hidden files" in ES file explorer settings.

I'm bring this thread back to ask the question, how do I view the hidden files and folders on my Windows 7 computer when I plug the phone in via usb? I had no problems viewing them hidden folders on my S2 but now n my S4 those folders are completely hidden on the S4 when I plug the phone in. What's different now?

Android dropped support for USB Mass Storage mode to mount the phone on a computer. That is the mode that let's a computer see everything. It also let's the computer access things it wants to. The MTP that became standard for Android 4+ (some versions of skins put the mass storage support back in) keeps the phone in primary control of the files. This is supposed to prevent file corruption and conflicts with the phone and computer changing the same files at the same time.
You can move the content on the phone to a non hidden folder to see it on a computer.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

Related

[Q] Strange file system behaviour

I have experienced some weird behaviour when connecting my TF to my PC.
I deleted some files in File Manager HD but when I plugged it into my PC the files were still showing in windows.
Also I have a folder called downloads on my TF, Plugged into my PC it showed 2 folders called download. One was empty so I deleted it through my PC, then when I unplugged my TF both download folders were gone including what was in them.
All this is with the TF internal storage. Anyone else seen this sort of thing?
TF is all stock, no root.
The file systems on linux are case sensitive - so what you saw on your PC was probably two different folders, but with different case used in creating them.
I.e. under android/linux the following are different folders:
Download/
download/
Under windows share, those might both look like 'Download' in windows, hence the confusion.
I don't believe that was the case, plus that doesn't explain why I deleted files on the TF then plugged it into the PC and they were still there.

Trouble Coping/Adding Files

I recently had a replacement of my Nexus4 and I'm trying to copy files/settings/etc from one device to the other.
I backed up Apex Launcher Settings. When I plugged in the original Nexus 4 to my laptop, it will not display the folder Apex saved the backup file. (Android/data/apexlauncher/ - the apexlauncher folder does not appear in Windows Explorer) So I have no way to copy the backups to my computer to later transfer to the replacement phone.
It seems with MTP you are limited to the type of file you can transfer to and from the phone.
Is there a way to bypass this limitation, and enable a mass storage setting?
I rather not use any wifi/ftp apps, as I don't like downloading a bunch of apps... (I maintain a pretty stock/google only device)

can't find folder/filers from pc?

Hi, I downloaded a big iso file (say file x) on my nexus 4. weird thing is I can't see the file from my pc when I connect my phone to my pc. I can see the folders on my phone but can't see the folder (say folder f1) that contains the file..
Even more weird thing is when I moved some file in the f1 to a folder (say f2) using Astro file manager that can be seen from my pc. I can see the file in f2 on my phone, but it's not on my pc.
Then I renamed a file (file y) in f2 in Astro. Both fy and f2 can be seen on my pc. But on my pc I can't see the name of y changed.
In short what kind of changes I made to my files on my phone, nothing happens on my pc. I have unplugged the cable and repluggd it but the situation is still the same.
Also, I can create folder/file from pc and they can be seen from my phone.
bump
thotwielder said:
Hi, I downloaded a big iso file (say file x) on my nexus 4. weird thing is I can't see the file from my pc when I connect my phone to my pc. I can see the folders on my phone but can't see the folder (say folder f1) that contains the file..
Even more weird thing is when I moved some file in the f1 to a folder (say f2) using Astro file manager that can be seen from my pc. I can see the file in f2 on my phone, but it's not on my pc.
Then I renamed a file (file y) in f2 in Astro. Both fy and f2 can be seen on my pc. But on my pc I can't see the name of y changed.
In short what kind of changes I made to my files on my phone, nothing happens on my pc. I have unplugged the cable and repluggd it but the situation is still the same.
Also, I can create folder/file from pc and they can be seen from my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All right, it's suddenly just fine. No idea why.
Was going to say it could be due to the horrible MTP that Android now uses instead of Mass Storage.
MTP Limits large files from being transferred to and from the device.
(and only shows some folders, usually the basic Music, Downloads, Pictures, etc - and folders that were created on the device via the computer)
But since it just showed up, I have no clue...
I have no problems with MTP, all my folders and files show up on my pc. Can also transfer large video files without a problem. The size limitation by the way is 4GB.
http://www.androidcentral.com/ics-feature-mtp-what-it-why-use-it-and-how-set-it
Sometimes you may have to reboot the phone to be able to see the files. Works for me. After download some files I can't see them immediately, have to reboot phone then plug in and files will be there.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
kzoodroid said:
I have no problems with MTP, all my folders and files show up on my pc. Can also transfer large video files without a problem. The size limitation by the way is 4GB.
http://www.androidcentral.com/ics-feature-mtp-what-it-why-use-it-and-how-set-it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had trouble with MTP, unable to write certain files... So I have to Zip them, copy them over, then unzip them from within Android. And I made some Backups of my Apex Settings and such, before uninstalling the app, when I plugged the N4 into my computer the location where Apex saved the file did not show.. Once I finally just saved them to my Google Drive from the phone, I was unable to copy them back over to the N4 (hence the reason for needing to ZIP them) - Also I recreated the Apex settings folder myself via Windows Explorer in the Android Folder of the n4 but Apex was unable to find it. When I clicked Backup within Apex, it normally will inform you of an overwrite if backup files already exist, but this did not happen.
I have the basic folders appear in Windows Explorer (Alarms, Android, DCIM, Downloads, Movies, Music, Notifications, Pictures, Podcast, and Ringtones) ... The Android Folder (where Apex saves its backups) would only display a few select folders (those related to media) so the Apex Backup folder is not visible in Windows Explorer...
Anyhow, I'm certainly not a fan of MTP... but will read the article you posted and maybe it will help/change my view

Is there an alternative to AFT

I love the nexus 4 but the fact that my mac can't see it is really annoting. I could easily connect my GS2 like a pendrive and transfer files and also rearrange stuff. Now, I've searched around the web and found the 'Android File Transfer' app that allows me to copy files back and forth from my mac. I would be totally fine with this if only it allowed me to move files from on folder to another with my nexus. This is a ridiculously basic feature that is missing. i.e. say I copy a bunch of songs to the wrong folder on my phone, AFT doesn't allow me to just drag those files over to another folder on my phone. I now need to delete all those files and recopy them onto the correct folder. This is unacceptable so I'd like to know if theres a good alternative to AFT or am I missing something?
FYI: Im on 4.3 and not rooted
BUMP!
Some info I've found online suggests that running gvfs and Nautilus from MacPorts works well with MTP. I've had success with Nautilus in Linux but have not used Mac OS.
If your only issue is not being able to move the files to a different folder after they've been transferred, have you considered just using an Android file manager app to move the files once they're on your device?

Files and Folders hidden on PC but not on device

Hi,
I'm on stock everything, havent done anything to my phone.
Here's what happens, I plugged my nexus 6p on my pc.
I am expecting a few more files and folders in the Downloads folder, but I only see a few in the PC. Screenshots attached.
EDIT: As you can see, kali-linux-2016.1-amd64 and NBA_2K11-FLT (I downloaded because of Jordan Mode LOL) weren't shown on my PC. Please help me.
EDIT 2: It turns out this is a code issue on Android itself. A temporary work around would be to move the folder/file on Android, using a File Manager to a different location so that Android can scan the folder/file.

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