I used to transfer files to android devices just by popping out the
micro SD card and accessing it on the computer. Unfortunately, my new
tablet has the SD and SIM cards in the same tray - so one can't be
removed without the other, which is a bit of a faff. So I've been
looking into other ways. Once adb can see the device, its push and pull
commands can be used to transfer files. Also, thunar should be able to
see the device - although I personally find thunar a pain to use.

For a while, I've wondered about mounting the android filesystem under
linux, and I've just found a way which seems to work. I installed
jmtpfs, and after that, it seems to be just a matter of creating a
mount point, connecting the tablet via usb cable, switching to file
transfer mode via usb, and then doing "jmtpfs [mount_point_dir]".
After using it, umount as normal. Seems to work, but probably worth
treating with caution - it looks as though it may allow access to
things which could break android if changed: caveat usor ;)

On Tue, 2026-04-21 at 09:35 +0200, Didier Kryn via Dng wrote:
> Le 20/04/2026 à 13:06, Peter Duffy a écrit :
> > adb is a very useful utility, enabling a lot of things to be done
> > which
> > aren't possible by default on an android device (it's probably the
> > least harrowing way of transferring files between a computer and
> > android).
>
>      Well, I've plugged recently a memory key with an USB3 connector
> to
> my Android phone and I could transfer files very easily.
>
>      Before that, I had developped a Linux application to transfer
> files
> in both directions using any web browser available on the phone, and
> without plugging anything into the phone.
>
>      That said, I've never tried to hack my phone with adb, but I
> know
> that it is the way to replace Android with a free OS and I plan to do
> it
> some day.
>
> --     Didier
>
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