Unable to access mobile phone over an USB connection

I have a strange problem. The phone I’m talking about is an HTC ONE A9. I have also tried with a Microsoft Lumia 640XL with the same result.

This is what happens:
STEP 1> Connect the phone using a data cable to an USB port of the laptop.

STEP 2> Pop up appears on phone asking me to select an option.
My available choices are:
(a) Charge the device- just charge this phone,
(b) Transfer Files- Transfer Media to/ from your computer,
(c) CD Installer- install HTC SyncManager on Windows or Mac,
(d) USB Tether- Share this phones data connection with your computer,
(e) Use device as MIDI- Connect to MIDI instruments.

STEP 3> I touch on option (b) Transfer Files,

STEP 4> KDE Device Notifier pops up, and asks if I want to import pictures or open in file manager.
https://i.postimg.cc/NfQ8P3JZ/popup.png

STEP 5> I click on “Open with file manager”, and get this message:
https://i.postimg.cc/TYPLbfH2/kioerror.png

The same problem is present with my Lumia phone as well.
I have tried them on my Windows laptop, both phones work fine in Windows, and allow me to access the phone memory/ memory card in Windows Explorer.
In OpenSuse, my Android phone (HTC) works fine with KDE Connect (allows me to control the computer from my phone), but when connected with USB, the above behavior returns.
What’s causing this? Can it be fixed?
Thank you.

This is probably a cable problem. MTP in Leap 15 has been upgraded and appears to use more of the USB connections. Many smartphone suppliers save money by supplying cables with not all the connections made. I have three smartphone cables but only one works in MTP mode with Leap 15. Two friends have had similar problems and they have changed to using PTP; this involves editing usb_modeswitch.conf in Linux and enabling developer mode on the phone to be able to set it to PTP.

Note that this problem did not exist with Leap 42.3 which is why I believe it is a cable problem.

I recommend using a network-based method for transferring files. Assuming a wireless network environment is available, airdroid is one popular option. Or you could share with FTP perhaps.

https://www.linux.com/blog/airdroid-transfer-files-between-android-phonestablets-and-linux-any-distribution
https://thelinuxcode.com/share-files-linux-android-ftp/
https://itsfoss.com/use-ftp-linux-android/

Install kdeconnect on both your phone and computer, pair both and off you go,

Wouldn’t have guessed in a million years a bad cable would work in Windows but not in OpenSuse. Purchased a replacement cable from Amazon and it WORKS!!! I can now access both my phones on my OpenSuse laptop. Thank you all for your valuable suggestions, the issue is resolved :slight_smile:

PS: Sorry for the delay, thought I’d post after I receive the new cable, and Amazon took time to deliver.

Hah.

Use Paul Lutus’ SSHelper.

Connect with:

sshfs anyname@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx: ~/aDirectoryYouCreated -o uid=1000,gid=100,follow_symlinks

Use Unison if you wish to Synchronize your files.

You can check uid and gid on your openSUSE machine with:

cat /etc/passwd | grep yourusername

Happy days! :smiley:

Enjoy the choices. :slight_smile: