How To Access Android Phone Files from Terminal in Ubuntu

In this article, we will explore how to access Android phone files from the terminal in Ubuntu. This can be a handy tool for developers, system administrators, or any Ubuntu user who wants to manage their Android device’s files directly from their computer’s terminal.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the process, it’s important to understand that we’ll be using the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) to access the Android device. MTP is a protocol associated with Windows and used for transferring files between devices. Ubuntu, however, supports MTP out of the box, which allows us to access Android files through the terminal.

Preparing Your Android Device

Before connecting your Android device to your Ubuntu system, ensure that it’s set to transfer files via MTP. You can do this by going to Settings > Storage > USB Computer Connection > Media device (MTP).

Accessing Android Files from Terminal in Ubuntu

Step 1: Connect Your Android Device

Connect your Android device to your Ubuntu system using a USB cable.

Step 2: Open Terminal

You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or searching for ‘Terminal’ in your system’s application launcher.

Step 3: Run the usb-devices Command

In the terminal, type the following command:

usb-devices

This command lists all the USB devices connected to your system.

Step 4: Find Your Device

From the list generated by the usb-devices command, find your Android device. You can do this by looking for the manufacturer’s name. For instance, if you have a OnePlus device, you can use the following command:

usb-devices | grep "Manufacturer=OnePlus" -B 3

This command uses the grep function to filter out the information related to the OnePlus device. The -B 3 flag tells grep to include the three lines before the match.

Step 5: Note the Bus and Dev Numbers

Once you’ve located your device in the list, note down the Bus and Dev numbers. These numbers are unique identifiers for your device’s connection and will be used to access its files.

Step 6: Change Directory to the GVFS Folder

The GVFS (GNOME Virtual File System) folder is where Ubuntu mounts MTP devices. To change your current directory to the GVFS folder, use the following command:

cd /run/user/1000/gvfs/

Step 7: List the Folders in the Directory

Use the ls command to see the list of folders in the GVFS directory:

ls

Step 8: Find the MTP Device Folder

Look for a folder with the Bus and Dev numbers in its name, such as mtp:host=%5Busb%3A002%2C013%5D.

Step 9: Change Directory to the MTP Device Folder

Finally, change your directory to the MTP device folder using the following command (replace ... with the appropriate name):

cd mtp\:host\=%5Busb%3A002%2C013%5D/

You should now be able to access the file storage of your Android phone through the terminal.

Conclusion

Accessing Android phone files from the terminal in Ubuntu can be a straightforward process once you understand the steps involved. This method can be a powerful tool for managing your Android device’s files directly from your Ubuntu system. However, please remember that these methods may vary depending on the Android device and Ubuntu version. If the mentioned directories are empty or the commands don’t work, you may need to install additional packages or check for any changes in newer Ubuntu versions.

For more information about MTP and Ubuntu, you can visit the Ubuntu Documentation. For more detailed information about the usb-devices command, you can check the man page.