MTP applications not connecting on Windows 10 – How to fix

Windows 10 is always considered a massive breakthrough in the long line of Windows versions. The user interface became increasingly popular because of its speed, friendliness, and dynamism. However, the Windows 10 update hasn’t been free of bugs. These bugs hindered the seamless working of some MTP applications. Each anniversary update caused subsequent issues which have been a matter of concern to whoever encountered them. Sometimes they were solved but sometimes they couldn’t. Users reported the inability to move files from their phones while it was connected to a PC via a USB. But to ease everyone having this issue, we have provided all the probable solutions. As always, you have to know the basics before applying the tricks. So, let’s get started right away. 

What does MTP mode mean?

MTP is an abbreviation for ‘Media Transfer Protocol’. Basically in some form, this is the mode of transfer implemented by Android devices while transferring files from phones to PCs and vice-versa. Previously, Android followed the old USB mass storage protocol. While that protocol exposed the device storage entirely, MTP has been more selective in this aspect. 

mtp application
mtp application

Every time we connect our phone to the PC, we will be prompted to choose between MTP and PTP, right? PTP means ‘Picture Transfer Protocol’. This protocol helps in transferring media files. MTP on the other hand supports file transfer of other formats as well. 

MTP application not working issue on Windows 10

Transferring files over a USB when the PC and the phone are connected requires basic knowledge. It is not just connecting the cable to both ends and starting to move files from one place to the other. In the background, your phone is automatically installing the necessary drivers to carry out this operation. But sometimes the phone doesn’t show up even after being plugged-in right? You can’t see the device storage in the ‘This PC’ tab. This is a failure issue related to the MTP application. The PC and the MTP-enabled device sometimes run into errors which might come in the forms below:-

  • MTP not recognized
  • MTP USB device not installing
  • MTP USB Device driver failed
  • The USB device is not recognized by your computer
  • Code 28

The reason behind MTP not working

When the phone doesn’t show up on the PC, it can be considered a MTP error. So, when this happens, it’s always a headache regarding how it can be sorted out. But there are always some reasons behind MTP application errors happening. They are:-

  1. USB cable:- If the USB cable used to connect the devices is faulty, this error is inevitable. Worn-out or old cables sometimes fail to establish a connection. It’s better to use the phone’s original charging cable. 
  2. Missing driver:- The Android phone installs drivers to transfer the files. If this driver fails to install these drivers, the MTP application can’t take place.
  3. Corrupted driver:- Be careful to check if the Android MTP application driver is not damaged or corrupted. In that case, the phone will be unable to establish a secure connection with the PC.
  4. Outdated drivers:- The current MTP driver you are using might become outdated. You should update it immediately to the latest version to get rid of this error at once.
  5. If the phone is just charging:- This needs to be taken care of whether you have chosen the MTP application File transfer option. You should choose the file transfer option from your phone’s notifications. Or else the phone will just keep on charging.
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How to fix MTP application not working error

With repeated complaints raised by users against MTP applications, Microsoft primarily decided to come up with a solution. They released a new update that literally worked for some people. But if you are someone for whom it didn’t work, there are a few tricks you should check out. Go through them below at once:-

Method 1- Check your MTP Device

Sometimes the problem is caused by the hardware itself. In that case, no software troubleshooting will help you. When you plug in the USB cable, be cautious about the MTP. Swipe down the notification and select the required File Transfer Protocol to enhance seamless transfer from mobile to PC. In some devices, MTP needs to get activated manually, so just be careful about that. 

Next, if you receive the ‘USB device not recognized’ message, the cable might be loose. Take it out and plug it in firmly to activate the MTP application. The drivers will automatically be installed on the Android device. 

Method 2- Keep the MTP drivers updated

If the MTP application driver is outdated, it will prompt with an error. You will not be able to transfer anything to or from your mobile. A broken and obsolete driver is not good to go. Thus, go to your device manager and look for the MTP driver. Select it and ‘update’ it to the latest version. Check out the steps below:-

  1. Press the Windows and ‘R’ keys simultaneously.
  2. In the ‘Run’ box, type ‘devmgr.msc’ and press the ‘Enter’ key.
  3. Once the ‘Device Manager’ shows up, expand the ‘Portable Devices’ menu.
  4. Right-click on the device and click the ‘Update Driver’ option.
  5. Click on ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ option from the following screen. 

This method will probably get you out of this error. If the problem persists, try out the next methods.

Method 3- Turn on MTP application using Command Prompt

Using Command Prompt is always an instant way to enable the MTP application feature on Windows 10. You don’t have to run through various menus but just write some specific commands. Follow the steps to turn on MTP application using Command Prompt:-

  1. Hold down the ‘Windows key’. In the search bar, type ‘cmd’.
  2. Click ‘Run as Administrator’ or press the ‘Ctrl’, ‘Shift’, and ‘Enter’ keys together. 
  3. Now, the cmd window will appear. Type each of the commands as mentioned below and press ‘Enter’:

net localgroup Administrators local service /add

See if the mobile storage shows up on the ‘This PC’ window. 

Method 4- Try installing wpdmtp.inf from the Windows directory

Not much of a tedious method to do the job. You have to just find the required file from the Windows folder and install it.

  1. On your PC taskbar, you can see the ‘File Explorer’ icon. Open it.
  2. Select ‘This PC’ option and move into the main ‘C drive’. Here Windows is kept installed.
  3. Follow this path- ‘C:\Windows\INF’.
  4. You will get the ‘wpdmtp.inf’ app. Right-click on it and select ‘Install’.
  5. Just give your confirmation when the ‘Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?’ message shows up. 
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Method 5- Try installing wpdmtp.inf from the Device Manager

If you are repeatedly getting the error ‘This USB device is not recognized’ error when you try to activate the MTP operation, you should surely try this technique. You are likely to see a ‘yellow exclamation mark’ in the Device Manager. To resolve this, you can try installing wpdmtp.inf from the Device Manager. Just follow these steps:-

  1. Press the ‘Windows’ key.
  2. Then hold down the ‘X’ key. 
  3. Select ‘Device Manager’.
  4. Click the option ‘Portable Devices’ to locate the MTP application device. If it is not there, look for it in the ‘Other Devices’.
  5. Click on the ‘Browse my system for device software’ option from the following screen.
  6. Navigate through the Browse menu and find the ‘wpdmtp.inf’ file. To make things easy, follow this path- C:\Windows\INF.
  7. Install the file by hovering over the necessary instructions.

Method 6- Enable USB Debugging

There are a few instances when the USB needs debugging to resolve the MTP application error. It is very effective when you have selected the File Transfer option from the notification but still, it isn’t working. The USB debugging enabling method may vary from device to device, but basically, it’s almost the same. Just follow the steps mentioned below:-

  1. Open the ‘Settings’ menu on your phone.
  2. Move down the menu to the ‘About Phone’ option. 
  3. Find the option referred to as ‘Build Number’. Tap on the option seven times simultaneously. It will unlock the hidden ‘Developer Options’ menu.
  4. Tap on the ‘Developer Options’ from ‘Settings’.
  5. Navigate to the ‘USB Debugging’ tab and enable it. 

Method 7- Try turning on Airplane Mode

The Airplane mode is always considered a type of Hard reset for any network-related issue. However, sometimes this trick can also be used to refresh the connection between a MTP application device like an Android phone or camera and a Windows PC. Some people even gave feedback on how this trick worked for them instantly. 

If the device is neither implementing the MTP automatically nor asking it to do it manually, you can try this trick as well. Just turn on the Airplane mode temporarily till you are done with all the file transfers. Always remember to turn off Airplane mode once the work is done. Or else you can’t use Wi-fi, or Bluetooth services on your device. 

Method 8- Repair the Registry

Whenever we install some form of device for portable devices, some keys get registered in the Windows Registry. This is the case for MTP application devices as well. If some of these keys are corrupted or exposed to malicious threats, they could collapse. Your MTP device will start having connectivity issues due to this. 

Damaged or broken keys will forever affect the MTP application. To get rid of this, you can just detect and remove these keys from your system. Now, if you plug in the MTP device, completely new keys will be registered and it should work just fine. 

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Removing broken keys from the registry is okay until done carefully. You should just get rid of the damaged ones. Any interruption or modification to the other keys can cause a whole lot of issues. Thus, you should avoid that scenario by creating a restoration point before doing any modification. In case anything goes wrong, you can just roll back to the previous mode. It is advised to form a backup of the whole registry beforehand. If you make a mistake in detecting the faulty keys, you can just restore the old one as it is. 

The way to create a registry backup is not that tough if you follow these steps:

  1. Hold down the ‘Windows’ key and type ‘regedit’ in the search bar. 
  2. Press ‘Enter’ to access the Registry Editor menu.
  3. From this Registry Editor menu, click the ‘File’ tab.
  4. Click on the ‘Export’ option.
  5. Assign a name to the file and save it in a location of your choice. 

After the backup is done, you can edit the registry and remove the keys to resolve the MTP application error once and for all. Run over these steps:-

  1. If you are using Windows 10, press the ‘Windows’ and ‘R’ keys together. The ‘Run’ bar will show up.
  2. In the ‘Run’ bar text field, type ‘regedit’. Then press the ‘Enter’ key or click on ‘OK’. The ‘Registry Editor’ window will start launching.
  3. Hover over the path below the left pane in the ‘Registry Editor’ window. To make things easy for you, we are providing the required path- 

     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class

  1. At the top-left corner, you will get the ‘Edit’ option. Click on it. Then click on ‘Find’.
  2. In the ‘Find’ text field, enter ‘portable devices’. 
  3. Click on ‘Find Next’.
  4. This will take you to the key which got corrupted or damaged. Right-click on the key and select the ‘Delete’ option to eradicate it from the system completely. 

So, this was the ultimate and most advanced technique for resolving ‘MTP application’ not working error. One of the above methods should definitely work in establishing a proper MTP connection between Windows and your phone.

Conclusion

MTP application errors are very common and should not be a headache at all if followed this guide. You can implement these techniques to solve the issue related to your camera and phone. We hope this piece of article helps. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I fix a MTP driver problem?

You should go to the Microsoft official website at once. From there, you can download the MTP Porting Kit. Install the kit and reboot your PC. This will probably solve the problem.

How will I update my MTP driver for Windows 10?

Hold down Windows+X and navigate to the Device Driver. From the list of hidden devices, choose your device and right-click to get the update driver option.

How can I unlock my MTP device?

From the device menu, go to USB options and select the preferable MTP. Wait until the device reconnects automatically.