How to Find and Install a Google MTP Driver

Before you start

MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) is how Android phones share photos, videos, recordings and other files with a computer over USB. Windows already includes a generic MTP driver, so most phones need no separate download for file transfer. The package Google distributes is the Google USB Driver. It is mainly for ADB and fastboot on Pixel and other Google-branded devices, not a standalone file-transfer driver. Phones from other manufacturers use their own vendor drivers for ADB.

Installing a driver is a local operation on your PC, and an MTP transfer copies files directly over the USB cable. The only network step is downloading the Google USB Driver, which comes either through the Android Studio SDK Manager or as a standalone ZIP from the official Android developer documentation. Avoid sites that offer a 'Google MTP driver' installer. Google does not publish a driver under that name, and such packages may contain unwanted software.

• A Windows PC with an administrator account
• A USB cable that carries data, not only charging power
• The phone unlocked, with its screen on during connection
• Windows Update installed, since the built-in MTP driver is part of Windows
• On Windows N editions, the Media Feature Pack, which MTP support depends on

macOS and Linux do not use the Google USB Driver for file transfer. If you are on one of those systems, skip to the last section.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Switch the phone to file transfer mode

• Connect the phone to the PC and unlock it.
• Open the notification shade and tap the USB notification. It usually says the device is charging via USB.
• Choose the file transfer option. The label varies by Android version and manufacturer, for example 'File transfer' or 'Transfer files'.
• Wait a few seconds while Windows sets up the device.

2. Make sure Windows is using its built-in MTP driver

• Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
• Look for the phone under Portable Devices. If it appears under Other devices with a warning icon, right-click it and choose Update driver.
• Select Browse my computer for drivers, then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
• Choose Portable Devices if asked for a device type, then select MTP USB Device and confirm.
• Unplug the phone and connect it again.

3. Download the Google USB Driver (for ADB, or when a guide requires it)

There are two ways to get the driver. If you already use Android Studio, open the SDK Manager, go to the SDK Tools tab, tick Google USB Driver and apply. The files are placed in the extras\google\usb_driver folder inside your Android SDK directory. Without Android Studio, download the standalone ZIP from the Android developer documentation and extract it to a folder you will remember.

• On the phone, enable Developer options, then turn on USB debugging, if you need ADB.
• Connect the phone and open Device Manager.
• Right-click the device listed with a warning icon, or under Android Device, and choose Update driver.
• Select Browse my computer for drivers and point to the usb_driver folder. Leave Include subfolders ticked.
• If Windows does not pick it up automatically, use Let me pick from a list, then Have Disk, and select the android_winusb.inf file in that folder.
• Confirm the installation and reconnect the phone.

These changes can be reversed. In Device Manager, open the device's Properties, then the Driver tab. Roll Back Driver restores the previous driver, and Uninstall Device removes the current one so Windows can reinstall its default driver the next time you connect the phone.

Check the output

For file transfer, open File Explorer. The phone should appear under This PC by its model name, usually with an internal storage folder inside. In Device Manager, it should sit under Portable Devices without a warning icon. MTP does not give the phone a drive letter. Some actions that work on a USB stick behave differently here, such as editing a file in place or seeing new files right away. Copy files to the PC before working on them. If a recent photo or recording is missing, reconnect the phone or check that it finished saving on the device.

For ADB, Device Manager should list an Android Composite ADB Interface or a similar Android device entry. Running adb devices from the platform-tools folder should show the phone's serial number with the status device. If the status is unauthorized, accept the debugging prompt on the phone's screen and run the command again.

Common problems and next steps

• Phone only charges: try a different cable and a USB port directly on the PC, then select file transfer again in the USB notification.
• Device shows as MTP with a warning icon: reinstall MTP USB Device as described above. On Windows N, install the Media Feature Pack first.
• Windows says no driver was found in the Google folder: check that you selected the folder that contains android_winusb.inf. The Google USB Driver targets Google devices, so for other brands, get the ADB driver from the phone manufacturer.
• ADB interface missing while MTP works: USB debugging is probably off, or the phone has not been authorized on this PC yet.
• Device appears and disappears repeatedly: try another port or cable and avoid unpowered hubs. Check that the phone is not switching USB modes on its own when the screen locks.

On a Mac, Finder does not open MTP devices on its own. Use an MTP client that is still maintained, or move files wirelessly, and check how that tool stores or uploads your files before using it with private media. Many Linux desktop file managers can open MTP devices through libmtp-based components, so no Google download is needed there. Once the phone is visible, you can copy camera footage, voice recordings or screenshots to the computer for editing.