How to Install an MTP Driver on Windows 10

MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) is how Windows 10 browses photos, videos and other files on Android phones, many cameras and some media players. Windows 10 already includes an MTP driver, so most connection problems are fixed by getting Windows to use that built-in driver, not by downloading a separate one. This guide shows how to install or reinstall it and confirm that file transfer works.

Before you start

The whole process runs locally on your PC. You do not need an account or an online service. Windows Update is optional and needs an internet connection only if you use it to look for a driver.

• A Windows 10 user account with administrator rights, because driver changes require them.
• A USB cable that supports data, not only charging. If the device never appears on any PC, try another cable first.
• The phone or camera unlocked and awake when you connect it. Android phones do not expose files over MTP while locked.
• Your Windows 10 edition. N and KN editions ship without some media components that MTP depends on, which is covered under Common problems below.
• For LG phones: the manufacturer's own USB driver package, available from LG's official support resources, if the built-in driver does not work.

About 32-bit and 64-bit: the built-in MTP driver always matches your installed copy of Windows, so there is no separate 64-bit MTP download to look for. Be cautious with third-party sites that offer an "MTP driver download". The genuine driver is part of Windows, and unofficial installers are a common source of unwanted software.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Set the device to file transfer mode

Connect the device and unlock it. On Android, open the USB notification that appears after connecting, then choose the option for transferring files. Depending on the manufacturer and Android version, it may be called File transfer, Transfer files or MTP. If the phone stays in a charge-only mode, Windows will not load the MTP driver at all. On cameras, check the camera's menu or manual for a USB connection setting that allows PC file access.

2. Find the device in Device Manager

Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager. Look for your device under Portable Devices. If the driver is missing, it usually appears under Other devices instead, often with a yellow warning icon, and may be listed by its model name, as MTP, or as an unknown device. Unplugging and reconnecting the cable while Device Manager is open shows which entry belongs to your device.

3. Assign the built-in MTP USB Device driver

• Right-click the device entry and choose Update driver.
• Select Browse my computer for drivers.
• Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
• If a device type list appears, choose Android Phone or Portable Devices. If you see a list of drivers instead, go to the next step.
• Choose MTP USB Device and click Next.
• Wait for the confirmation, then disconnect and reconnect the device.

This step is reversible. If the result is worse, open the device's Properties, go to the Driver tab and use Roll Back Driver if it is available, or uninstall the device and reconnect it so Windows picks a driver again.

4. Reinstall the driver from its INF file if it is not listed

If MTP USB Device does not appear in the list, the driver's setup file may need to be registered again. Open File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\INF and find the file named wpdmtp.inf. Right-click it and choose Install, then repeat step 3. If the right-click menu has no Install option or Windows reports an error, see Common problems below.

5. Optionally check Windows Update

Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. On newer Windows 10 versions, driver updates may appear under View optional updates. Install only entries that clearly match your device or your PC's USB components.

Check the output

Open File Explorer and select This PC. A working MTP connection shows your device by name, usually with a storage location such as Internal shared storage or a memory card. In Device Manager, the device should appear under Portable Devices without a warning icon.

Copy a small file from the device to the PC and another one back, then open both copies to confirm they are intact. Keep in mind how MTP differs from a USB flash drive:

• The device does not get a drive letter, so some programs cannot open files directly from it. Copy files to the PC first, then edit them.
• Photos and videos keep their original format and quality. MTP copies files as they are and does not convert them.
• Folder contents may refresh slowly, and newly taken photos may not appear until you reconnect the device or refresh the folder.
• If you cannot see some folders, that is a device restriction rather than a driver fault. The phone or camera decides what to expose over MTP.

Common problems and next steps

The phone only charges and never appears

Check the USB mode on the phone again, keep the screen unlocked, and try a different cable and USB port. Ports connected directly to the PC are more dependable than hubs or front-panel extensions. If nothing new appears in Device Manager when you plug the device in, Windows is not detecting it at all, and the cause is the cable, port or USB mode rather than the MTP driver.

INF install fails or reports an invalid service section on Windows 10 N

Windows 10 N and KN editions omit media components that the MTP driver relies on. Microsoft provides these as the Media Feature Pack. On recent Windows 10 versions, it is installed as an optional feature from Settings, then Apps, then Optional features. Install the Media Feature Pack version that matches your Windows 10 version, restart, and then repeat the driver steps. To check your edition, go to Settings, then System, then About.

LG phones and LGE Android MTP drivers

Many LG phones work with the generic MTP USB Device driver. If the device still shows up as an unknown or LGE device with a warning icon, install LG's official USB driver package for your phone model, reconnect the phone, and choose the file transfer mode again. Remove older or unofficial LG driver packages first if you installed any, because conflicting drivers can stop Windows from choosing the correct one.

HP computers

There is no HP-specific MTP driver. HP desktops and laptops running Windows 10 use the same built-in Microsoft driver, in both 64-bit and 32-bit editions. If MTP devices fail on an HP PC while other USB devices work, follow the steps above. If several USB devices misbehave, update the chipset and USB drivers for your exact HP model through HP's official support tools or website rather than searching for an MTP download.

The driver installed, but transfers still fail

Restart both the PC and the device, then reconnect. If copying stops partway through, try a different port and cable before changing drivers again. If the device appears but shows no files, unlock it and confirm the file transfer mode is still selected, since some phones revert to charging after a reconnect.