How to Install Windows Portable Devices and MTP Drivers

Windows uses the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) to exchange files with Android phones, portable media players and many cameras. On current versions of Windows, the MTP driver is part of the Windows Portable Devices (WPD) framework. That means installing it usually involves getting Windows to attach its built-in driver to your device, not downloading a separate installer.

Before you start

Everything below runs locally on your PC. No online service is involved, although Windows Update may supply drivers if you have it enabled. Have the following ready:

• A USB cable that carries data, not only power. If the device charges but never appears on the PC, try another cable and a different USB port.
• The phone or camera switched on, unlocked and with its screen awake.
• A Windows account with administrator rights, which you need to change drivers.
• Your Windows edition and version. You can find them in Settings > System > About, or by running winver. N and KN editions ship without the media components that MTP relies on.

Microsoft includes the MTP driver with Windows 7 and later, so be wary of websites offering a standalone "MTP driver download" or installer. Packages from phone manufacturers and Google's USB driver are mainly for ADB debugging or modem functions. They do not replace the Windows MTP driver. If your device maker publishes a driver, get it only through that manufacturer's official support channels.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Put the device in file transfer mode

Connect the device and unlock it. On Android, open the USB notification and choose the file transfer option. Depending on the manufacturer and Android version, it may be called File transfer, Transfer files or MTP. Some cameras have a USB connection setting in their own menu with options such as MTP, PTP or mass storage. Check the camera's manual for the exact name.

2. Reinstall the built-in MTP driver (Windows 7 to 11)

• Open Device Manager. On Windows 10 and 11, right-click Start and choose it from the menu. On Windows 7, search for Device Manager from the Start menu.
• Find the device under Portable Devices. If the driver is missing, the device may be listed under Other devices or Universal Serial Bus devices with a yellow warning sign, often named MTP, MTP USB Device or after the phone model.
• Right-click the device and choose Update driver.
• Choose Browse my computer for drivers, then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
• If Windows asks for a device type, choose Portable Devices.
• Select MTP USB Device, which is listed under the Standard MTP Device manufacturer, and click Next.
• Unplug the device and connect it again.

This change can be undone. If the device behaves worse afterwards, open its properties in Device Manager and use Roll Back Driver on the Driver tab when that button is available. Otherwise, uninstall the device and reconnect it so Windows detects it from scratch.

3. Register wpdmtp.inf if MTP USB Device is not listed

If the driver list does not offer MTP USB Device, the driver's setup file may not be registered. Open C:\Windows\INF in File Explorer, find wpdmtp.inf, right-click it and choose Install. On Windows 11, Install may be under Show more options. Then repeat the Device Manager steps above.

4. Windows N and KN editions

N and KN editions need the Media Feature Pack before MTP devices work.
• On Windows 11 and on Windows 10 version 1909 or later: go to Settings > Apps > Optional features. Choose Add a feature (View features on Windows 11), select Media Feature Pack, install it and restart.
• On older Windows 10 N builds: you need a separate Media Feature Pack package that matches the exact build number.

5. Windows XP

Windows XP does not include MTP support in its base system. Support is added by Windows Media Player 10 or later. Windows Media Player 11 is the version usually recommended, and it requires Service Pack 2 or later. After installing it, reconnect the device and look for it in My Computer.
You may also see references to Microsoft's MTP Porting Kit. It is intended for device developers, and it is generally unnecessary once the media player is installed.
Keep in mind that XP no longer receives security updates, and installers from unofficial sources carry extra risk. Recent Android devices may not work reliably with XP at all.

Check the output

• In Device Manager, the device appears under Portable Devices with no warning icon, and its properties report that it is working properly.
• In File Explorer, the device appears under This PC (My Computer on XP) as a device rather than as a drive letter. You can open its internal storage or DCIM folder.
• Copy one small file from the device to the PC and one in the other direction, then open both copies to confirm they arrived intact.

MTP works at the file level, so the device never gets a drive letter. Some programs cannot open or edit files directly on an MTP device; copy the files to a local folder first.
Files created on the phone after you connect it may not show up until the device rescans its storage or you reconnect. MTP copies files as they are and does not convert formats. However, import tools such as photo apps may apply their own settings, so check them if formats or file names change.

Common problems and next steps

The device only charges or is not detected

Swap the cable first. Then connect directly to a port on the computer instead of a hub. Unlock the device, select file transfer mode again, and restart both the device and the PC if it still does not appear.

MTP USB Device shows an error in Device Manager

If the entry shows a warning or a code such as Code 10 or Code 28, work through these fixes in order:
1) Register wpdmtp.inf as described above.
2) On an N or KN edition, install the Media Feature Pack.
3) Uninstall the device in Device Manager and reconnect it.
4) If Windows Update is enabled, check its optional driver updates for an entry matching your device.

The device appears but its storage is empty

Many phones hide their storage while locked. Unlock the screen and accept any prompt on the device asking to allow access to its data, then reopen the device in File Explorer.

Nothing works

Connect the device to a different computer. If it works there, the problem is on the original PC; if it fails there too, the cable or the device is more likely at fault.
For cameras, a memory card reader avoids MTP entirely. Wireless and cloud transfer apps send your files over a network, so check how a service stores and handles them before you rely on it for private photos or recordings.