How to Install a Lenovo MTP Driver on Windows 10

Sometimes a Lenovo phone or tablet charges when connected to a Windows 10 PC, but its photos, videos and recordings never show up in File Explorer. The usual cause is the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) driver. Windows 10 already includes a generic MTP driver, so in most cases you do not need to download anything. You only need to put the device in file transfer mode and make sure Windows uses the right driver. This guide covers that process and what to try when it fails.

Before you start

Everything here happens locally between your PC and the device. Installing the built-in driver does not need an account or an online service. Windows Update is only involved if you let Windows search for drivers automatically or install updates. A vendor driver package is the other case that requires a download.

• A Windows 10 account with administrator rights, because driver changes require them.
• A USB cable that carries data, not one that only charges. The cable supplied with the device is the safest first choice.
• The Lenovo device charged, switched on and unlocked while you connect it.
• A USB port directly on the PC rather than a hub, dock or monitor port, at least while troubleshooting.
• On Windows 10 N or KN editions, the Media Feature Pack. These editions leave out media components that MTP depends on.
• Optional: a system restore point, so you have an extra way to undo driver changes.

To see which edition you have, open Settings, go to System, then About, and look at Edition under Windows specifications.

Step-by-step instructions

Switch the device to file transfer mode

• 1. Unlock the Lenovo device and connect it to the PC.
• 2. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the USB notification.
• 3. Choose the option for transferring files. Depending on the Android version, it may be called File transfer, Transfer files or MTP. A photo transfer (PTP) option shows only camera folders, and a charging-only option shows nothing.
• 4. If the device asks whether to allow access to its data, allow it.

Now check File Explorer. If the device appears under This PC and you can open its storage, the driver is already working. In that case, skip ahead to checking the output.

Install the built-in MTP USB Device driver

• 1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• 2. Find the Lenovo device. It may be under Portable Devices, Other devices or Universal Serial Bus devices. It can appear under its model name or simply as MTP, often with a yellow warning icon.
• 3. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
• 4. Choose Browse my computer for drivers. On older Windows 10 builds this is called Browse my computer for driver software.
• 5. Choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
• 6. If Windows asks for a hardware type, select Portable Devices and click Next.
• 7. Select MTP USB Device and click Next. Wait for the installation to finish, then close the window.
• 8. Disconnect the device, reconnect it and select file transfer mode again if the device asks.

The Search automatically option is fine to try first. It checks the drivers already on the PC and may also check Windows Update. Picking the driver manually gives you more control. Make sure you choose MTP USB Device rather than an ADB or debugging interface. ADB is used by developer tools, not for copying photos and videos.

Alternative: reinstall from wpdmtp.inf

Windows stores the MTP driver definition in a file named wpdmtp.inf, inside the INF folder of the Windows directory. If MTP USB Device is missing from the driver list, open that folder in File Explorer and right-click the file. If the menu offers Install, use it, then reconnect the device. If Windows reports that the file does not support this installation method, use the Device Manager steps instead.

When a Lenovo driver package makes sense

Lenovo offers USB driver packages for some phones and tablets on its official support site. These packages are often aimed at ADB connections used by development and repair tools. For ordinary file transfer, the Windows driver is normally enough. If you do install a package, get it only from the support page for your exact model and read its description to confirm it covers file transfer. Note its name so you can remove it later through Apps and features.

Undo a driver change

In Device Manager, right-click the device, open Properties and go to the Driver tab. Roll Back Driver restores the previous driver; it is only available when Windows kept one. Another way to undo a change is Uninstall device: disconnect the device, restart the PC and reconnect it so Windows sets it up again.

Check the output

• In Device Manager, the device is listed under Portable Devices with no warning icon. Its Properties window shows that the device is working properly.
• In File Explorer, the device appears under This PC as a portable device, without a drive letter. Opening it shows its storage, usually labelled Internal shared storage or similar, depending on the model.
• Copy one photo or video to a folder on the PC and open it there. Then compare its file size with the size shown on the device.

MTP copies whole files. It does not mount the device as a regular disk, so some editing and audio apps cannot open or save files on the device directly. Copy the files to a local folder first, work on them there, and copy them back if needed. Newly captured photos or recordings may not appear until you reconnect the device. Copying through MTP leaves the originals on the device. Before deleting anything from the phone or tablet, check that the copies on the PC open correctly.

Common problems and next steps

The device only charges or does not appear at all

Unlock the device and select file transfer mode again; some devices reset to charging after each connection. Try a different cable and a different USB port on the PC itself. Then restart both the PC and the device. If another PC also fails to detect the device, the cable or the device's port is more likely the problem than the Windows driver.

MTP USB Device is not in the driver list

On the driver selection screen, clear the Show compatible hardware checkbox. Then look for MTP USB Device under the standard or generic MTP manufacturer entry in the left column. If it still does not appear, try the wpdmtp.inf method described above. On N or KN editions, install the Media Feature Pack first.

The warning icon remains or the device reports an error code

Uninstall the device in Device Manager, disconnect it, restart the PC and reconnect it in file transfer mode. Install pending Windows updates, then repeat the manual driver selection. If an error code is still shown in the device's Properties, write it down. You will need it if you contact support.

Only camera folders are visible

If you see only DCIM or Pictures, the device is connected in photo transfer (PTP) mode. Open the USB notification on the device and switch to file transfer to see the full shared storage, including recordings and downloads.

If nothing works

Contact Lenovo support with the exact device model, its Android version, your Windows 10 edition and version, and any Device Manager error code. Until the connection is fixed, you can move individual files with a removable memory card, if the device supports one, or with a file-sharing method you have already checked meets your privacy needs.