Android says Debian's "unable to access data on this device"

[heminder]

I realise this is not a Debian-specific problem as I did some searching and reading on the internet, but didn't mange to find a solution that worked.

On Wheezy/Jessie I could use adb push and pull commands without any problems. I have since done a fresh install of Stretch and the phone (not rooted) says "The connected device is unable to access data on this device" every time I plug it in now. Adb commands don't work any more. USB debugging is enabled, and I have tried clearing the device authorisations and granting permission again with my laptop, but to no avail.

If I try to access the phone's storage with Dolphin file manager (MTP), I can see the files but a prompt keeps coming up on the laptop that there has been an error accessing the device when I try to open/copy one, and one on the phone repeatedly asking me to grant access for the laptop to access the phone. PTP doesn't seem to work at all.

[arochester]

I have since done a fresh install of Etch

Why such an old release? "Security updates have been discontinued as of the end of February 2010..."

[heminder]

I have since done a fresh install of Etch

Why such an old release? "Security updates have been discontinued as of the end of February 2010..."

Oops, I meant Stretch not Etch. The new one that's in testing at the moment. Fixed it.

[heminder]

Anyone?

[dilberts_left_nut]

http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?p=631404#p631404

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Which version of Android is it?

We have an old Android smartphone that connects flawlessly with gvfs (thunar & nautilus) in both jessie and stretch.

Do you have gvfs-mtp installed?

I haven't tried using adb in stretch though.

[eor2004]

If I try to access the phone's storage with Dolphin file manager (MTP), I can see the files but a prompt keeps coming up on the laptop that there has been an error accessing the device when I try to open/copy one, and one on the phone repeatedly asking me to grant access for the laptop to access the phone. PTP doesn't seem to work at all.

@ OP: Hi, just an idea that might work, who knows? can you try to mount and access your phone storage using another file manager, not dolphin, but Caja, Nemo or Thunar for example, I remember a couple of years ago I was using KDE and Dolphin, for some unknown reason to me, it refused to mount and access my phone's storage, so i tried with another file manager I guess it was Caja the file manager for MATE DE and it worked, I was able to work with my phone's storage! OTOH, also check if your usb cable and/or phone plug connector is in good working condition.

P.S. Also make sure you have package "mtp-tools" installed, good luck!

[heminder]

Android 6.0.1.

mtp-tools is installed. The gvfs-mtp isn't in Stretch, but gvfs-backends is listed to contain the MTP support.

I did try using the E17 file manager, but it didn't detect the device. Dolphin was working perfectly in Jessie. I'd prefer not to mix desktop environments and stick with QT/KDE programs.