OpenMTP | Android File Transfer for macOS

• Author: Ganesh Rathinavel
• License: MIT
• System Requirements: macOS 10.11 or higher
• Website URL: https://openmtp.ganeshrvel.com
• Repo URL: https://github.com/ganeshrvel/openmtp
• Contacts: ganeshrvel@outlook.com

Introduction

Advanced Android File Transfer Application for macOS.

Transferring files between macOS and Android or any other MTP devices has always been a nightmare. There are a few File Transfer MTP apps which are available online but most of them are either too expensive or come with bad UI/UX. The official "Android File Transfer" app for macOS from Google comes with bugs, innumerable limitations, some of which include - not being able to transfer files larger than 4GB, frequent disconnections, unable to rename the folders or files on the android/MTP devices. Most of the other apps available online uses either WiFi or ADB protocol to transfer the files, which is an extremely time-consuming process.

Countless searches to find an app to solve these problems and failing to find one made me restless. So, I took the leap and decided to create an app for us that could help us have a smooth and hassle-free file transfer process from macOS to Android/MTP devices. Created with the objective of giving back to the community, we can all use this app for free in this lifetime.

Features

• Safe, Transparent and Open-Source
• Plug and Play via USB. No hassles, easy and instant connection.
• Select between Internal Memory and SD Card
• Transfer multiple files which are larger than 4GB
• Dark mode
• Drag-and-drop support
• Split pane views for both Local Computer and Android device
• Choose between Grid and List view.
• Use Keyboard Shortcuts to navigate through your files.
• No collection of personally identifiable information.

Kalam Kernel

OpenMTP 3.0 features a new MTP kernel and it was written from the scratch. It promises a file copy speed of 30 to 40 MB/s on low and mid range devices and 100 to 120 MB/s on higher end devices. The all new and powerful MTP kernel is named after Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Do checkout the Go package which I've written to build Kalam Kernel: github.com/ganeshrvel/go-mtpx. Feel free to raise PRs.

Installation

• Download the Latest Version

• Using Homebrew Cask

# newer versions:
  brew install openmtp --cask
  # older versions:
  brew cask install openmtp

• Find the latest dmg file from GitHub Releases

Screengrabs

Keyboard Shortcuts

Building from Source

Requirements: Node.js v10, Git and Yarn package manager

Clone

$ git clone --depth 1 --single-branch --branch master https://github.com/ganeshrvel/openmtp.git

$ cd openmtp

$ yarn

Run

A fresh clone might throw undefined state error. Run the following commands once to fix the issue.

# For Mac and Linux
$ UPGRADE_EXTENSIONS=1 npm run dev

# For Windows
$ set UPGRADE_EXTENSIONS=1 && npm run dev

# Development
$ yarn dev

# Pre-production
$ yarn start

Package

Setup the code signing to build, package and publish the app.

App Notarization for macOS (skip this section for non macOS builds)

• Rename sample.env file as .env
• Update APPLEID in .env file
• Log into your Apple Account
• Goto Security > App-Specific Passwords
• Click on Generate Password..., enter a password label and click Create
• Copy the displayed app-specific-password
• Run

security add-generic-password -a "<apple-developer-account-username>" -w <app-specific-password*> -s "ELECTRON_NOTORIZE_PASSWORD"

• Log into your Apple App Store Connect Account and accept the presented terms and conditions
• The statuses shall turn Active

Sentry

npm install -g @sentry/wizard
sentry-wizard --integration electron

# Upload Debug Information
# Everytime the electron.js version is upgraded run:
node sentry-symbols.js

sentry-cli login

PackagingInstructions: https://www.electron.build/code-signing

$ export GH_TOKEN="<github token>"

# For local platform
$ yarn package

# For multiple platforms
$ yarn package-all

Technical Features

• Built using Electron v11 and React v17
• Loadables, Dynamic Reducer Injection, Selectors for code splitting and performance optimization
• Hot module reload (HMR) for instant feedback
• Inbuilt error logging and profile/settings management
• Industry standard state management
• JSS, SASS/SCSS styling
• Port assigned: 4642

Configurations

• config/env/env.dev.js and config/env/env.prod.js contain the PORT number of the app.
• config/dev-app-update.yml file holds the GitHub repo variables required by electron-updater.
• config/google-analytics-key.js file contains the Google Analytics Tracking ID.
• package.json build.publish object holds the values for publishing the packaged application.
• app/constants folder contains all the constants required by the app.

Debugging

Debugging Guide

https://github.com/electron-react-boilerplate/electron-react-boilerplate/issues/400

Dispatching redux actions from the main process

https://github.com/electron-react-boilerplate/electron-react-boilerplate/issues/118

https://github.com/electron-react-boilerplate/electron-react-boilerplate/issues/108

VM112:2 Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property 'state' of undefined error

# For Mac and Linux
$ UPGRADE_EXTENSIONS=1 npm run dev

# For Windows
$ set UPGRADE_EXTENSIONS=1 && npm run dev

Troubleshooting

Your device is not recognized

• Raise an issue if your device is undetected: https://github.com/ganeshrvel/openmtp/issues/new?template=contribute.md

The app goes blank while trying to connect a Samsung device

• Uninstall Samsung SmartSwitch, if installed: https://farazfazli.medium.com/how-i-reverse-engineered-keis-and-sidesync-and-fixed-mtp-8949acbb1c29, https://github.com/ganeshrvel/openmtp/issues/212.

Notarizing Electron apps throws - “You must first sign the relevant contracts online. (1048)” error

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/58358449/notarizing-electron-apps-throws-you-must-first-sign-the-relevant-contracts-on

More repos

• npm: electron-root-path
• Electron React Redux Advanced Boilerplate
• Tutorial Series by Ganesh Rathinavel

Credits

• Thanks to Ms Ayushi Bothra for contributing to the documentation and pages.

• App logo was contributed by Shubhendu Mitra. Make sure to check out more of his works on Behance.

• Thanks to Vladimir Menshakov for android-file-transfer-linux (the MTP legacy Kernel)

• Shoutout to @yennsarah, @h0tk3y, @riginoommen, @AjithKumarvm, @kiranshaji555, Dick Cowan, Kjell Dankert, Thorolf E.R. Weißhuhn and to all other community members who helped me test the application.

• This app was built upon https://github.com/ganeshrvel/electron-react-redux-advanced-boilerplate which is a heavily modified fork of https://github.com/electron-react-boilerplate/electron-react-boilerplate.

• The icons used in the app were made by flaticon, good-ware and kiranshastry which is licensed under CC 3.0 BY.

• The "no image found" icon was made by Phonlaphat Thongsriphong.

Contribute

If you are interested in fixing issues and contributing directly to the code base, please see the guidelines.

Support OpenMTP

Help me keep the app FREE and open for all.

• Donate Via PayPal: paypal.me/ganeshrvel
• Buy Me A Coffee (UPI, PayPal, Credit/Debit Cards, Internet Banking): buymeacoffee.com/ganeshrvel

Contacts

Please feel free to contact me at ganeshrvel@outlook.com

License

OpenMTP | Android File Transfer for macOS is released under MIT License.

Copyright © 2018-Present Ganesh Rathinavel