Disable auto start for Android File Transfer

disable-auto-android-file-transfer.md

• Close Android File Transfer
• Open Activity Monitor and kill “Android File Transfer Agent”
• Go to where you installed “Android File Transfer.app” (I have it under /Applications)
• Ctrl+click –> “Show package contents”
• Go to Contents/Resources
• Rename “Android File Transfer Agent” to e.g. “Android File Transfer Agent_DISABLED”
• Then go to “/Users/username/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer” and again rename the Agent app.

This is too radical. I'd suggest going to the System Preferences / Users & Groups / / Login Items and removing "Android File Transfer Agent" from the list. This way you will still be able to launch it when you need it.

@alg the way you suggested does work. The agent is still launched when inserted with the usb.

@zeroseis: Thanks.

just put this command in Terminal (Mac).

PID=$(ps -fe | grep "[A]ndroid File Transfer Agent" | awk '{print $2}'); if [[ -n $PID ]]; then kill $PID; fi; mv "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Resources/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Resources/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; mv "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete every login item whose name is "Android File Transfer Agent"'

@rb-shahid

Your solution work like a charm!

@rb-shahid solution worked for me as well, thank you!

@rb-shahid Thanks!. works for me

Thanks very much, i was getting very irrated while degubbing android app, this file transfer always opens up.

Works, thaaaaaaank you

works, thanks. files renamed, login item removed. 👍

Dear "Android File Transfer Agent":

Don't call us, we'll call you.

Sincerely,
~ Everyone

works, thanks. files renamed, login item removed.

Dear "Android File Transfer Agent":

Don't call us, we'll call you.

Sincerely,
~ Everyone

@rb-shahid your the man ! And for Android File Transfer developers just : WTF

Thank you so much. This was the most annoying app I've ever had installed >:(

Thanks 👍

😚

Awesome, this worked like a charm. Thanks @zeroseis

thanks 👍

@rb-shahid Thanks

FYI, these approaches only work until you reinstall or update the application.

Another approach is to make the agent unreachable, then change its owner to the root user so that an update/reinstall cannot revert your changes. In a terminal:

chmod 000 ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
sudo chown root:wheel ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app

Obviously, the agent is still already running, so you will have to kill it in Activity Monitor.

To undo it:

sudo chown $UID:staff ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
chmod 755 ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app

@zeroseis Thanks 👍
This was really intrusive and annoying!

@DanielSmedegaardBuus thanks, much better!

Mac OS Sierra.
This is still the only way to achieve this.

Thanks,

Thank for that nice android transfer!

This REALLY needs to be an option within the application.

I write Android apps on Windows in a macOS Parallels VM. While the VM properly captures the android device, macOS still generates a "hey, an android device was plugged in" signal. AFT then pops up, but by this time the VM has captured the device and its not available to macOS. So then I get the app alert: No device is connected.

This is TERRIBLY annoying!!

Please, give us the option from within AFT to disable the USB agent.

thank you all so much <3

This was very useful. Thanks.

@DanielSmedegaardBuus Thanks!

Important note: if you are running OS X 10.13 High Sierra, this hack will cause undeletable "Unknown" login items to appear in your Login Items. These bogus/corrupted "unknown" items can cause some apps to crash. For now I've switched to using the command-line adb tool to copy files to/from my device, which is clunky but works. There is some discussion of this bug (and a fix/workaround) on this Github issue.

There is a relatively clean way to circumvent this issue. Very brief:

1. Create an application that does nothing using Automator
2. Replace the Agent app under /Applications/... by your created noop app
3. Stop any running agent and remove its copy under ~/Library

This way, the login item stays valid since it refers to an existing app and isn't duplicated on each launch.

I wrote up the required steps in a bit more detail here: https://0xstubs.org/prevent-autostart-of-android-file-transfer-on-macos/

amazing!

@rb-shahid Great..It worked.. Thanks Shahid

@michaellass, works! thank you.

@rb-shahid

So easy and works perfectly! Thanks :)

Ok, the problem is the app crashed after did this.

@rb-shahid

Your solution works haffa, pumma!

Thank you

@rb-shahid

one code, one kill :) thank you

Very nice !!!

But - Did not do the trick for me with copy and paste --> the .app file within the application bundle was not located in /Contents/Resources/*** but in /Contents/Helpers/ (...)

So for me I had to change the Terminal command to:

PID=$(ps -fe | grep "[A]ndroid File Transfer Agent" | awk '{print $2}'); if [[ -n $PID ]]; then kill $PID; fi; mv "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; mv "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete every login item whose name is "Android File Transfer Agent"'

This doesn't seem to work with the latest android transfer, which automatically recreates the .app file in Application Support and adds itself back to login item. It really needs an option in the app itself..

Further to yesterday, file transfer adds itself to login items. Here's a short script which opens file transfer when run, and stops the process when the file window is shut, stops the agent.
And removesthe login item, and removes the agent in the user's Library:

open /Applications/Internet+phone/Android\ File\ Transfer.app &&
sudo killall 'Android File Transfer Agent' &&
sudo killall 'Android File Transfer'
osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete login item "Android File Transfer Agent"'
rm "~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/Android File Transfer Agent"

Put this in a script e.g. "fandroid", make it executable, and click it after connecting an android device. It'll ask for a admin password which is probably not necessary if the process ownership is right - I haven;t checked.

Per @jduerr's comment, it's moved to /Contents/Helpers/ (...) now, but following the same rename instructions as in the OP's Gist works if you seek out the file in its new location.

I'd imagine that @rb-shahid's script will need updating now though as the agent location's changed.

I'd also like to +1 the general "WTF, how is this not a setting in the app itself?!!" comments.

@rb-shahid Thanks 💯

Apparently each time you launch AFT this /Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app gets copied here ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/. If you remove/rename the former, the latter won't be recreated.
Entire folder ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/ can be deleted. It will be recreated next time you launch AFT but it will be empty. This worked for me and I don't see any unknown login items.

Thanks 😃 👍

@rb-shahid 10/10

@anticitizen4 The easiest and only solution that worked for me

@jduerr that worked for me, thanks.

@rb-shahid Thanks 👍

Thanks @anticitizen4 🥇

@rb-shahid . God like

@alg Thanks. I like your solution, it worked for me.

Thanks! @anticitizen4

@rb-shahid thank you 🥇

Thank you so much! <3

Yup, the app wrecks havoc too when working on USB related setting up on mac os in hack type things. For sure make apps prefs
more broad. Thanks for jotting these down.

@rb-shahid
Works. Thank you sir!

I got some useful information about android file transfer windows at windowsclassroom.com/android-file-transfer-windows
It made my doubt clear.

The current version (1.0.11 as of November 2018) is quite different:

1. Do quit AFT and the agent, and remove the agent from startup items.

2. You have to rename the AFT Agent inside the app's Contents/Helpers.

3. You have to rename or delete the AFT Agent inside ~/Application Helpers/Google/Android File Transfer.

I guess one copy of the agent wasn't enough, and Google wanted it to stick around even if you delete the transfer app? Jerks.

If you dont want to fully uninstall it you can kill the agent from the Activity monitor before you connect your device.

1. Just open the activity monitor and search for the agent
2. force kill the agent
3. connect your gopro

@rb-shahid THANKS!

@swinggraphics Thanks.

Thanks! Although for point 3

3. You have to rename or delete the AFT Agent inside ~/Application Helpers/Google/Android File Transfer.

for me the location was
~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app

Creating an Automator app called Noop.app and running this script addresses the problem for me.

cat disable-android-file-transfer-agent.sh
#!/bin/bash
# disables auto-start of AFT when plugging in an Android device into USB
# -- prerequisite create an Automator application that launches an empty shell script and save it as /Applications/Noop.app

sudo killall 'Android File Transfer'
sudo killall 'Android File Transfer Agent'

# remove the runtime Library copy
sudo rm -rf "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app"
# remove the source app
sudo rm -rf "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app"
# copy the Noop app into the source location
sudo cp -r "/Applications/Noop.app" "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/"

inspired by: https://gist.github.com/zeroseis/ce66d4c6b776577442a6#gistcomment-2238139

This is for the newest version of the program:

PID=$(ps -fe | grep "[A]ndroid File Transfer Agent" | awk '{print $2}'); if [[ -n $PID ]]; then kill $PID; fi; mv "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; mv "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app" "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent DISABLED.app"; osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete every login item whose name is "Android File Transfer Agent"'

Over time a switched to Script that looks at all the places. This has the advantage of being easier to read them 5 commands on one terminal line and it can be quickly started after each update. And last not least one can easily add more location to search in case Google moves stuff again:

#!/bin/zsh

typeset PID=$(ps -fe | grep "[A]ndroid File Transfer Agent" | awk '{print $2}')

if [[ -n ${PID} ]]; then
    kill ${PID}
fi

for AFT in								\
    "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app"				\
    "/Applications/Sync/Android File Transfer.app"			\
    "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer"
do
    echo "### Look for agents in “${AFT}”"

    if test -e "${AFT}"; then
	for AFTA in							\
	    "${AFT}/Contents/Resources/Android File Transfer Agent.app" \
	    "${AFT}/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app" 
	do
	    echo "# Look for agent “${AFTA}”"

	    if test -e "${AFTA}"; then
		mv -v "${AFTA}" "${AFTA}.DISABLE"
	    fi
	done; unset AFTA
    fi
done; unset AFT

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete every login item whose name is "Android File Transfer Agent"'

Android File Transfer is the most annoying piece of software I've forced to use, seriously, why someone would thing it needs to run on every launch whether the user wants it or not.

This is too radical. I'd suggest going to the System Preferences / Users & Groups / / Login Items and removing "Android File Transfer Agent" from the list. This way you will still be able to launch it when you need it.

@alg This does work. thank you! (I just needed to kill/stop the agent process manually after removing it from the list as you suggested)

@krischik

that's awesome, thx

@alg Thank you. Worked for me.

@krischik: thank you!

Brilliant! Thanks to both the OP as well as @krischik for your handy dandy script.

The permissions trick worked great for me. All I did was:

1. In Settings app > Users & Groups > Login Items, first unlock the settings panel then remove the Android File Transfer Agent entry
2. Open a Terminal and sudo -s
3. Change permissions on the agent app: chmod 000 /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
4. Change ownership to root on the agent app: chown root:wheel /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
5. Delete the Application Support directory: rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support\Google\Android\ File\ Transfer
6. Open Activity Monitor and force kill the Android File Transfer Agent process

That's it. I confirmed that re-opening the Android File Transfer app no longer adds the launch entry or makes the copy to Application Support directory and the app no longer auto-launches when a device is plugged in.

@einsteinx2

The permissions trick worked great for me. All I did was:

1. In Settings app > Users & Groups > Login Items, first unlock the settings panel then remove the Android File Transfer Agent entry
2. Open a Terminal and sudo -s
3. Change permissions on the agent app: chmod 000 /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
4. Change ownership to root on the agent app: chown root:wheel /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
5. Delete the Application Support directory: rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support\Google\Android\ File\ Transfer
6. Open Activity Monitor and force kill the Android File Transfer Agent process

That's it. I confirmed that re-opening the Android File Transfer app no longer adds the launch entry or makes the copy to Application Support directory and the app no longer auto-launches when a device is plugged in.

Thanks! It's a clean way indeed. This was really getting me nuts, every f**** time that damn app open, while I don't asked for it. Garbage.

You can use HandShaker if you don't mind the company being based in China.

Removing execution permissions for the agent in ~/Library and /Applications is enough

chmod -x ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent

I used the einsteinx2 solution but found an error in step 5.

1. In Settings app > Users & Groups > Login Items, first unlock the settings panel then remove the Android File Transfer Agent entry
2. Open a Terminal and sudo -s
3. Change permissions on the agent app: chmod 000 /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app
4. Change ownership to root on the agent app: chown root:wheel /Applications/Android\ File\ Transfer.app/Contents/Helpers/Android\ File\ Transfer\ Agent.app

/* this line is incorrect, the slashes after Support and Google should be forward slashes */
5. Delete the Application Support directory: rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support\Google\Android\ File\ Transfer

/* the corrected line 5 is as follows */
5. rm -r ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Android\ File\ Transfer

6. Open Activity Monitor and force kill the Android File Transfer Agent process

I tried all solutions but this one was the simplest and the best one of for me.

I dragged the Android File Transfer icon to Trash.

Lol

Go to Contents/Resources
should be
Go to Contents/Helpers

macOS 10.15.3 with Android File Transfer 1.0.11

Go to Contents/Resources
should be
Go to Contents/Helpers

macOS 10.15.3 with Android File Transfer 1.0.11

👍

Just try delete the "Andoird File Transfer Agent" in System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items

nice, thanks~

@krischik thank you, still working perfectly on macos big sur m1 👌

In case anyone wants to try out an open-source that's apparently is way better https://github.com/ganeshrvel/openmtp/releases

@krischik Fixed the missing check for ${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app.

The updated script

#!/bin/zsh

typeset PID=$(ps -fe | grep "[A]ndroid File Transfer Agent" | awk '{print $2}')

if [[ -n ${PID} ]]; then
    kill ${PID}
fi

for AFT in								\
    "/Applications/Android File Transfer.app"				\
    "/Applications/Sync/Android File Transfer.app"			\
    "${HOME}/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer"
do
    echo "### Look for agents in “${AFT}”"

    if test -e "${AFT}"; then
	for AFTA in							\
	    "${AFT}/Contents/Resources/Android File Transfer Agent.app" \
	    "${AFT}/Contents/Helpers/Android File Transfer Agent.app" \
	    "${AFT}/Android File Transfer Agent.app"
	do
	    echo "# Look for agent “${AFTA}”"

	    if test -e "${AFTA}"; then
		mv -v "${AFTA}" "${AFTA}.DISABLE"
	    fi
	done; unset AFTA
    fi
done; unset AFT

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to delete every login item whose name is "Android File Transfer Agent"'