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.

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 alternative that 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"'

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

It adds itself back.

Thank you @krischik & @thenamangoyal 🙏

@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"'

It wokers for me, thanks!

Great explanation, thanks. I think you will be interested in this article.

Dear Google: 🖕

@ballo Sincerely, everyone.

openmtp

Thanks for sharing ! This soft is great !

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.

Works for me. Thanks.