FreeFileSync not showing Phone

[superdynamiccow]

A little backstory: I initially installed FFS from Flatpak. It was able to see my phone, but if I tried to select it as a comparison point, the app would crash.

I then downloaded the installer from the website, and now it will not see the phone at all. The phone is plugged in and mounted, and I am able to enter it and edit files from my computer. FFS simply can't see it. It can see my external SSD I have plugged in, though. I am at a loss for what to do.

Here's some info about my system:

PC
Framework Laptop 13 - Ryzen 5 76400U Configuration
Fedora 43
KDE Plasma 6.5.3
Kernel Version 6.17.10-300.fc43.x86_64 (64-bit)

Phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
OneUI 8.0
Android 16
USB Settings set to "Transferring files," controlled by "this device." Host role can not be changed.

I use to use FFS with the same phone and Ext SSD on a Windows PC, but now it just doesn't work.

[zogmam1]

Ever get it working? I have the same problem?

[John1234]

Hi,

I turn my cell into an sftp server with free app in Google Play. Then use ffs sftp.

[zogmam1]

Ty

[Janaka_V]

Hi,

I had the same issue. Syncme Wireless was a great android app that you could use from your android phone to wirelessly sync shared folders between phone and a Windows PC. This is no longer available and I was looking for alternate methods. Apps to set up a FTP server worked. However, now I am using the combination of FreeFileSync and Windows Phone Link to connect and synchronize my Galaxy S26 Ultra. I use it to synchronize photos from phone to PC and files from PC to phone. Hope this helps.

Hi,

I turn my cell into an sftp server with free app in Google Play. Then use ffs sftp.

[John1234]

If you do a speed test comparison you should find that wifi ftp is faster than Microsoft phone link.

[Janaka_V]

I didn't find much of a difference in transfer speeds as both are only limited by Wifi bandwith. I just find MS Phone Link and Android Link to Windows a more convenient way to use FFS to sync files. Setting up sync with a FTP server is a little bit more complicated and you have to start the FTP server on your phone whenever you want to sync. Although not a risk if you are on a trusted network the data is encrypted in transit with Link to windows and it's not when you use a standard FTP server.

FTP Transfer speed.jpg (114.47 KiB) Viewed 267 times

Phone Link Transfer speed.jpg (115.9 KiB) Viewed 267 times

If you do a speed test comparison you should find that wifi ftp is faster than Microsoft phone link.

[John1234]

Yes. I understand the difference in speed is minimal in this case because I was referencing a an Android FTP program rather than what I normally use which is an FTP program inside a program called Termux.

Termux in short is a version of Linux that runs on Android and it runs at a lower level than the Android apps like the FTP app it's a GUI.

If instead you run Termux with an FTP server in it you will greatly enhance the speed.

Also, when doing backups I have and use a 1 GB ethernet adapter and cable for my phone.

Most of my network is wired at 2.5 GB. I purchased a 2.5 GB adapter for my cell phone but it didn't recognize it. I need a newer phone in order to make it work.

The simplest Termux FTP to use.

Easiest: python built-in FTP (pyftpdlib)
This is usually the simplest and fastest to get running.
Install:
Bash
pkg update
pkg install python
pip install pyftpdlib
Run FTP server:
Bash
python -m pyftpdlib -p 2121
That’s it 👍
Runs instantly
Shares your current directory
Port 2121 avoids Android restrictions on port 21

After installing Termux you need to Grant it permissions to read the Android files.

termux-setup-storage

[xCSxXenon]

Please stop posting AI slop John1234

[John1234]

Sorry, not slop as you say. These are the commands that I actually run on my phone.

Did ai help me get the job done yes. But these instructions work.

If you did a little research yourself you would learn that Android GUI apps that serve files over the network all suffer from problems related to Android and the GUI and how files get shared.

Termux is not hindered by the Android GUI software platform and gives you direct FTP access to your data which turns out to be a lot faster.

I get about triple the speed when using an ftp server inside termux.

I'm well aware of what I am talking about. I have been a Unix and Linux developer for over 40 years. I also spent over a decade quality assurance testing software just like this one.


GUI apps often use Android’s Storage Access Framework (SAF), which can slow things down.

Termux can access files more directly (especially with termux-setup-storage), which can:
Reduce overhead and
Improve speed .