ThePhotoStick Mobile User Guide 2.0 - Android
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Important! Samsung device users and all users with Android 11 on their mobile devices. Samsung recently rolled out their One UI 3 with Android 11 OS. The update may cause access issues for any app (including TPS Mobile) when trying to access a USB drive plugged into your phone. Be sure to update to the latest version of the app as it fixes this issue. To go directly to the app listing on the Google Play store, click here. |
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Supported Android Phones: Samsung, LG, Motorola, Huawei, and HTC phones running Android OS 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer. Phones must be OTG compatible. |
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Quick Links |
| Direct link to TPS Mobile app on the Google Play store, click here. |
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Rather watch a video of the installation steps below? Click here. |
| If you are using the old app named "ThePhotoStick Mobile", we encourage you to upgrade to the new "TPS Mobile" app by following the instructions below. Otherwise, you can still view the old app user guide here. |
Getting Started with ThePhotoStick Mobile
This video discusses what comes with your ThePhotoStick Mobile device, how to connect it to your phone, and shows a demonstration of installing the app and using it to do a backup of some photos from a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone:
Install instructions for phones/tablets running Android 11 and later
1. Download the free TPS mobile app from the Google Play store
2. Install the TPS Mobile app:
3. Tap “Open” to start the app.
4. TPS Mobile needs permission to access your photos and media so it can save and restore them. Tap "Allow" when prompted. If you Deny these permissions, the app will not run.
5. Tap “Backup files Now!”
6. Tap "Select Folder" to select your ThePhotoStick Mobile device
7. Tap on the Menu in the upper left corner.
8. Now, tap on "PHOTOSTICK"
NOTE: On some phones and tablets, it may show as a "generic usb device" and not say "PHOTOSTICK"
9. Tap "Use this Folder" located at the bottom of the screen
10. Tap "Allow" to grant access to ThePhotoStick USB drive
11. Tap “Backup files Now!” to begin backing up your files.
Install instructions for all phones/tablets running Android OS 7.0 to Android OS 10. (excluding all Motorola phones)
1. Download the free TPS Mobile app from the Google Play store. 
2. Install the TPS Mobile app:
3. Once the install completes, insert your ThePhotoStick Mobile USB device into your phone or tablet.
NOTE: If your phone has the newer USB-C connector type, use the USB to USB-C adapter that was included with your ThePhotoStick Mobile.
4. Tap “Open” to start the app.
4. TPS Mobile needs permission to access your photos and media so it can save and restore them. Tap "Allow" when prompted. If you Deny these permissions, the app will not run.
5. You will now be at the Main Screen.
6. Tap “Backup files Now!” to begin backing up your files:
If you are experiencing problems installing ThePhotoStick Mobile on your Android device, please contact our customer support.
Install instructions for all phones/tablets running Android 6.0 as well as all Motorola phones.
1. Download the free TPS Mobile app from the Google Play store.
2. Install the TPS Mobile app:
3. Once installation completes, tap “Open” to start the app.
4. TPS Mobile needs permission to access your photos and media so it can save and restore them. Tap "Allow" when prompted. If you Deny these permissions, the app will not run.
5. You will now be at the Main Screen.
6. Insert your ThePhotoStick Mobile USB device into your phone or tablet.
NOTE: If your phone has the newer USB-C connector type, use the USB to USB-C adapter that was included with your ThePhotoStick Mobile.
7. Phones and tablets running Android differ in appearance and behavior depending on the manufacturer and Android version. So, the next few steps may behave in slightly different ways after you plug your ThePhotoStick USB device into your phone or tablet. So, below is a table showing two different phone manufactures running different Android versions to give the best examples of what you will see:
| Motorola Moto g6 running Android version 8.0.0 | Samsung Galaxy J7 running Android 6.0.1 |
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8. Tap on "Backup Files Now!"
9. Tap on the Menu in the upper left corner.
10. Now, tap on "PHOTOSTICK" NOTE: On some phones and tablets, it may show as a "generic usb device" and not say "PHOTOSTICK"
11. Tap "Select" in the bottom right corner.
12. Tap “Backup files Now!” to begin backing up your files.
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8. NOTE: On some phones like the Samsung Galaxy J7, the default Android file manager may auto launch. It will look similar to the following as seen on the Samsung Galaxy J7:
If this is the case, simply return back to ThePhotoStick app by tapping your phone’s back button. 9. Tap on "Backup Files Now!"
10. Verify that "PHOTOSTICK" is showing at the top. If so, tap on "Select", then go to step 16 below. If not, go to step 11.
11. If you do not see PHOTOSTICK as an available device, click on the three vertical dots in the upper right hand corner.
12. Tap "Show SD card".
13. Tap on the menu in the upper left corner.
14. You should now see PHOTOSTICK in the device list to select. Tap on "PHOTOSTICK". NOTE: On some phones and tablets, it may show as a "generic usb device" and not say "PHOTOSTICK".
15. Verify that "PHOTOSTICK" is showing at the top and then tap on "Select".
16. Tap “Backup files Now!” to begin backing up your files.
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If you are experiencing problems installing ThePhotoStick Mobile on your Android device, please contact our customer support.
Video Demonstrations of Installing and Using the "TPS Mobile" App
Watch a video of the installation and usage of the "TPS Mobile".
NOTE: An external mouse was used to make it clear where to tap.
| Samsung Galaxy S20+ running One UI 3.0 and Android 11 |
| Samsung Galaxy S9 running Android version 9 |
| Motorola Moto g6 running Android version 8.0 |
| Samsung Galaxy J7 running Android 6.0.1 |
Samsung Galaxy S20+ running One UI 3.0 and Android 11