Pixel C on Ubuntu 14.04: no PTP, adb needs to be root

I have a Pixel C plugged to a PC. The device is properly recognized by the kernel:

[ 190.454979] usb 1-1.2.2.4: new high-speed USB device number 9 using ehci-pci
[ 190.550564] usb 1-1.2.2.4: New USB device found, idVendor=18d1, idProduct=5203
[ 190.550574] usb 1-1.2.2.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 190.550579] usb 1-1.2.2.4: Product: Pixel C
[ 190.550583] usb 1-1.2.2.4: Manufacturer: google
[ 190.550588] usb 1-1.2.2.4: SerialNumber: 611900XXXX

First, if adb is started as normal user, I get:

List of devices attached
611900XXXX no permissions

If adb is started as root, I get (and I can shell into it):

List of devices attached
611900XXXX device

I don't have this problem on my Android 6.0.1 Nexus 5X.

Moreover, the Pixel C can appear as a PTP device and the Camera folder opens in nautilus. But I never get a standard folder if I chose MTP (File Transfer) connection. Nothing pops up. Again, I have no problem with a Nexus 5X Android 6.0.1 and I can get MTP even if adb is started as normal user.

The device runs latest Android 6.0.1 build ryu-mxc14g.

Something is different on Pixel C from Nexus.

EDIT 1

I think the problem is in libmtp which has not been updated for the Pixel devices. I see some patches for Nexus (such as 0x18d1 / 0x4ee2) but there is nothing for 0x5203. That's most likely the problem.

2 Answers

libmtp has not been updated to take into account Pixel C device. Editing /lib/udev/rules.d/69-libmtp.rules and adding the following line fix the problem!

ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="5203", SYMLINK+="libmtp-%k", MODE="660", GROUP="audio", ENV{ID_MTP_DEVICE}="1", ENV{ID_MEDIA_PLAYER}="1"

@gregoiregentil: The suggested fix unfortunately does not work for me. I am running Kubuntu 14.04. My Pixel C is still not recognized as a fully functioning file sharing device. As Camera, yes, immediately, but not for MTP. Any further suggestion or did I overlook something? My Pixel C is not rooted.

And sorry for replying like that. I would have written it as comment, but I still need a higher "reputation" or whatever to do so.