MTP stands for Media Transfer Protocol, which is an extension to the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) communications protocol that allows media files to be transferred automatically to and from portable devices. MTP is a high-level file transfer protocol, as opposed to a general storage protocol like USB mass storage. This means that the MTP client (computer) does not see an array of byte blocks that make up a data structure that makes up the file, but instead sees the file as a single entity. MTP allows the transfer of music files on digital audio players and media files on portable media players, as well as personal information on personal digital assistants. It is a key part of WMDRM10-PD, a digital rights management (DRM) service for the Windows Media platform. MTP is part of the "Windows Media" framework and thus closely related to Windows Media Player. Versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows XP SP2 support MTP.

It is important to note that MTP can also refer to other things, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), which is a plan that each metropolitan planning organization (MPO) must prepare to accomplish the objectives outlined by the MPO, the state, and the public transportation providers with respect to the development of the metropolitan area’s transportation network. Additionally, MTP can also refer to Message Transfer Part, which is a component of the SS7 protocol, or Signaling System 7, used for telecommunication signaling.