Marshmallow - write permission on encrypted SD card with 3rd party file explorer - Samsung Galaxy S7 Questions and Answers

Hi there,
I am using ES File Explorer on my Samsung Galaxy S7. I have noted there is an issue with the write permission with an encrypted SD card. All the new folders I created on encrypted SD card will have an icon with a question mark and I cannot access those folders. The default file explorer that comes with the phone works fine with the encrypted SD card.
I have no problem creating and using new folders on a non-encrypted SD card. Does anyone have any idea how do i fix this?
Thanks

Did you find solution to it?

Email the devs of es file explorer.

I've already contacted the ES File Explorer devs. It seems to me that this write permission issue with encrypted SD card happens to all the 3rd party apps (ES file explorer, MyPhoneExplorer, etc.). The phone just won't let those apps to properly write to the encrypted SD.
I wonder if anyone here having the same issue like me?

I just post a question to MyPhoneExplorer's forum. Hopefully someone there will have a clue of the problem.
"Hi there,
I used MyPhoneExplorer to sync files between my PC and my phones (Samsung Galaxy S3, S5, Note3) without any problem before.
Now, I have a Galaxy S7 (Android 6.0 Marshmallow) and I have noted an issue with the write permission to the ENCRYPTED external SD card. Every time i try to copy/write a file from my PC to my encrypted external SD card via MyPhoneExplorer, it returns an error message saying "Please note: It's impossible to wirte to the external SD card (External storage) for all third party applications due to a security restriction in Android! The internal phone storage (Memory card) is not affected by this restriction. "
Please note that I have no problem copy/write files from my PC to the non-encrypted external SD card on my Galaxy S7.
And i observe that this issue with the write permission to encrypted SD card in Android 6 also happens with other 3rd party app such as ES File Explorer.
So, I reckon the way apps write to encrypted external SD might be changed in Android 6?!?!
Could you please have a look."

Have exactly the same behavior in ES Explorer. When rebooted can see the folder and content. Internal file explorer from Samsung(?) works fine.

I encountered the same problem as well. Happens on all 3rd party apps. Just wondering Is this Galaxy S7 issue only or does this happen on other devices? Are there any workarounds for this issue other than removing encryption completely from SD card?

Have the same problem with every file explorer I tried. the only one that works is the built-in myfiles

I am having the same issue. It seems all my 3rd party apps can't write on SD card. Only Samsung built-in can. I am on G930U snapdragon rooted but no custom recovery. Flashed xposed framework (xposed-v85.1-sdk23-arm64-custom-build-by-wanam-20160530) via Flashfire and installed the Marshmellow SD card module and restarted phone. I still can't delete files from 3rd party app such like a music file within Jet Audio music player. Phone seems to lag now esp when i am on sms. Anyone have any idea on the sd card write permission?

Related

[Q] SD Card not writable

I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a 64GB SD card. I just purchased the tablet yesterday and rooted it using towelroot but that's all I've done. I put the SD card in and it's recognized and showing the correct available space. I'm able to create a file using ESFile explorer but I can't do anything with it. I tried a couple torrent clients to download files to the SD card and it keeps saying unable to write to folder or that it's write protected. When in file explorer I can create a file and under properties it does show it's able to be written to. I also have downloaded and tried the kitkat SD card fix app. I've gotten pretty frustrated with it so just did a complete factory reset and going to start from scratch. I was able to move apps to SD card using an app but that's all I could do. I'd really like to put any/all downloaded apps and files on the SD card since I only have a 16GB version.
Any ideas what I can do?
ToiletDucky said:
I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a 64GB SD card. I just purchased the tablet yesterday and rooted it using towelroot but that's all I've done. I put the SD card in and it's recognized and showing the correct available space. I'm able to create a file using ESFile explorer but I can't do anything with it. I tried a couple torrent clients to download files to the SD card and it keeps saying unable to write to folder or that it's write protected. When in file explorer I can create a file and under properties it does show it's able to be written to. I also have downloaded and tried the kitkat SD card fix app. I've gotten pretty frustrated with it so just did a complete factory reset and going to start from scratch. I was able to move apps to SD card using an app but that's all I could do. I'd really like to put any/all downloaded apps and files on the SD card since I only have a 16GB version.
Any ideas what I can do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well just an update after doing a factory reset everything seems to work now, of course i get to download everything again. I think it might have had something to do with the OTA update. After doing the factory reset it kept the update. Now I can freely move to and from the SD card so all is good.
FYI, since you are rooted I would suggest installing the Xposed Framework and then install the "HandleExternalStorage" module, the KitKat update cripples external SD card access so file managers, emulators, and the like can no longer write to the SD card. Installing this module re-enables external SD card read/write access for all applications, it is not the device. There is also an app on the Play Store call 'SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD' which accomplishes the same thing, however the Xposed module is much safer as it can be enabled and disabled at will. Simply install the module, enable it, and that's it.

[Q] Dropbox cannot export to SD card

Hi,
Despite its claims, Dropbox will not display my External SD card when I chosoe Export->Save to device.
Yes, I've gone into the Settings and checked "Display Advanced Devices"
I've also made sure my SD card is mounted and writeable. The My Files application is able to move a file from Dropbox to my SD card and the Music player can play music from it too so I know that A)The card is working and B)My device can see and use the card correctly
The problem is inside Dropbox itself but their technical support people are just making me jump through hoops, sending them screenshot after screenshot of other applications saving to the SD card i.e. they think there's something wrong with the device, not their software.
Has anyone else had similar trouble?
Could someone who has managed to get this working take a look at their external SD card contents and see if they have an folder on there for Dropbox anywhere?
Cheers - Brad
By writable, do you mean "The card isn't locked" or "I've rooted and disabled the KitKat external storage security measures"?
Sent From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk
I mean the card isn't locked. I know there are Android security measures that restrict things but DropBox say that they can write to an external SD card, presumably in their own allotted area. No rooting should be necessary.
netizensmith said:
I mean the card isn't locked. I know there are Android security measures that restrict things but DropBox say that they can write to an external SD card, presumably in their own allotted area. No rooting should be necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That used to be the case in the first few months, yes. However recent updates to Android made that impossible. Quickpic, ES and VLC run into te same issues. I'm on an older firmware version and they work in exactly that manner, but those on a newer update have found that it no longer works.
That's incorrect.
I just downloaded Smart File Manager and used it to copy a document from internal storage to my sd card. I did this 1 minute ago so it definitely works on the latest android OS version for Note Pro 12.2
When you copy you can only copy to a specific location on the SD card:
/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.smartwho.SmartFileManager/files
Any attempt to copy to any other location on the SD card will fail but the folder above is "owned" by Smart File Manager so it is allowed to copy there. Dropbox would have its own location on the SD card too but on my SD card there is no folder that looks like it's owned by DropBox. I suspect that is why it is failing.

Can't install to sd card. Root access needed :(

I am starting a new topic, because I fear that I am not the only one that is going to have this problem - basically no mater what I do, I can't make the phone (idol 3, 4.7") to install apps to the sd card.
I tested two thing.
Method 1: There is a option in settings -> apps -> preferred install location. I chose "removeble SD card" there restarted the phone and tried to install something -> it goes striate to the tiny less-than-4-GB memory on the phone.
Method 2: Android SDK Tools - after method 1 failed I used the Android SDK tool, to change the default install location using CMD and the "adb shell pm set-install-location 2" command. The location was changed successfully (according to CMD), but when I tried to install something it again goes to the phone memory not the SDK.
Soo... after this didn't work I decide to simply move the apps to the SD card. I didn't have problem with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft for example, but most of the apps actually don't move correctly. For example I installed Asphalt 8: Airborne and move it to the SD card. According to the phone, everything was ok (see attachment 3). Sadly the free space was suggesting something different. Checking with Link2SD Plus reviews a ugly picture - the major part of the app was actually on the phone (attachment 1). Removing the obb files resulted in the game downloading them again... on the phone.
So at this point the only logical solution for me seemed to use the "Link to SD Card" option in Link2SD. Sadly this doesn't work because "Link2SD could not obtain root access" (attachment 2).
I don't know... maybe I am missing something, but at that point the only other solution that I can think about is rooting the phone, witch is not yet possible. If you have any ideas - pls shere.
I am not entirely sure if the problem is connected to Android 5 or Alcatel did something to the OS, but after 3 days of using the idol 3 (4.7") I am on the verge of throwing it in to a wall.
This problem is the fault of Android.
I have the HTC m8 and the problem was the same and no solution before rooting and installing custom roms and special kernels and apps.
I know, very disappointing, but can be solved very easily when rooting will arrive..
Well, then - fingers crossed that we will get rooting solution soon.
Just realized that the same thing is happening with my phone. Looks like I'll use the phone for apps and the SD card for other data. At least my Google play music downloads were saved to the SD card
Sadly I am using Spotify and can't make it save on the SD card.
Same issue here basically, but with photos. I can view, but not delete files using apps such as Solid or ES File manager. They ask to be granted access, but it doesn't work. Native apps like the phone's task manager and Gallery app can edit and delete these files just fine. Other phones such as my S6 and M9 are running the same version 5.0.2 and I don't have this problem. Is it something inherent to this particular phone? Yes, rooting when it comes will solve the problem, but I thought most 3rd-party app developers had solved this issue by now. Why didn't any reviews indicate this problem before I made the purchase? Grrrrr.
In settings, apps under downloaded apps column you can click on an app and provided it's not a google app etc it will have the "move to sd" option. I've used that to move several large apps like wps office (100mb) etc.
---------- Post added at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------
rmc69 said:
Same issue here basically, but with photos. I can view, but not delete files using apps such as Solid or ES File manager. They ask to be granted access, but it doesn't work. Native apps like the phone's task manager and Gallery app can edit and delete these files just fine. Other phones such as my S6 and M9 are running the same version 5.0.2 and I don't have this problem. Is it something inherent to this particular phone? Yes, rooting when it comes will solve the problem, but I thought most 3rd-party app developers had solved this issue by now. Why didn't any reviews indicate this problem before I made the purchase? Grrrrr.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can probably blame lollipop....they've gotten more strict about apps being able to access the external sd card. System apps like Gallery have permission to access the external sd.
I just got a reply from the developer of QuickPic and he says it is definitely a bug they cannot fix. Oh well, don't expect to use any 3rd party apps with your SD card on this phone.
Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
famewolf said:
In settings, apps under downloaded apps column you can click on an app and provided it's not a google app etc it will have the "move to sd" option. I've used that to move several large apps like wps office (100mb) etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried using any apps after moving them to the SD Card?
I moved about 6 apps to the SD Card. Then I noticed that the widget for one of the apps on the SD card started displaying an error message (Soundcloud). I clicked on the widget and nothing happened. Decided to reboot my phone and then I realized that none of the apps I placed on the SD Card were accessible any longer. Had to re-download them all again to Phone storage.
macallik said:
Have you tried using any apps after moving them to the SD Card?
I moved about 6 apps to the SD Card. Then I noticed that the widget for one of the apps on the SD card started displaying an error message (Soundcloud). I clicked on the widget and nothing happened. Decided to reboot my phone and then I realized that none of the apps I placed on the SD Card were accessible any longer. Had to re-download them all again to Phone storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should not be moving apps that have widgets you plan to use. I verified my apps [ Amazon appstore, F-Droid, Lightning Browser, WPS Office etc...] just now and all are working fine...this is also after a couple of reboots since I moved them.
Yep, you can't more the app if you plan to use the widget. That's been normal for a long long time.
---------- Post added at 02:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:15 AM ----------
Why on earth would Google make it so files can't be deleted using 3rd party apps? That's just dumb. I use both ES File Explorer and QuickPik and this ruins the usability of these apps. hope this gets fixed in an update.
I hope they fix it soon too. This phone only has 10 gbs of internal storage. Putting photos and videos on an SD card is almost a necessity, not to mention music. Other devices running Lollipop 5.0.2 have fixed this. As I said, QuickPic, ES File Explorer work fine on my Galaxy S6 and HTC M9 as regards the SD card. I plan to write Alcatel tomorrow and maybe they will read this forum.
Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
I need someone to check for me please that has this phone and an external sd card. If you would be so kind as to install the free app Quickpic or even the free app ES file explorer. Set the native camera app to save to sd card. Try and delete a photo using either Quickpic or ES File Explorer and see if you get the same result as I did. I'm attaching 2 screenshots. The first one you will see asking for permission and the second screenshot from my phone does not list the external sd card which is the problem.
This will eliminate the possibility that it is just something wrong with my phone or a serious bug that everyone will face. Obviously, if the external sd card is not listed as a choise, you can't grant permission.
rmc69 said:
View attachment 3341266
View attachment 3341267I need someone to check for me please that has this phone and an external sd card. If you would be so kind as to install the free app Quickpic or even the free app ES file explorer. Set the native camera app to save to sd card. Try and delete a photo using either Quickpic or ES File Explorer and see if you get the same result as I did. I'm attaching 2 screenshots. The first one you will see asking for permission and the second screenshot from my phone does not list the external sd card which is the problem.
This will eliminate the possibility that it is just something wrong with my phone or a serious bug that everyone will face. Obviously, if the external sd card is not listed as a choise, you can't grant permission.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use ES File Explorer - and I got the same prompts while attempting to delete something from the external micro SD card. Honestly - I was not able to exactly follow what it was asking me the first time around. But eventually I was able to do what it was asking me to do ( although I couldn't repeat it if you asked me to !! ) and now I am able to delete files from the micro SD using ES File Explorer.
Thanks. If it now works on your phone, perhaps I have a flaw in my phone. I'll try yet a 3rd sd card and report back.
Solved
PROBLEM SOLVED!! My 64GB Micro SD card was formatted to exFat.
It needs to be formatted to Fat32. I used a guide from this XDA thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1773735
Now, QuickPic and ES File Explorer recognize the SD card and permission can be granted.
Whew.
rmc69 said:
PROBLEM SOLVED!! My 64GB Micro SD card was formatted to exFat.
It needs to be formatted to Fat32. I used a guide from this XDA thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1773735
Now, QuickPic and ES File Explorer recognize the SD card and permission can be granted.
Whew.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice info there. I did the same after seeing your post. I formatted my 128GB card with a 65536 byte allocation unit size which is the fastest. I tested the sd card with flashbench to see which was the fastest. After formatting I loaded a few test files. QuickPic works fine but ES File Explorer still does not. I will delete the data and reinstall the app and see if that works. Right now I'm copying all my music back over to the card which will take a while.
ES File Explorer still won't delete from the SD Card. I cleared the data, uninstalled and installed again. When I delete a file (picture) I do not get the option to select the SD card. Any other solutions?
Shodan5150 said:
ES File Explorer still won't delete from the SD Card. I cleared the data, uninstalled and installed again. When I delete a file (picture) I do not get the option to select the SD card. Any other solutions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If QuickPic now will delete from the SD card, so should ES File Explorer. While this was going on, I downloaded 2 additional file managers (Solid and Root Explorer) and they too wouldn't delete from the sd card. Once I reformatted my card, all 3 file managers were able to get permission and delete the files including ES. My only suggestion would be to try reformatting again and if still not working, if you have one, try another card from a different manufacturer. Since ES File Manager now works for me, it should for you too. Let us know if you sort it out. Root Explorer is a very good file manager, but costs $3.99. (Root is not required with the latest update despite the name).
I tried Solid and it didn't work. Then I tried a couple other generic ones and still nope. Then I tried Astro and it worked. I went back to Solid and it worked. Then went back to ES and it worked. Damn so strange but glad it's working now. Thanks for the help.

Unable to write data on MicroSD Card after update

Hello to everyone.
2 days ago I received via OTA samsung software update, everything goes well and the update installed succesfully. But yesterday I realized that I was unable to write data on the MicroSD card, my first finding was the camera, the storage switch to memory device when I took a picture, and when I tried to record a video, an error appears and the camera app close.
I tried to create a folder with the file manager but it's not possible, I can't create, edit or delete anything on the SD card, only read. I already tried to unmount and re-mount but not worked for me, also I executed a formating process but the problem still.
The SD Card on the PC works just fine.
Any suggestions to follow?
Thanks in advanced!
Best regards!
Hi. Try to copy all from a sd card to pc and do format in the phone. If the phone will see the card next copy all to sd card. Maybe it help.
Wysłane z mojego SM-G930F przy użyciu Tapatalka
I've also noticed this cannot use one micro SD and my other isn't even showing up
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
bump an old thread, i'm confronting this problem, has a solution been found so far?
i did various searches and found the following links:
ExtSD Fix - a note in there says is Marshmallow is not supported yet
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/fix-extsd-fix-v1-0b-2016-01-18-t3296266
a web showing platform.xml fixes for 4.4 (K), however, it seem this same fix wouldn't fix S7 with MM
http://android-revolution-hd.blogspot.sg/2015/01/how-to-unlock-external-sd-card-writing.html
i tried searching for WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE apparently the string is not even found in platform.xml on S7 with MM
other threads from s7 edge highlighting a similar problem
http://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/help/phone-write-to-external-memory-t3385764
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/help/write-to-sd-card-t3328704
this workaround for titanium backup works and it is good
http://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/help/external-sd-card-write-permission-t3341613
but it seemed most of other apps / file explorers with READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions still can't write to the external SD card
note that the stock 'My files' explorer can write / create folders in the SD card, but if u try a 3rd party app / explorer, nothing gets created on the SD card. This shows that it is a permission problem, perhaps "My files" has system permissions and not simply READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE. But that would be 'overwhelming' for a file explorer app to get full unlimited permissions to all resources just to write files / create folders on the external sd card
has anyone successfully made external SD card writable by (older) 3rd party apps simply editing/adding entries in platform.xml?
i tried it didn't seem successful. note that since 4.4 (K) i'd think most apps / explorers has requested READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE. the trouble is that with S7 MM and the recent update. it seemed even READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE is not adequate to write / edit files on the external SD card, e.g. not possible to create a new folder on the external SD card

How can I stop apps from crashing when writing to SD card?

Hi, I have a Huawei P8 lite. I'm having some issues with the SD card on my device. I have rooted the phone and installed an unofficial build of Lineage OS 14.1. Some time ago, I started to have troubles with apps that want to write to SD card. Note that this didn't happen before. My phone seems to be unable to properly give write permissions on the SD card to apps. You know how you need to "Select SD card" on apps in order to give permission? Well, that window doesn't pop up at all on my device, therefore I can't give permissions to apps. Whenever an app tries to write to it, it freezes and then crashes. I've tried many different file explorers and all of them crash when writing to the SD card. Read access is fine, music apps are able to see and reproduce my music which is stored there. I haven't found much info on the topic, I modified the "permissions.xml" file that you can find on the system partition to no avail. This doesn't happen with my PC. My PC is able to read and write to the SD card both inside and outside the phone. Any clues on what I might do?
tralph3 said:
Hi, I have a Huawei P8 lite. I'm having some issues with the SD card on my device. I have rooted the phone and installed an unofficial build of Lineage OS 14.1. Some time ago, I started to have troubles with apps that want to write to SD card. Note that this didn't happen before. My phone seems to be unable to properly give write permissions on the SD card to apps. You know how you need to "Select SD card" on apps in order to give permission? Well, that window doesn't pop up at all on my device, therefore I can't give permissions to apps. Whenever an app tries to write to it, it freezes and then crashes. I've tried many different file explorers and all of them crash when writing to the SD card. Read access is fine, music apps are able to see and reproduce my music which is stored there. I haven't found much info on the topic, I modified the "permissions.xml" file that you can find on the system partition to no avail. This doesn't happen with my PC. My PC is able to read and write to the SD card both inside and outside the phone. Any clues on what I might do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try factory reset your phone.
Sent from my Samsung G Note using Tapatalk

Categories

Resources