Database Info

Failed to write to sdcard1 after ota kitkat

Has any one else lost the ability to write to their socketed sdcard since the 4.4.2?

thesavo said:
Has any one else lost the ability to write to their socketed sdcard since the 4.4.2?
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Thats a "feature" of kitkat. Can't be changed unless you have root.

Seriously?

Yes, see here for fix(if your rooted):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix

thesavo said:
Seriously?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a security issue. Before KK, the SD card was wide open to any other process to be able to request read/write to any directory and file, regardless of whether or not they created that file or directory.
Now, under KK, a program can create a file or folder in a "protected" area and only that program has the ability to modify the contents in that folder. It cannot modify other folders or files that it didn't create.

Time to move the podcasts. So my older shows that I worked hard to keep to keep the ext sdcard1 as a target, will have to be copied to sdcard0.too bad.thanks @iBolski
No wonder BeyondPod kept 'accidently' putting shows on SDcard0 for the last year. Even though I "pinned" it to SDcard1 in the advanced settings.

Even with the application that patches the /etc/permissions/platform.xml, I have found certain apps still do not work correctly. Dolphin Browser, for example, cannot switch to /storage/sdcard1. It keeps saying it can't find it and I need to ensure I don't have "USB Mode" enabled, which I don't even have as an option when connected to a PC.
I also have init.d installed on my machine and I had startup scripts that mounted various directories from my external to the internal SD card to "fool" the device so that apps that wouldn't save to the external but the internal would save across a mount. Well, that no longer works. For example, Amazon MP3 will not save downloaded music anywhere except to the internal sd card. I had my startup scripts mount an amazonmp3 directory on my external SD card to the internal amazonmp3 directory on the internal memory card. When I proceeded to download music, it didn't show up in the external directory. However, I noticed that the internal sd card's memory did decrease. I then unmounted the directory and saw that the Amazon MP3 app was ignoring the mount under KitKat and directory saved the files into the /storage/sdcard0/amazonmp3 directory, even though it was mounted to the directory on the external SD card. It did work under JB and ICS, but apparently, with KitKat, some apps will still write directly to the native directory on the internal SD card, ignoring the fact that I've mounted a different directory to it.
The stock Moto camera will write to the external SD card if you go and change the setting for it. However, the Google Camera does not give you any option to store your pictures anywhere except on the internal SD card memory. :crying:
Remember, apps can write to the external card, if you don't apply the "patch", but only to what is considered a protected are (the /storage/sdcard1/Android directory structure) and then, they can only write to a directory that the app created. They can read other directories, but they cannot modify them.

iBolski said:
It's a security issue. Before KK, the SD card was wide open to any other process to be able to request read/write to any directory and file, regardless of whether or not they created that file or directory.
Now, under KK, a program can create a file or folder in a "protected" area and only that program has the ability to modify the contents in that folder. It cannot modify other folders or files that it didn't create.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's official explanation (bull****) as you described above with non stock camera. Basically KK made external storage almost useless. I found this nice description quite long time ago.
https://plus.google.com/+TodLiebeck/posts/gjnmuaDM8sn

Zeljko1234 said:
That's official explanation (bull****) as you described above with non stock camera. Basically KK made external storage almost useless. I found this nice description quite long time ago.
https://plus.google.com/+TodLiebeck/posts/gjnmuaDM8sn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know at this point, Root Explorer still works with it, after setting the correct permissions into the /etc/permissions/platform.xml file. That works for a lot of apps. The only one that I know that is currently broken is Dolphin browser. I cannot navigate to the /storage/sdcard1/ area anymore. It keeps telling me it can't find the file or directrory and that I should make sure the SD card is ready and USB Mass Storage (haven't seen this option since my Droid X2) is not on.
So definitely, Dolphin Browser is doing something differently that even the patch isn't working for it.

Problem is that without root user cannot edit platform.xml and even after that some applications refuse to write to sd card. Another example is OfficeSuite 7 Pro which I bought and now cannot edit file if it's needed. Workaround is to save to internal then overwrite to sd card.
Basically stock Android becoming more and more limited, harder and harder to get root... That's so bad that I wouldn't update to official kk in the case that my phone has locked bootloader.
Read this article http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...use-even-more-issues-for-root-app-developers/

[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.
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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.
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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?
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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.

Issues accessing the external SD card for some apps

Guys, sorry to ask this, but I have some issues with some apps when they try to write something to the microSD card........for example: Titanium Backup says that any destination folder in the microSD is not writable.....
I´ve just rooted my phone with shoey63 assistance so I´m using the latest recovery, MM 291 with latest SU version.
In the particular case of TB, I had to do this trick to make it work:
In TB, go to Preferences -> Backup Folder Location.
Click on Storage provider at the top (it's not obvious that it's clickable).
Click on DocumentProvider storage. That will take you to a File Manager interface. You may have to click on the 3-dot menu on the top-right to enable the (external) SD card to be shown, then click the menu lines in the top-left and select your SD card, and click the "Select" at the bottom right. (You don't have to select your Titanium Backup folder here, you're just using this to get access to your SD Card.)
Now you should be back in Titanium Backup and you can browse like you used to to get to your preferred backup folder on your external SD Card
I warn you that using this Document Provider storage is much slower - at least it seems so for me. But, it seems that it's the only way to go for now.
Have the same problem with some other apps that say the microSD card lack of write permissions.
I´ve already flashed the ExtSD_Fix_rw-signed-v2.9b.zip fix a couple of times and the same scenario with RICDefeat.zip without luck. Just to mention that I can copy/move/delete files in the card using ES File Explorer just fine, but when I need to define a file/folder as the destination folder in some apps, they give me an error stating that file/folder is not writable.
Does someone could give me a hand with this?
TIA.
Alx