Unable to use Android upload => due to new google policy

Theo23 · January 20, 2025, 10:25pm

Hello,

I would like to upload the /Android/data/net.osmandplus/files/tracks folder to my nextcloud environment. I would like to exploit my tracks with gpxpod app in the web interface on my PC.

For some reason the android nextcloud app does not “see” beyond /Android/data.

Is there a way to solve this? Tried ticking “show hidden files” in the settings app ; but that doesn’t work.

Using Nextcloud Hub 9 (30.0.5) and Android app 3.30.7

tx,

T

Mornsgrans · January 21, 2025, 5:13pm

Android-App 3.30.7 is buggy, downgrade to 3.30.5 from F-Droid. Maybe you’ll have more luck then.

Theo23 · January 25, 2025, 8:19am

upgrading to 3.30.8 didn’t help… i’ll try .5 soon

Theo23 · January 25, 2025, 8:28am

I think I just found the issue:

github.com/nextcloud/android

App is missing file permission / only shows media files on upload

opened 10:56AM - 10 Jan 25 UTC

closed 04:58PM - 14 Jan 25 UTC

JL710

bug

### ⚠️ Before posting ⚠️ - [x] This is a **bug**, not a question or an enhancem…ent. - [x] I've [searched for similar issues](https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues) and didn't find a duplicate. - [x] I've written a clear and descriptive title for this issue, not just "Bug" or "Crash". - [x] I agree to follow Nextcloud's [Code of Conduct](https://nextcloud.com/contribute/code-of-conduct/). ### Steps to reproduce 1. go into the mobile app and click the `+` icon 2. select upload files (translated from german) 3. try to find a file that is not media ### Expected behaviour When selecting an option that is called upload files, I expect to see all files and not just media files. ### Actual behaviour When searching through the files, you wont find any file that is not a media file. ### Android version 14 ### Device brand and model Samsung A 52 5G ### Stock or custom OS? Stock ### Nextcloud android app version 3.30.7 ### Nextcloud server version 30.0.4 ### Using a reverse proxy? Yes ### Additional information When taking a look at the permissions that the app has, I saw that it only has permissions for images and videos and not any kind of files. That might me the cause of my issue. There is a workaround. If you select the option below upload files, you can select any file using the default android file explorer. But the Label "upload content of other apps" (translated from german) is a bit misleading.

github.com/nextcloud/android

GPLAY: Google revoked "all files access" permission

opened 03:17PM - 14 Jan 25 UTC

tobiasKaminsky

overview

Hello, this is a meta ticket to explain current state. Google revoked our "all …files access" permission. This means that - auto upload only works with photos and videos - custom auto upload folder can also only upload media files - a new "location" permission is needed to upload photos with geolocation information We are trying to convince Google to let us use the permission again. With upcoming 3.30.8 (we released RC1 today), we try to make this more easy understandable to users. You can use F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nextcloud.client/) as there the permission is still working.

Mornsgrans · January 25, 2025, 9:45am

This only is one issue. In older versions (previous to 3.30.6) you may prevent from issue, if you remove the mark at “Remove file after upload” in the auto-upload settings.
Google now blocks write-access by 3rd party-apps.

I am not sure, whether upload from /Android/data/net.osmandplus/files/tracks may be affected by the bug, Googles new “policy” or anything else.

wbk · January 25, 2025, 2:35pm

Seeing osmandplus I’d expect F-Droid, but you didn’t mention the source of your Nextcloud Android app.

Having said that, I realized I had not configured the uploading of my tracks since switching phones a while back, and thought to document my steps in case I got any further than you.

Running :

Nextcloud 30
Nexctloud-dev 20250121 from F-Droid
Osmand~ 4.9.7, also from F-Droid
LineageOS 21.x (last before 22) (Android 14)

These are my findings:

As you write, Auto-upload “Custom folder” in the Nextcloud app does not allow me to chose files in /Android/data/
Nextcloud-dev does have access to files in /Android/media/
Osmand saves recorded tracks to /Android/data/net.osmandplus/files/tracks/rec
I tried setting another directory in Osmand (as I remember was possible, earlier, even though without a file picker it was not directly user friendly)
Osmand does not allow to change the directory anymore, only to switch between “everything in one folder” (at the …/rec location) or “make subdirectories per month/day”

I had hoped the issues with Googles download store should not affect us when using apps from F-Droid, especially on LineageOS

Edit to add: You may change the title to reflect Google-policy, as the issue does not have to do with “hidden folders” as such (there is this setting in the app that lets you (not) see .hidden files)

Theo23 · January 25, 2025, 6:54pm

@wbk: I confirm F-droid for both apps on IodeOS latest version (on SM-G973F).

I also tried adapting Osmand settings, but have exactly the same situation as you.

Other option: a local android script app that copies the tracks to /Android/media => if anyone has (simple) suggestions always welcome (preferably F-droid based)

wbk · January 25, 2025, 7:21pm

What a situation

F-Droid has “Automation”, that may work. Otherwise, if you have Termux installed, a simple copy command may work.

There used to be (at least) one other such rule based automation app on F-Droid, but I forgot the name and can’t find it with a couple of searches.

Mornsgrans · January 26, 2025, 7:42pm

Version 3.30.8 (January 20, 2025) is available. As I read in annother thread, the issues should have been solved.

Theo23 · January 26, 2025, 10:18pm

See above, already tried it. Did not work. Retried a couple of seconds ago, still nothing.

the automation script is not that easy. It does not have the copy file function by default. You need a script in the app, I need to dig deeper…