KitKat SD card permissions - Galaxy Tab S Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Can anyone confirm that you can only move files to the external SD card using Samsung's File Explorer and not third party variations like ES File Explorer Pro? I believe this is because of an idiotic change that KitKat brought, but strangely, my Note 3, which was upgraded to KK, doesn't exhibit this problem (I can still move downloaded movie files to my external SD using ES File Explorer).

Megalith said:
Can anyone confirm that you can only move files to the external SD card using Samsung's File Explorer and not third party variations like ES File Explorer Pro? I believe this is because of an idiotic change that KitKat brought, but strangely, my Note 3, which was upgraded to KK, doesn't exhibit this problem (I can still move downloaded movie files to my external SD using ES File Explorer).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was trying this with my 16gb version that I sent back for 32gb version (comes tomorrow). I tried some appmgrpro3 and it show'd what I could move. It worked meaning I never used Samsung's file explorer. If by that you mean Samsung apps(shows all apps installed, next tab running so forth).. I THINK that opened after and I could pick storage or sd-card.
Yet for a program lets say 711mb. It would send the APP 11mb to the sd-card and leave the 700mb on storage. It did this for every app I could transfer. I hope that's just a bug.
Ok I think I read you post wrong. I dont think I even tried that yet haha sorry. I will get back tomorrow though

Apparently, you should still be able to move files back and forth using an app like ES File Explorer, so I'm not sure what the issue with my Tab is. The card was formatted using the device itself, so everything should be fine. I am starting to suspect there is some kind of security bloatware involved.
Heck, I couldn't even erase a movie from MX Player Pro; it gave me a KitKat permissions warning.

There's an Xposed Installer module named KitKat SD Card Full Access, looks like it might be a promising post-root solution to the write issue.

Related

[Q] APP2SD

Can anyone confirm if APP2SD works on this phone, chances are slim, but we never know until we try.
Why shouldn't it???
JulyDerek said:
Why shouldn't it???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he is talking about a problem similar to the one Galaxy S3
nishbul said:
Can anyone confirm if APP2SD works on this phone, chances are slim, but we never know until we try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APP2SD is rubish mate,get ES FILE EXPLORER File Manager is the best and can even install Flash Player on Note 2 i think but i am going to try it lol
turborider said:
APP2SD is rubish mate,get ES FILE EXPLORER File Manager is the best and can even install Flash Player on Note 2 i think but i am going to try it lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APP2SD ran fine on my Note1 but not on the Note2 - it is an excellent app. ES file explorer, while also a very good app, has no move to SD card function that I have ever found. What are you talking about??
nitrowing said:
APP2SD ran fine on my Note1 but not on the Note2 - it is an excellent app. ES file explorer, while also a very good app, has no move to SD card function that I have ever found. What are you talking about??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can move it by open the file on you phone from pc and go to backup and move to the sd card np at all or from your phone same by going to backup open file and press and hold the file and choose move to Sd Card thats all but i would not put anything else before ES file explorer,most APP2SD apps even pay ones dont move files from you phone to sd thats why ES file explorer is rated highly and is free,but anyway everyone got different ideas wich apps they like and works better on you phone
turborider said:
you can move it by open the file on you phone from pc and go to backup and move to the sd card np at all or from your phone same by going to backup open file and press and hold the file and choose move to Sd Card thats all but i would not put anything else before ES file explorer,most APP2SD apps even pay ones dont move files from you phone to sd thats why ES file explorer is rated highly and is free,but anyway everyone got different ideas wich apps they like and works better on you phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
man it's total bullsh!t, u can't move apps w/ ES

[Q] Stock Rom: Unable to write to SDCard

Hi.
Just purchased a SM-T800 and was wondering if there is an easy fix for me to be able to write to my SD Card? Do I need to be root to be able to do this ?
x10civ said:
Hi.
Just purchased a SM-T800 and was wondering if there is an easy fix for me to be able to write to my SD Card? Do I need to be root to be able to do this ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kit Kat changed the way sd cards work.
The easiest way i know to fix this is to Root your device and then install this app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix
I have the tab s 8.4 and have a micro SD card coming in this week. I might be misinterpreting this post but does Kit-kat really not let the user copy over downloaded files onto external storage? I'm the kind of guy that usually immediately roots but was enjoying the stock experience for once. Definitely a bummer if this turns out to be true.
No, it let's you do it fine. But you have to use the My Files app. Not the app of your choice. Unless you root and change that.
whit this fix App sd card? i try to resolve the problema with large torrents i try todownload directly to my sdcard becuace torrent say cant find the location of folder when i choose microsd download folder to download files ...
Thank you for your reply.
Will follow your instructions this weekend. Thanks again Galactic2.
Cheers
celtichazard said:
whit this fix App sd card? i try to resolve the problema with large torrents i try todownload directly to my sdcard becuace torrent say cant find the location of folder when i choose microsd download folder to download files ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which browser you use?
HughesNet said:
Which browser you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Chrome and yes now I have torrent fixed to download large files to my SD card
ES File Explorer File Manager
With this app, you DON'T have to ROOT your device, and you can copy/move file from device to SD-card vice versa:
ES File Explorer File Manager
celtichazard said:
whit this fix App sd card? i try to resolve the problema with large torrents i try todownload directly to my sdcard becuace torrent say cant find the location of folder when i choose microsd download folder to download files ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to be rooted and applied the app to sd card fix before you can download torrents direct to sd card. Otherwise you can download straight to your tablet then transfer to sd card using the my files app.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
You can't transfer apps to SD , from the Playstore "AT ALL", unless you are ROOTED.
henklbr said:
With this app, you DON'T have to ROOT your device, and you can copy/move file from device to SD-card vice versa:
ES File Explorer File Manager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh awesome I already use ES for everything. Thanks!
dw1ght said:
Oh awesome I already use ES for everything. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot copy or move anything using ES. The only workaround I found is connect the tablet to a PC and copy or move the files with widows explorer.
shadow78 said:
I cannot copy or move anything using ES. The only workaround I found is connect the tablet to a PC and copy or move the files with widows explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly..
As said before... You can't transfer apps to SD, from the Playstore "AT ALL", unless you are ROOTED.
shadow78 said:
I cannot copy or move anything using ES. The only workaround I found is connect the tablet to a PC and copy or move the files with widows explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, SD card came in today. ES can't do it. Time to root I guess...
xRevilatioNx said:
Exactly..
As said before... You can't transfer apps to SD, from the Playstore "AT ALL", unless you are ROOTED.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried the app you linked and unfortunately it did not work. My problem was finally resolved with the Wanam Xposed application SD card fix. That works fine if anyone else has any trouble. But honestly it is so irritating that any of this is necessary to get full use of my device. I am rocking 128 gigabytes loud and proud
Okay well maybe not. Big file I was moving to SD is now gone and I can longer write to the SD. Bummer. No idea what went wrong.
Second edit: so the JRummy Apps "SD Fix" on the Play Store seems to have me covered for now. Fingers crossed...
Third edit: Gahh once again read only. No idea what the issue is. SD appears empty, can't read or write. Any help would be appreciated. For now I have a useless slice of plastic sitting in my otherwise perfect tablet.
henklbr said:
With this app, you DON'T have to ROOT your device, and you can copy/move file from device to SD-card vice versa:
ES File Explorer File Manager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made a mistake in this: sorry!
On my Note 3 (also on Android 4.4.2), ES File Explorer works correctly with copying/moving files from/to SD-card...
Strange it's not working on the Tab S...
dw1ght said:
Tried the app you linked and unfortunately it did not work. My problem was finally resolved with the Wanam Xposed application SD card fix. That works fine if anyone else has any trouble. But honestly it is so irritating that any of this is necessary to get full use of my device. I am rocking 128 gigabytes loud and proud
Okay well maybe not. Big file I was moving to SD is now gone and I can longer write to the SD. Bummer. No idea what went wrong.
Second edit: so the JRummy Apps "SD Fix" on the Play Store seems to have me covered for now. Fingers crossed...
Third edit: Gahh once again read only. No idea what the issue is. SD appears empty, can't read or write. Any help would be appreciated. For now I have a useless slice of plastic sitting in my otherwise perfect tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem with my 32gb sandisk card, it even said made for android on the packaging but it was very unreliable, sometimes there and sometimes not, even tried the usual test apps for these sdcard on my pc and they reported genuine with no errors. In the end i decided to buy a samsung 64gb card and it works reliably with stock apps but i have not got around the kitkat restriction cos i dont want to root yet.
Sent from my SM-T805 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
TimC149 said:
I had this problem with my 32gb sandisk card, it even said made for android on the packaging but it was very unreliable, sometimes there and sometimes not, even tried the usual test apps for these sdcard on my pc and they reported genuine with no errors. In the end i decided to buy a samsung 64gb card and it works reliably with stock apps but i have not got around the kitkat restriction cos i dont want to root yet.
Sent from my SM-T805 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same story with my card, SanDisk and android packaging. I might look into getting an official Samsung card. Thank you for the reply!
uTorrent update
The new update on uTorrent:
✔ (NEW) Save to external SD cards (Solution for Google/KitKat external SD card restrictions)
In case anyone didn't know.

[Q] Can't Rename Copy or Write files to External SD card

Hi guys, my issue is that I've put a new sd card in 64Gb microSD. I've tried moving files across from internal to external and it just fails every time.
I've tried creating a folder separately on the external card, but once it's created I can't delete it, I can't rename it and I can't put any files in there. Can't even copy files into the sd card in general.
I did format the card on the phone itself. Also, now when I connect my device to the computer it doesn't even show up as a device in explorer.
All this seems to have happened after the 10g update.
Anyone know why this is happening or how to get around it, please? (This is happening with ES File Explorer)
SD Fix in Play Store.
Bad4ss said:
Hi guys, my issue is that I've put a new sd card in 64Gb microSD. I've tried moving files across from internal to external and it just fails every time.
I've tried creating a folder separately on the external card, but once it's created I can't delete it, I can't rename it and I can't put any files in there. Can't even copy files into the sd card in general.
I did format the card on the phone itself. Also, now when I connect my device to the computer it doesn't even show up as a device in explorer.
All this seems to have happened after the 10g update.
Anyone know why this is happening or how to get around it, please? (This is happening with ES File Explorer)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted there's an easy manual fix here:
http://www.droidviews.com/restore-write-capability-to-external-sd-card-on-kitkat-manually/
I don't think that you should have to root your phone just to change files on your SD card. I had a G2 and I had to take it back for warranty fixes two times and they had a big sign at the front of the LG warranty repair center, rooting your phone voids your warranty . I don't think that you should have to root your phone just to have write access to the files on your SD card but it looks like I will keep plugging my phone into my PC to keep changing them.
Moving Files works with the LG File Explorer that comes with the phone.
I've read its a problem created by Google, so a lot of the File Explorers do not work.
Not ideal, but the on board one does the job.
Cheers!
HKPete said:
Moving Files works with the LG File Explorer that comes with the phone.
I've read its a problem created by Google, so a lot of the File Explorers do not work.
Not ideal, but the on board one does the job.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info HKPete, I had just used my favorite file manager and didn't think to try the one that came with the phone. I can copy, delete, rename, etc. all of the things that I want to do with the one that comes with the phone.
SamStone said:
Thanks for the info HKPete, I had just used my favorite file manager and didn't think to try the one that came with the phone. I can copy, delete, rename, etc. all of the things that I want to do with the one that comes with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, haha, same problem here. Tried for quite a while to get it working with ES File Explorer.
No worries,
Cheers!
SamStone said:
I don't think that you should have to root your phone just to change files on your SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do. Unless you only use the limited stock file manager possibly.
SamStone said:
I don't think that you should have to root your phone just to change files on your SD card. I had a G2 and I had to take it back for warranty fixes two times and they had a big sign at the front of the LG warranty repair center, rooting your phone voids your warranty . I don't think that you should have to root your phone just to have write access to the files on your SD card but it looks like I will keep plugging my phone into my PC to keep changing them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of us root our phones for other reasons but I agree that it's a backward step from Google
saitch76 said:
Most of us root our phones for other reasons but I agree that it's a backward step from Google
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It certainly is a backwards step by Google, what are they trying to achieve? The stock browser is ok for some tasks, but for batch work, batch moving files etc. it's very awkward to use the stock browser.
I hope they damn well put the access back in the next release.
Bad4ss said:
It certainly is a backwards step by Google, what are they trying to achieve? The stock browser is ok for some tasks, but for batch work, batch moving files etc. it's very awkward to use the stock browser.
I hope they damn well put the access back in the next release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using a file manager to move things around :angel:
HKPete said:
Moving Files works with the LG File Explorer that comes with the phone.
I've read its a problem created by Google, so a lot of the File Explorers do not work.
Not ideal, but the on board one does the job.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just bought an LG G3 which came with KK 4.3.x and upgraded to KK 4.4.2. I am using the LG File Explorer that comes with the phone to move music and pictures from internal storage to the SD card. After the upgrade to KK 4.4.2 it doesn't work using the same file manager. Pre-upgrade it worked just fine. Tried Delete, Move and Copy functions and none seem to work. Deleting a picture file only seems to work from the Gallery app.
I'm a little frustrated as it seems it should work even with the restrictions of KK 4.4.2 for SD cards since its the pre-installed file manager that came with the phone and other seem to have success with it AND using the Gallery app to delete works. I can read from the SD card fine (File Manager sees the files, played music in the standard music app, view photos fine) so I don't think its a bad card already. (I just bought the card too).
Any thoughts on why the default file manager won't copy/move/delete files on the SD?
Regards,
Nemo4902

Enable SD write on stock rom?

Is there anyway I can enable writing to the external sd card on the stock rom? Or would I need root?
Cheers
Stewart
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Huh. External sdcard just needs to be installed and be the correct format to be recognized. Shouldn't need to enable anything unless I am totally missing the ?
I have the same question. I keep trying to move files from internal to external storage and it keeps saying "cancelled", it's driving me crazy trying to figure it out.
If there is a write problem go to the root level of the External SD and enable write premissions. Can be done with most file managers. Root not necessary. This is apparently a default thing. If it were windows we would blame Bill Gates.
use ES File Explorer, lets you move from internal to external and the other way around.
Yeah, by default on Android 5.0 (since kit kat I think) you haven't been before able to write to the external sd card.
It seems like es file Explorer has a workaround to get it to work!
Cheers
Stewart
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Many apps have a workaround for it, only a few haven't, mostly you need to navigate to the root of the ex_sd with the default fileexplorer within the app and grant access. I.e. Camera-FV 5, many Podcast apps have this feature and many more apps.

[Q] Cannot delete files from external SD

Using ES File Explorer Pro, I get the prompt popup to allow permissions to delete from External SD when I try to delete something, but it just errors out with "Task failed"
Anyone know how to solve this without root? Worked in Nougat
*Detection* said:
Using ES File Explorer Pro, I get the prompt popup to allow permissions to delete from External SD when I try to delete something, but it just errors out with "Task failed"
Anyone know how to solve this without root? Worked in Nougat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is what you're trying to delete something that was on the card prior to putting it in the S9? Also, can you create a folder with ES on the SD card? I ve tried deleting an empty folder on my SD using ES with no problem and I can create and delete folders on it. I'm trying to remember if my card was formatted in the S9 but drawing a blank.
Tel864 said:
Is what you're trying to delete something that was on the card prior to putting it in the S9? Also, can you create a folder with ES on the SD card? I ve tried deleting an empty folder on my SD using ES with no problem and I can create and delete folders on it. I'm trying to remember if my card was formatted in the S9 but drawing a blank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, it appears I have no permissions other than read on it (At least from within ES File Explorer Pro), but connecting the phone to a PC I can copy and delete from it fine
The files I am trying to delete were copied from PC to S9 Ext SD mostly, some are from S7 but no difference with permissions, although there are some on there that we sent to me via S9 WhatsApp and some created in S9 photo editing apps, so not sure how they ended up there without any write permissions unless the problem is ES itself
had that on my 128Gb sd card. It appears it had gone read-only ... for good. dead card for me try on a computer if you can delete a file or if it's also read-only
thorcyar said:
had that on my 128Gb sd card. It appears it had gone read-only ... for good. dead card for me try on a computer if you can delete a file or if it's also read-only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea works fine on a PC, or with the phone connected to PC
OK so I found a post on another Android forum from way back in 2014, someone with the exact same problem on their S5, one of the replies suggested that this is a Samsung restriction and that only their "My Files" file manager app can delete from external SD, so I tried that and it worked fine
Yet some of you say you have full permissions with ES File Explorer to write/delete on EXTERNAL SD? (Not the internal storage)
*Detection* said:
OK so I found a post on another Android forum from way back in 2014, someone with the exact same problem on their S5, one of the replies suggested that this is a Samsung restriction and that only their "My Files" file manager app can delete from external SD, so I tried that and it worked fine
Yet some of you say you have full permissions with ES File Explorer to write/delete on EXTERNAL SD? (Not the internal storage)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I made a folder and deleted it then I found an epub book Moon Reader had placed there and I deleted that also using ES Explorer Pro. You probably checked this but when you look at ES in Settings>Apps>ES File Explorer Pro>Storage, do you have a box at the bottom under for "allow access"? I ask because I have a box there for "Deny Access"
Tel864 said:
Yep, I made a folder and deleted it then I found an epub book Moon Reader had placed there and I deleted that also using ES Explorer Pro. You probably checked this but when you look at ES in Settings>Apps>ES File Explorer Pro>Storage, do you have a box at the bottom under for "allow access"? I ask because I have a box there for "Deny Access"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't no, I just have CHANGE for changing where the app is installed, either Internal or External
*Detection* said:
I don't no, I just have CHANGE for changing where the app is installed, either Internal or External
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping that was it. In ES Explorer's settings under storage I have that DENY ACCESS box at the bottom.
Tel864 said:
I was hoping that was it. In ES Explorer's settings under storage I have that DENY ACCESS box at the bottom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That probably is it, but why wouldn't I have it?
Mine looks identical but without that box
Which phone is that? S9?
Asking because even the wording is different, mine says Internal Storage, yours says Device Memory
Right, it's the S9 and the install of ES Explorer is just a straight install, nothing fancy done. I think you're right though, we're possibly looking at the cause,
Tel864 said:
Right, it's the S9 and the install of ES Explorer is just a straight install, nothing fancy done. I think you're right though, we're possibly looking at the cause,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems very strange that the wording for internal storage would be different between two S9s with the same app installed, cannot see how that would be possible unless the firmware was causing it
Maybe firmware differences have changed some SD permissions, I'm running the latest O2U firmware BRE5 May 1 security Patch
*Detection* said:
Seems very strange that the wording for internal storage would be different between two S9s with the same app installed, cannot see how that would be possible unless the firmware was causing it
Maybe firmware differences have changed some SD permissions, I'm running the latest O2U firmware BRE5 May 1 security Patch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be since I'm still on the Feb patch. I thought about clicking that "deny access" box but I'm afraid it won't repopulate with a "allow access" box. I guess you've tried moving the app and data to the SD card to see what that does. I did move mine to SD and back to internal and it still works.
Tel864 said:
Could be since I'm still on the Feb patch. I thought about clicking that "deny access" box but I'm afraid it won't repopulate with a "allow access" box. I guess you've tried moving the app and data to the SD card to see what that does. I did move mine to SD and back to internal and it still works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea same result on internal or external and nothing new appears on the info panel either, maybe one of their amazing security updates has blocked SD write permissions then, not really a big fan of this, why would an SD card be blocked for stuff like that? Obviously if we put an SD card in our phones it's because we want to read and write to them
One more suggestion if you haven't tried it. Pop in another SD and try it, preferably one you can format in in phone.
Tel864 said:
One more suggestion if you haven't tried it. Pop in another SD and try it, preferably one you can format in in phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea good plan, I`ll give that a shot at some point, atm I've just re-enabled "My Files" for when I want to delete something, no extra steps than opening ES to delete something really, unless I forget and try to use ES first :silly:
Found the issue, I had disabled "My Files" stock file manager as I don't use any other file manager than ES, but it turns out that ES requires that to be enabled to give ES File Explorer External SD card permissions, for some retarded reason
Enabled it, tried to delete a file, it asked the same permissions question, except instead of just saying "Failed" this time, it opened My Files and told me to select the External SD card, after which it deleted the file successfully
So ES File Explorer Pro is so great it requires yet another file manager to work properly
*Detection* said:
Found the issue, I had disabled "My Files" stock file manager as I don't use any other file manager than ES, but it turns out that ES requires that to be enabled to give ES File Explorer External SD card permissions, for some retarded reason
Enabled it, tried to delete a file, it asked the same permissions question, except instead of just saying "Failed" this time, it opened My Files and told me to select the External SD card, after which it deleted the file successfully
So ES File Explorer Pro is so great it requires yet another file manager to work properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh, didn't know that. I always just ignored the stock file manager so I guess that's why I never came across that.
Tel864 said:
Huh, didn't know that. I always just ignored the stock file manager so I guess that's why I never came across that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I just disable what I'll never use so it's not crowding up the app drawer / taking up resources running in the background 'just in case' I want to open it at some point lol, Android is dumb
They swear apps sitting in the background take up no resources, but they do, they swear those apps will give back those resources when requested by active apps (Thought they did not take up any resources? )
I have tested many times the opening speed of an app that is sitting in the background vs 100% closed, and it is an unnoticeable difference
But anyway back on subject, yes, ES File Explorer cannot work properly on a Samsung without the stock file manager being active
Ok, I just used Package Disabler Pro to disable "My Files" and it didn't affect ES, I was still able to delete an entire directory on my SD card.

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