Develop Bugs

[Q] (Maybe for Devs?) Certain apps can't save to sdcard on kk w/ SD fix

Let me say, I'm aware of the new KK parameters that doesn't allow apps certain SD card rights. HOWEVER, I'm running a ROM w/ SD card fix enabled. I can successfully write to sdcard and, with certain applications such as ezPDF and Kingsoft, I can make changes to files on my sd card.
I can't make changes to files with my preferred office apps: Hancom or Polaris Office. Can we figure out why and fix it?
I'm guessing it has something to do with the permissions of those apps and/or what group (UID or GID) they are assigned to.
Thoughts?

I feel your pain....
grimloktt said:
Let me say, I'm aware of the new KK parameters that doesn't allow apps certain SD card rights. HOWEVER, I'm running a ROM w/ SD card fix enabled. I can successfully write to sdcard and, with certain applications such as ezPDF and Kingsoft, I can make changes to files on my sd card.
I can't make changes to files with my preferred office apps: Hancom or Polaris Office. Can we figure out why and fix it?
I'm guessing it has something to do with the permissions of those apps and/or what group (UID or GID) they are assigned to.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how you feel dude, this is coming from someone on jellybean who has tried everything. I have tried the sdfix app, adding the permission manually, wiping the sdcard and I still can't add or delete files off my sdcard. At least you have some write access as opposed to me :silly:

No informed inputs? Can't those that are knowledgeable do a little comparison between the Note 12.2 and our ROMs and identify what would be needed to save to SD card? Without knowing anything about coding, it would appear the programs have to be included as a group (UID/GID)--perhaps?

[Serious Bugs] Android 4.4.2 Galaxy Note 2

Hello, folks
Recently I upgraded to Android Kitkat 4.4.2 (Indian Version) on my Samsung Galaxy Note II, I have come across a serious BUG after upgrading to Android 4.4.2.
BUG Details: Memory card cannot be read internally
For Instance while connected to Winscp via SSHDroid new folder cannot be created in Memory Card but at the same time new folder can be created in Phone Memory
I guess writing has been restricted
It's not over..... While downloading videos via YouTube Downloader 4.2 (Dentex) when custom folder chosen to memory card downloading gets failed
Again I guess writing has been restricted
I tried 3-4 different memory cards guessing problem might be in memory card (formatted as well)
Flashed my Note II via Hard Reset
Tried all ways and I have come to conclusion the BUG is in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat (Indian Version)
Kindly share if you have encountered same BUG as well (Specially Indian Consumers)
Regards,
Note II

Galaxy Note II said:
Hello, folks
Recently I upgraded to Android Kitkat 4.4.2 (Indian Version) on my Samsung Galaxy Note II, I have come across a serious BUG after upgrading to Android 4.4.2.
BUG Details: Memory card cannot be read internally
For Instance while connected to Winscp via SSHDroid new folder cannot be created in Memory Card but at the same time new folder can be created in Phone Memory
I guess writing has been restricted
It's not over..... While downloading videos via YouTube Downloader 4.2 (Dentex) when custom folder chosen to memory card downloading gets failed
Again I guess writing has been restricted
I tried 3-4 different memory cards guessing problem might be in memory card (formatted as well)
Flashed my Note II via Hard Reset
Tried all ways and I have come to conclusion the BUG is in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat (Indian Version)
Kindly share if you have encountered same BUG as well (Specially Indian Consumers)
Regards,
Note II
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a bug, it is included in the Kitkat update for security purposes.
There is a fix for that but you have to be rooted.

anesterian said:
It's not a bug, it is included in the Kitkat update for security purposes.
There is a fix for that but you have to be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro What kind of security is it? I cannot copy my own files into my memory card
iQuran cannot read my memory card in which has supporting files
I cannot save/download videos from YouTube Downloader to my memory card

What rom are you using?
You can simply transfer your files using a comupter...
Then paste it to your memory card..
That's what I did when I'm on Stock Kitkat ROM...
If you want to apply the SD Card fixed root your phone first.
Sent from my GT-N7100

anesterian said:
What rom are you using?
You can simply transfer your files using a comupter...
Then paste it to your memory card..
That's what I did when I'm on Stock Kitkat ROM...
If you want to apply the SD Card fixed root your phone first.
Sent from my GT-N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at my signature

They did what. You can't copy from internal to external memory. Omg i see no 4.4 on my device.
Edit : ok i understand now.
Sent from my GT-N7100

you can copy or move anything with stock file manager My Files..only third party application has no permission to write.

xplore file manager can handle files in sd card too...

Google chose to block write access, for third party apps (those not pre-installed), to external storage; except in their own directories.
There is currently a loophole which some developers have updated their apps to use, but with future iterations of android this will likely be blocked.
This change has been primarily to keep the sdcard clean; un-installing third party apps had left orphaned files the sdcard and resulted in a poor user experience. Personally I'm not sure how viable an explanation this is when you weigh it up against the affect to the user experience of preventing 3rd.P apps from accessing anything outside of their own granted space, or the space granted to a partner app. I think this is either google being evil, trying to lower the value of an sdcard slot to drive OEMs to make devices without one (for various profitable purposes) OR because google goofed on their first time really deciding what access they should have (previously there was no formal access rights definition, it was a free-for-all.)
Hold this space

You can install my apks from play store to back up apk in external card and quick office for editing and saving dox in external card without rooting from play store..enjoy
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

you are right,writing of sdcard has been restricted in android 4.4.2

Is it possible to revert back to 4.3?

wrena said:
Is it possible to revert back to 4.3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The easiest solution is getting root access and using the sdfix app; reverting is overkill if you just want 3p rw access back.

Happened to me yesterday. I was goin to format my fone, so i took a backup of some apps on helium(Since im not rooted)on my sd card. I formatted my fone. After that wen i went in carbon folder, it was empty. No data.

[Q] KitKat issues with external SD writing

hi all
so my transition to kitkat hasnt been without its hiccups and the latest one is probably quite big. So since 4.4 we're not allowed to write in the external SD as I have seen it put. my problem is shown by 2 different apps. one is the gallery (or quicpic that I use) when trying to delete a photo I took (and since I have my photos being saved on the SD) I get a message saying it failed! gallery seems to let me do it and delete the photo but when I check in quicpic or the files themselves the photos are still there. the other app is my sms backup and restore app where again I have my backup saving to the SD but when I try to select it it says I wont be able to use it and as is expected when I try to back it up it doesnt work.
why would they implement such a policy?! that goes completely backwards! is there a fix or a workaround?
really appreciate the help

You can fix it by rooting (+ e. g. NetApp SDFix) or wait for app developers to change their apps (in terms of storing data in private data folder, for instance '/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.google.earth') - or if possible change the storage path by yourself.
Sent from my black pearl using Tapatalk

nunein said:
You can fix it by rooting (+ e. g. NetApp SDFix) or wait for app developers to change their apps (in terms of storing data in private data folder, for instance '/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.google.earth') - or if possible change the storage path by yourself.
Sent from my black pearl using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how can developers change their apps since they wont be allowed to write on the SD? and what do you mean change the storage path by myself? as in to have stuff save on my phone? cuz thats what Im avoiding

As I wrote: every app has write access to its 'private' data folder of the SD card (if it creates such a folder). The folder name has to match the app name.
For instance '/storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.example.app'
Disadvantages are that other apps do not have write access to these folders - and that data of an app will be deleted from its 'private' data folder if the app will be uninstalled.

The temporal solution is to root and use any KitKat fix to write in SD, there are single apps xposed modules flashable zips write some string in some system file.

fburgos said:
The temporal solution is to root and use any KitKat fix to write in SD, there are single apps xposed modules flashable zips write some string in some system file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any pointers on where I could find such a thing?

See post no. 2: SDFIX (from NextApp), available here or at Play Store

[Q] Lollipop - Titanium backup ext_sd error

Hope I'm not repeating a question here. I couldn't find anything in this forum. I just finished updating my international m8 to lollipop ota. After installing titanium backup from the market, I noticed my previous backup on ext_sd are reported as not writable by titanium. I was under the impression that the new android L would rectify this Kitkat issue. Is there any work around for this issue yet? Thanks.

So I found a test version of titanium backup for Lollipop http://bit.ly/1v0njNa. Unfortunately I'm getting Documents crashes when I selected the extsd after switching to documentprovider storage. So I'm still unable to assign the backup directory to my external sd. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

mateenf said:
Hello All,
Since kitkat 4.4.2 was released on the Galaxy Note 3, many users were unable to write files to the External SD Card. Below is a simple fix for rooted users on the Galaxy Note 3 N9005 ( International Snapdragon Variant).
**Please be advised that I have only tested this on my personal N9005. However, you are free to test it on your own devices at your own risk!! **
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart.
Attached is a copy of my platform.xml.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thread link forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2617921
Working ok.

Thanks for the reply. I did use that solution when I was on 4.4 but lollipop has a different documentprovider solution now. I finally figured out what was happening. The issue isn't with titanium backup up but with how documentprovider was accessing my ext_sd. For some reason the documents will crash if I left ext_sd unnamed. I ended resolving the issue by naming my sdcard and it's been working as expected. Weird little bug in lollipop... In addition to the DNS issue.

Thanks for that solution. I had the same issue.
After naming the SD card using my laptop, the HTC Documents application no longer crashed and I can allow write access to the application (ES fileexplorer in my case.).
I guess it is an HTC bug, the documentsprovider shows the label/name of the ext SD card on the button to be pressed to allow access, and apparently it can't handle an empty SD card name.

How to get permission to write on SD card for programs? (Android KitKat)

I have Pro 8.4 with KitKat 4.4.2 . I have a full access of SD card on system's file manager, but like on WinZip or 7zipper, I don't. Same for other programs. Now I wanted to download a torrent with app uTorrent and it failed with error "Permission denied. (ReadToDisk)". Maybe somewhere is like on Windows "Run program on Administrator mode"? Or maybe something that will give that permission. Not rooted, and not going to do that (maybe when warranty ends).

Unfortunately you need root, it's actually a bug in the kitkat android sources that blocks sdcard write access (though it is fixed in Lollipop, unfortunately Samsung hasn't release LP for our device yet), the only way to fix it is with root since the file that needs modifying is on the system partition...

But, if I would to upgrade to Lollipop (if we ever have it) then it will fix this thing?

yeah

Check my thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/write-data-to-external-sd-card-kitkat-t3248220
In most cases (with many apps that write data, like downloads), you can, in fact, write to the external SD card in KitKat, without root.