topic Apps cannot access SD card in XZ Series

Apps cannot access SD card

iw250 — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:09:13 GMT

The SD card on my XZ1c can be used for storing camera pictures. But other apps are having problems. For example, I cannot get OsmAnd to store maps on the SD card. I get the following error:

11-07 09:18:39.414 20119 20119 W net.osmand.plus: type=1400 audit(0.0:205941): avc: denied { create } for comm=4173796E635461736B20233130 name="tiles" scontext=u:r:untrusted_app_25:s0:c512,c768 tcontext=u:object_r:ecryptfs:s0:c512,c768 tclass=dir permissive=0 ppid=766 pcomm="main" pgid=20119 pgcomm="net.osmand.plus"

This points to SELinux. I already tried a reformat. Encryption is off. Is this a known problem on this device? I did see some similar threads for other devices...

Any hints are welcome!

G8441:/ $ getprop ro.vendor.build.fingerprint
Sony/G8441/G8441:8.0.0/47.1.A.2.374/1039021005:user/release-keys

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

Snapples — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 09:32:35 GMT

Solid Explorer can't get write acces to my SD as well, however, it hasn't been maintained in over half a year.

ES explorer works, it asks to choose the root folder of the SD first, which Solid doesn't.

I'm pretty sure it's an implementation thing.

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

Lord_viridis — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 12:10:29 GMT

Correct,

The app simply doesn't request permission to be obtained for as storage, therefore the device will never allow it access.

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

iw250 — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 12:18:03 GMT

Ok, I have this problem with the following apps:

- Here we go

- CoPilot

- Sygic

- OsmAnd+

Are they all implemented incorrectly?

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

W123dal — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 19:52:19 GMT

@Viridis wrote:
Correct,
The app simply doesn't request permission to be obtained for as storage, therefore the device will never allow it access.

That is not what is happening here. Storage permission has been explicitly allowed in apps and they still fail to write to the sdcard.

Neither Google Music nor Google Maps will write to my sdcard. Music crashes and Maps hangs during map download.

I strongly doubt it's an implementation problem if Google's own apps don't write to the sdcard properly.

There is a seven page thread describing the problem here:

/t5/Xperia-XZ/Some-apps-unable-to-properly-access-SD-card-after-update/td-p/1221219

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

iw250 — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 16:20:01 GMT

I've seen the thread, but I was hoping for a better "answer". Needless to mention that all those apps work fine with the SD card on my old Xc (Android 7.1.1).

I opened a ticket for this issue, but Sony support is pathetic...

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

W123dal — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 06:49:00 GMT

@iw250 wrote:
I've seen the thread, but I was hoping for a better "answer". Needless to mention that all those apps work fine with the SD card on my old Xc (Android 7.1.1).
I opened a ticket for this issue, but Sony support is pathetic...

You said your card isn't currently encrypted -- but did you encrypt it in the past?

I think that's what might be the culrpit.

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

iw250 — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 11:36:08 GMT

No, it was never encrypted.

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

Profyler1 — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 11:43:42 GMT

Did you try the force permission on SD card in the developer option?

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

iw250 — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 12:45:31 GMT

I activated "Force allow apps on external", but it does not help.

I also tried Google Maps, and even this app cannot save to the SD card.

Without root on the device it is very difficult to debug this further... 😕

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

Lord_viridis — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:00:02 GMT

Have you tried this?

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/osmand/JGeQzMF6T2A

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

Lord_viridis — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:02:35 GMT

Have you tried a reset of the device?

There is definitely something wrong with permissions if Google maps cannot save offline to SD

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

TheRealEasy — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 12:25:34 GMT

Same problem her, Google Maps detects the SD-Card (extern!) but can't write on it.

Google Pictures - fine, Sony Cam - fine .....

Deleting data/cache doesn't help.

Reinstallation neither.

A few other navigation apps have the same problem.

OruxMaps can write on the SD-Card.

Re: Apps cannot access SD card

krneki — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 17:45:15 GMT

I don't know if this post anyone helps. I have had same problem on Xperia X compact after upgrade from Nouget to Oreo. It seems this upgrades never works fine. So I did factory reset and now works. There are 3 types of reset and I suggest always when you make major upgrade that you are ready to do factory reset.

Hope this helps.