Access to folders

Sergey_New

Sergey_New

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Longtime User
Some file managers (for example File Manager Plus) from Google Play have access to the download folder of Android 14 devices. How is this possible?
Everyone is equal before God Google. But some are more equal than others.
My app wants this too :)
 
Sergey_New said:
Some file managers (for example File Manager Plus) from Google Play have access to the download folder of Android 14 devices. How is this possible?
Everyone is equal before God Google. But some are more equal than others.
My app wants this too :)
Click to expand...
The pre-installed apps are compiled with the super-USER or administrator keys.
Some apps, such as antivirus and file manager, have requested permission from Google to use a special library that gives you access to all folders. You can also use it if you don't have to publish on Google Play, in case you want to publish it you have to ask for a special permit.

This question has been asked several times. If you are looking for the good answers in the forum you will find everything you need and avoid filling the repetition forum
 
Star-Dust said:
This question has been asked several times.
Click to expand...
That's true. That's why I'm writing in this section. But I still haven't received a clear answer.
 
Sergey_New said:
I still haven't received a clear answer
Click to expand...

You got it
Star-Dust said:
The pre-installed apps are compiled with the super-USER or administrator keys.
Some apps, such as antivirus and file manager, have requested permission from Google to use a special library that gives you access to all folders. You can also use it if you don't have to publish on Google Play, in case you want to publish it you have to ask for a special permit.
Click to expand...
 
josejad said:
You got it
Click to expand...
No, I didn't understand how to get a special permit. My application is simply not accepted. That's why I cited the proverb in the first post.
 
Sergey_New said:
No, I didn't understand how to get a special permit.
Click to expand...
You DO NOT get any permissions for this folder.
The only way is to use Contentchooser and

- maybe - it is possible with the FileAccessFramework behind

ExternalStorage - Access SD cards and USB sticks

Before we start: External storage means a real sd card or a connected mass storage USB device. This class can also be used to access the secondary storage (File.DirRootExternal). This becomes relevant with newer versions of Android that restrict direct access. It has nothing to do with runtime...
www.b4x.com www.b4x.com
Edit: It does not work with the External Storage Class. You sinply can not choose the Rootfolder and even not the Downloadfolder directly.

I i fear you´ll not get more options.
Especially if you want to publish the app in Google PlayStore.
 
Last edited:
If you want to publish your app, then you must get permission from Google for using a special library to get access to all folders. Google doesn't allow to access all paths for security reasons from Android 10 (api 29).
If you don't need to publish your app in Google Play, then you can set your API to lower versions and then use some of the methods explained in the forum.
 
Last edited:
Sergey_New said:
access to the download folder of Android 14 devices. How is this possible?
Click to expand...

📌 [B4A] Save a file to the Download folder (and document, pictures, music, movies, dcim folders)

Hello everyone, 👋 With the latest Android restrictions, direct access to the Download folder is no longer possible. However, by using MediaStore, we can save files in a way that’s fully compatible with the new system policies. 🔹 What does this snippet do? ✅ Saves a file directly to the...
www.b4x.com www.b4x.com
 
Sergey_New said:
No, I didn't understand how to get a special permit. My application is simply not accepted. That's why I cited the proverb in the first post.
Click to expand...
You can publish an app on Google Play that requires the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but there are very strict restrictions and guidelines that you must follow. Google Play has implemented stringent policies to limit the use of this permission to specific and justified cases only.

If you do not publish your app on Google Play, you can use the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission without having to comply with the restrictions imposed by Google.
 
I believe you can have this permission and also upload your app to the play store ONLY IF, the app basic functionality depends on it.

Like someone says, An Antivirus app that needs to scan your phone or a
File Manager that needs to analyze your folders, etc basically needs this permission.

I am working on a sample code on which permissions to use and hopefully by 24th March, I will post the full example
 
Star-Dust said:
Yes, you can publish an app on Google Play that requires the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but there are very strict restrictions and guidelines that you must follow. Google Play has implemented stringent policies to limit the use of this permission to specific and justified cases only.

Yes, if you do not publish your app on Google Play, you can use the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission without having to comply with the restrictions imposed by Google.
Click to expand...
Exactly
 
Summary:

  • Access to shared files: Use the Storage Access Framework (SAF) to allow the user to select files or folders.
  • Access to media files: Use the MediaStore API to access photos, videos, and audio.
  • Full access (with limitations): Use MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE if necessary, but only for specific use cases. (Special permission from Google is required for publishing.)
 
This is what is written above, I know and have already read earlier on the forum. It is simply very surprising that it is impossible to create an application in which the user must place the text files he needs in the download folder, and the application will be able to read them and give the desired results. It is good that with media files, which are also needed, this is possible.
Thanks to everyone for participating in the conversation.
 
mcqueccu, thanks!
You get a list of folders.
And I need to read the files in the download folder.
 
Sergey_New said:
You get a list of folders.
And I need to read the files in the download folder.
Click to expand...
What stops you from getting the foldercontent?

change

B4X: 
    Wait For (File.ListFilesAsync(File.DirRootExternal)) Complete (Success As Boolean, Files As List)

to

B4X: 
Wait For (File.ListFilesAsync(File.Combine(File.DirRootExternal,"Download"))) Complete (Success As Boolean, Files As List)
 
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