Apps which are not installed on internal storage (e.g., on an SD card) are lost from the launcher every restart

[mlncn]

Checklist

• [x] I can reproduce the bug with the latest version given here.
• [x] I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• [x] I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• [x] I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• [x] I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• [x] This issue contains only one bug.
• [x] I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Affected app version

1.2.0

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

Android 9

Affected device model

Blackview BV9100

How did you install the app?

F-Droid / IzzyOnDroid

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Have an external storage, such as an SD card, available on your phone
2. Install an application (F-Droid may put the application on the external storage automatically; if not going to storage, internal storage, apps, selecting an app, and under Storage used change from "Internal storage" to (for example) "SanDisk SD card". Note: Not all apps allow this, for example Launcher itself does not, but most do including Fossify Contacts and Calendar.)
3. Place the app on your home screen (when Launcher is set to handle all this)
4. Restart the phone

Expected behavior

The placed app is still there; that is, once all the apps available on the SD card load, Launcher remembers where they belong and puts them in place.

Actual behavior

All apps installed to external storage are no longer placed on the launcher.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

Additional information

Really hoping this happens to be one of the issues where once it is known, the fix is easy! Because i'm really liking the simple apps under Fossify's care, and was so excited to finally be able to fully remove, not only disable, the google search that the old Android stock launcher stuck there. Thank you for all this work!

[infranscia]

I just ran into this, myself. I'm currently (temporarily) on a Moto G6, Android version 9. App was installed through F-Droid.

Phones like this (I was using a similar model before some hardware problems cropped up) have an option to encrypt the SD card and have it act like external storage, to the point where file managers will read everything as just being in internal storage. Even if you connect the phone to a computer, everything reports as internal storage. AFAIK, only the system settings app will tell you how much storage is being used internally vs. on the SD, and by what. The system appinfo screens will also say whether part of the app is on SD - I think this is the only way I can manually change what's installed where, after initial encryption setup (which will ask).

Well, I accidentally let my phone run out of battery, and sometimes when these phones reboot, they have trouble finding the SD. Another reboot usually fixes it. Stock launchers I've used will often just gray out an app icon - or turn it into a black circle - until the SD card, and this the app, is found again. With this one, the missing apps stay missing from the launcher, and I have to redo them manually.

Also, if apps were together in a folder and some of them are missing, the folder will look funny - it's like it sort of remembers where the apps were, but not really. See attached screenshots.

But yeah. Contacts, main browser... everything on the shortcut bar that's partially on SD is missing.