nextcloud
3.30.6 - Missing permission "all files access"
⚠️ Before posting ⚠️
- [x] This is a bug, not a question or an enhancement.
- [x] I've searched for similar issues and didn't find a duplicate.
- [x] I've written a clear and descriptive title for this issue, not just "Bug" or "Crash".
- [x] I agree to follow Nextcloud's Code of Conduct.
Steps to reproduce
- Install version 3.30.6
- Press the upload button inside the Nextcloud app
- Navigate into a folder with files other than pictures or videos
- Result: there are no other files listed
Expected behaviour
It should be possible to upload files other than pictures and videos.
Actual behaviour
The error is caused by the missing permission "all files access". It was possible in previous versions.
Android version
15
Device brand and model
Google Pixel 8
Stock or custom OS?
Custom (explain in "additional information")
Nextcloud android app version
3.30.6
Nextcloud server version
30.0.2
Using a reverse proxy?
Yes
Android logs
No response
Server error logs
Additional information
My phone is running GrapheneOS.
It's look like only the gplay release is affected. With the fdroid, release it's possible to grand the "all files permission". For the gplay release, the permission is not available anymore.
Google forced us to remove the permission and blocked all updates to the app store since July because of this. We can't bring it back for GPlay I am afraid...
Oh, that's really sad. I didn't know that, because the changelog only lists that: Due to new restrictions imposed by Google, the auto-upload feature will no longer be able to automatically remove uploaded files.
This is not a great solution, but FWIW as a workaround I was able to get around the issue of uploading a non image file by changing my pdf file extension to "png" and then back after uploading.
@AndyScherzinger so what you are saying is that Google decided to impose restrictions on the kind of data we are able to synchronize without user permission? Consequently any document files can no longer be sent to the Nextcloud server when using an android device? This indeed is concerning. I would consider this issue to be of high priority. Is there any other workaround?
The "workaraound" aka the real way Android wants it is like this
- open native Files app
- go to your desired file
- share it to Nextcloud App --> choose desired upload folder and upload it
And yes, Google decided this, as F-Droid is remained untouched. There we are still allowed to use this permission.
A bit of lengthy background: Other apps were not allowed to use this permission at all, once it was introduced in 2022. I could convince them back then, that we need this. But nowadays they are more strict on it and thus we needed to remove this permission. Thus is, why it feels now like a regression / problem in UX, while it was only an exception that they allowed it for ~2 years.
how sad this is... though a big thank you for 2 years of additional functionality.
Awww... and as this issue isn't really solvable... I think it can be marked closed.
thanks for this insightful background information @tobiasKaminsky . With this it seems that this issue mixes several related, yet not identical problems:
- the app being unable to auto upload files other than pictures and videos (afaik users are not informed that this is the case and why)
- the app being unable to auto upload pictures and videos (may or may not be related to this, workarounds suggest removing and adding file and folder permission or set up of a custom folder for the already existing camera folder)
- the app being unable to move or remove files after they have been uploaded (currently users are informed about this "[...] , the auto-upload feature will no longer be able to automatically remove uploaded files")
For 1. auto upload of other files If the upload for files other than pictures and videos is currently expected to be broken, then user should be a) informed that this is broken in the Google build variant and b) the user should be prompted to remove the broken custom auto upload folder pairs to make sure no wrong expectations arise going forward. If other apps, especially the ones from Google themselves, are able to do this, it sounds like another antitrust issue and stifling competition. But I don't know if that's the case.
For 2. auto upload of pictures and videos Would be great to understand if this is related or not, and whether auto upload of pictures and videos is currently expected to work flawlessly or not after updating the app from Google Play.
For 3. (re)moving files after auto upload The auto upload folder setting "Original file will be..." kept/moved is grayed out and can't be changed for picture and video folders only. However, that setting can be changed for other folders by the user, e.g. Documents. Clarification if this should apply to all or only some folders would be helpful.
And I would love to know, if the F-Droid version will always be working.
(when switching from g-play to f-droid I realised, an export function for settings would be nice. had to configure all upload-folders again, which are many in my case)
Google forced us to remove the permission and blocked all updates to the app store since July because of this. We can't bring it back for GPlay I am afraid...
So Google declined Permission Declaration Form you submitted? Did they explain why? Doesn't Google Drive, One Drive, Box, Dropbox all have these permission? I assume that without this permission, Nextcloud can no longer delete ANY file on Android, including files it creates? If so, what is Goolgle's expected way of handling file sync?
For reference, I also discussed this here: https://github.com/nextcloud/android/pull/14099#issuecomment-2552716882
And I would love to know, if the F-Droid version will always be working.
As long as Android itself does not remove this permission at all, then Fdroid stays "safe", as Fdroid does not restrict this.
So Google declined Permission Declaration Form you submitted? Did they explain why?
They said that our app can use other more privacy friendly options, like their new photo/video picker. But this is just wrong, as it is not only about accessing files, but also deleting them, which cannot be possible with their proposed way.
Nextcloud can no longer delete ANY file on Android, including files it creates?
That is luckily not the case. Our app can delete all files that it created within its own data storage. Our app can also read most of the files, but is (and that is the big drawback) cannot move/delete them.
You can also click "+" button and then choose "upload content from other apps" and use the Android's internal file picker. Then all files should show up again.
Just encountered this issue, switched from gplay to fdroid version as recommended here.
Can't confirm switching to the fdroid version is a working solution. There is still no way to add "All files Permission" on Android 15 (Pixel 8a) and therefore no way to use the InstantUpload Feature for files other than media (audio and video) file types. So it's not only about moving/deleting, but also about reading which seems not possible/not to be working at the moment.
//EDIT: Note: was my error, see below my later post. it works, can confirm
Is there any way this still can be archieved? Manual chosen upload of single files by way of the "upload content from other apps" is obviously no solution here.
I used to autoupload e.g. my entire Downloads folder (which I used to do e.g. on a G60 with Android 12) so I could download for example a PDF file on the phone (because I received it there via an App, got the link easy via a mobile first/only App etc.) and access the file almost instantly on a bigger screen device.
Another usecase would be backing up WhatsApp to something that is not Google Drive.
Both usecases seem now impossible.
There is still no way to add "All files Permission" on Android 15 (Pixel 8a) and therefore no way to use the InstantUpload Feature for files other than media (audio and video) file types. So it's not only about moving/deleting, but also about reading which seems not possible/not to be working at the moment.
Can't confirm this. Android 15 on Pixel 8. Nextcloud app is able to upload anything and delete files. Working as expected. Uninstalled the G-Play Version and installed the one from F-Droid. Started the app and it asked me for permissions. Configured auto-upload-folders and everything was working like before.
I'm using it a lot to auto-upload created PDF files.
There is still no way to add "All files Permission" on Android 15 (Pixel 8a) and therefore no way to use the InstantUpload Feature for files other than media (audio and video) file types.
For me, it's working fine with the fdroid version. You can grant the permission in the Android settings: Settings -> Apps -> Special app access -> All files access -> Nextcloud
There is still no way to add "All files Permission" on Android 15 (Pixel 8a) and therefore no way to use the InstantUpload Feature for files other than media (audio and video) file types.
For me, it's working fine with the fdroid version. You can grant the permission in the Android settings: Settings -> Apps -> Special app access -> All files access -> Nextcloud
Thanks for the explicit instruction. Now I found and enabled the permission with the fdroid version and I can confirm, works for me too.
Previously I had looked in the wrong place. I had found this comment in issue #2036 https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues/2036#issuecomment-2361799154 and hat misinterpreted the » Settings > Apps > "..." > Special access > All files access.« as »Settings -> Apps ->Nextcloud -> (Permissions ->) Special Access -> All files access« and because I didnt find any such option in the Setting -> App -> Nextcloud menu or the Permissions submenu, I concluded it was still not available while I just was looking in the wrong place. My Bad.
I have noticed this issue because my photos auto uploaded were missing the GPS information. After switching to the F-Droid Version now the GPS information ist back in the auto uploaded photos. So I would guess that the new way to acces the files which Google offers removes GPS information from the photos....
I have noticed this issue because my photos auto uploaded were missing the GPS information. After switching to the F-Droid Version now the GPS information ist back in the auto uploaded photos. So I would guess that the new way to acces the files which Google offers removes GPS information from the photos....
Exactly the same here. Running F-Droid version now and happy again. Hope it stays that way.
I have noticed this issue because my photos auto uploaded were missing the GPS information.
Oh, yes, the GPS information missing, if you only grand the photo and video permission. The bug is also present in the 3.30.6 fdroid version and 3.29.3 gplay version too. But if the permission for all files are granted, then it's working fine.
It's also mentioned in another issue: https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues/14199#issuecomment-2558771115
It's look like, the permission ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION is necessary to upload pictures with GPS info in connection with picture and video only permission.
But I think we need to open another issue for this bug.
It's look like, the permission ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION is necessary to upload pictures with GPS info in connection with picture and video only permission.
cc @tobiasKaminsky @alperozturk96
But I think we need to open another issue for this bug.
That be appreciated and helps fixing the various aspects in an isolated piece by piece manor 👍
For 2. auto upload of pictures and videos Would be great to understand if this is related or not, and whether auto upload of pictures and videos is currently expected to work flawlessly or not after updating the app from Google Play.
I had the same issue and fixed it by going to "accounts-<my nextcloud-account>" on my phone, and (re-?) enabling "Files" synchronization, which was disabled for whatever reason.
Likely due to 3.30.6 as my last auto-uploaded photos dated from end November.
Just because there is no technical way to solve this issue doesn't mean there's no way to make progress towards a solution.
https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues/13871#issuecomment-2563128153 Unless anyone can find a better solution for pushing this issue foreword, this may be the best bet at one day solving it.
It's look like, the permission ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION is necessary to upload pictures with GPS info in connection with picture and video only permission.
cc @tobiasKaminsky @alperozturk96
But I think we need to open another issue for this bug.
That be appreciated and helps fixing the various aspects in an isolated piece by piece manor 👍
https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/shared/media#media-location-permission
We can add this. They say "Your app requires explicit user consent to gain access to this information." and I hope, this is getting remembered, and does not need to be done for every folder/file.
My emulator does not show any GPS data in images. Thus I created a draft PR, with an APK, that you can install in parallel: https://github.com/nextcloud/android/pull/14247#issuecomment-2563431505
@BluePixel4k can you test this? It should ask you, if needed, for a permission when clicking "+" button (will be changed later).
Thus I created a draft PR, with an APK, that you can install in parallel: #14247 (comment)
@BluePixel4k can you test this?
Thanks a lot! Yes, it's working fine for me with this version 👍 But is it possible to enable the ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION already before the user grants the image and video permission? Because if a user doesn't grant the permission but shares a picture via his local gallery app to the Nextcloud app, the GPS information is missing.
I have noticed this issue because my photos auto uploaded were missing the GPS information. After switching to the F-Droid Version now the GPS information ist back in the auto uploaded photos. So I would guess that the new way to acces the files which Google offers removes GPS information from the photos....
Holy shit. That's annoying. I need that information. What the heck is Google doing? Looks like I need to find a better way to make backups of my files. Maybe Syncthing can do better.
By the way: Why can I not select photos from my gallery and share it with Nextcloud for uploading? If I do so nothing happens. But when I go into Nextcloud and upload a photo from there it works properly. But it is very unhandy and confusing.
By the way: Why can I not select photos from my gallery and share it with Nextcloud for uploading? If I do so nothing happens. But when I go into Nextcloud and upload a photo from there it works properly. But it is very unhandy and confusing.
For me I usually have to "share with Nextcloud" twice for it to wake up and actually upload stuff.
It is a shame Google makes these key features flaky and/or impossible with each new version of Android.
