Android 4.4 cannot write to external microSD Cards

[ppareit]

Under Android 4.4 cannot write to external microSD Cards as they could under 4.3 / 4.2. This is due to a change in the API / Permissions in Android 4.4.2.

See http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.4.html and http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.4.html#UserContent

[ppareit]

It seems that the permissions are correct for this to work. At the moment I cannot test. I do have 2 kitkat devices to test, but none that have an external microSD card

[rolfep]

Hi, it's been several weeks or a month since GF got an update to her Sprint Samsung Note2 SPH-L900. Currently, it's on 4.4.2. Up until then, we were enjoying transferring .mkv files that I got using HandBrakeCLI on .m2t OTA recordings on my Linux computer, using SwiFTP over the fish:// protocol in konqueror. Then, although I could connect and view the filesystem, I could no longer write to the card:
Storage > extSDcard > Video directory that I had created for this purpose. Did not have the correct permissions.

Eventually, I went to the SwiFTP site to look for a solution, and found the development had been resumed here. So, I installed FTP Server free to test but the problem remains. I thought I read something more about a workaround, short of rooting, a few weeks ago and an idea that a bugfix might be forthcoming. Can this issue be addressed? If it would help, I could mail you a microsdcard.
Thanks,
Rolf

[ppareit]

Hello Rolf,
I've now installed a 4.4 ROM on my asus transformer and that device has an sd slot. I've got enough sd cards. So I should be able to look into this.
I've read that since the 4.4 update a lot of programs break on this issue, reading/writing to external sd cards. I'll see what I can do for FTP Server.
Regards,
Pieter

[rolfep]

Thanks a lot, Pieter.
Rolf

On 07/12/2014 03:42 AM, Pieter Pareit wrote:

Hello Rolf,
I've now installed a 4.4 ROM on my asus transformer and that device
has an sd slot. I've got enough sd cards. So I should be able to look
into this.
I've read that since the 4.4 update a lot of programs break on this
issue, reading/writing to external sd cards. I'll see what I can do
for FTP Server.
Regards,
Pieter

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Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#39 (comment).

[mork2020]

To get write access with android >4.4.x to e.g. an external hard disk for all apps (especial those how do not request root access) a change in the file "/system/etc/permissions/platform.xml" can be done with adding the tag <group gid="media_rw" /> to the android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE definitions.
So platform.xml should look something like this:

<permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
    <group gid="sdcard_r" />
    <group gid="sdcard_rw" />
    <group gid="media_rw" />
</permission>

Or just use the app Nextapp SDfix from NextApp Inc. to modify this file.
Root access is needed for the app or for modifying the file.

[ppareit]

Yes, that was the situation before android 4.4. Making a change to that
file requires root. I think in android L the android team will revert or
they will introduce finer permissions.

mork2020 schreef op wo 16-07-2014 om 08:18 [-0700]:

To get write access to e.g. an external hard disk for all apps
(especial those how do not request root access) a change in the file
"/system/etc/permissions/platform.xml" can be done with adding the tag
"" to the "android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" definitions.
So "platform.xml" should look something like this:

Or just use the app Nextapp SDfix from NextApp Inc. to modify this
file.
Root access is needed.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

[rolfep]

Is there any new info about this issue?
Thanks.

[ka223]

I can confirm this issue with a motorola g2 and Android 4.4.

[Overlord23]

This problem affects Android 5.0.1 also

[kfcviptel]

I got this problem with swiftp on android 5.1.1 too. But the File Commander - File Manager from MobiSystems can write and delete.
I guess that it has somethig to do with some new permissions that an App must have.

[ppareit]

Work around for android 6.x is adoptable storage, see
https://source.android.com/devices/storage/adoptable.html

In the settings you can format your sd card. Keep in mind that this destroys all data on your sd card. You will lose all files on that sd card. So a back up is needed.

Personally, I only advice this to do this with a dedicated sd card that you leave always in your phone, also take a fast sd card, and keep in mind that all data will be erased from that sd card when you do this.

After configuring for adoptable storage, you can use your sdcard as internal storage. In fact, you won't know the difference. You will only have more space on your device.

[ka223]

The problem is still at CM13 (Android 6), is it not possible to grant write permission for external storage?

[le-mon]

Android 4.4.4 on Galaxy J100 here, no write permission on extSdCard