GPLAY: Google revoked "all files access" permission

[tobiasKaminsky]

Hello,

this is a meta ticket to explain current state.
Google revoked our "all files access" permission.

This means that

• auto upload only works with photos and videos
• custom auto upload folder can also only upload media files
• a new "location" permission is needed to upload photos with geolocation information

We are trying to convince Google to let us use the permission again.

With upcoming 3.30.8 (we released RC1 today), we try to make this more easy understandable to users.

You can use F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nextcloud.client/) as there the permission is still working.

[Frank1967]

Thanks Tobias for all the work you do on this topic. Much appreciated!

[rclough]

Wanted to add that I'm experiencing issues related to this as described in #14379 which I saw is likely to be merged/linked here.

Some time in December, my auto-uploads stopped as it seems permissions (including photos/videos) was revoked. Last night, I manually added the photos/videos permission back. New files are auto-uploaded, but any of my photos/videos that were created between then and now are not being detected for upload.

If there is any option to manually sync a folder to remedy this, please let me know.

EDIT: It's also worth noting that when I opened the auto-uploads management UI, the photos/videos permission pop up froze the app, and I was unable to use it - I had to go into my android settings and add the permission manually

[drumstick77]

Thanks @tobiasKaminsky for your effort on this. I know that your hands are tight with google released the rule for removing permission but this function in particular is what's so good about nextcloud as it automatically create free space on mobile devices. I'm missing this feature sorely and hope that it can be re-instated with the new version.

[zyphlar]

@drumstick77 in the meantime I uninstalled Nextcloud, installed 3.30.5 via Obtainium, and disabled auto updates in Google Play. I had to re-set-up my auto upload folders and manually upload/delete stuff that got missed, but at least it works how I want it.

[major-mayer]

Some time in December, my auto-uploads stopped as it seems permissions (including photos/videos) was revoked. Last night, I manually added the photos/videos permission back. New files are auto-uploaded, but any of my photos/videos that were created between then and now are not being detected for upload.

If there is any option to manually sync a folder to remedy this, please let me know.

I am also experiencing that problem that new images get automatically uploaded since I re-granted the auto upload permissions, but existing ones doesn't, even tho I enabled the "upload existing files setting".

Also I am getting this "changes to auto upload" notification dozens of times.
It would be enough if there was one notification that the user can confirm to have read imo.

[mrmipo]

Hi

I as many I have issue with auto upload and do some testing. What I see if I do clean install of application (from google store beta version or manually install apk from git hab) and enabe auto upload all working fine untill I remove one photo and after that auto upload stop woring and need to onece again start from scrach. You can reproduce that issue:

1. install app
2. connect to nextcloud
3. enabe auto upload
4. make photo (upload working)
5. delete at least 1 photo
6. make photo (upload not working)

I do this on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Can somone check if has same ?

[jacksbox]

I use two devices which sync to nextcloud (both use the Google Play Version).

Client Version 3.30.7 and 3.30.8
Pixel 4a
Vanilla Android 13

Client Version 3.30.7
OxygenOS 13 (Android 13)

Both devices stopped syncing after the 17.12.2024.

I updated the permissions for Fotos&Videos and the Devices startet to sync again, but they only sync files starting with the day I granted the permissions. All files between 17.12.2024 and the day I granted the permissions are not picked up.
Interesting: It is day specific - new files which were created prior to the granting of the permissions, but were created on the same day, are picked for upload.

Additionally: None of the deivces gives me the option to grant full file access the nextcloud. Only access to Fotos & Videos can be granted.

UPDATE: the update to 3.30.8 does not change this. Files created between 17.12.2024 and the date of the permission grant are not picked up.
Is there any workaround for now - can I just manually upload this pictures or will this cause any issues?

[major-mayer]

Hi

I as many I have issue with auto upload and do some testing. What I see if I do clean install of application (from google store beta version or manually install apk from git hab) and enabe auto upload all working fine untill I remove one photo and after that auto upload stop woring and need to onece again start from scrach. You can reproduce that issue:

1. install app

2. connect to nextcloud

3. enabe auto upload

4. make photo (upload working)

5. delete at least 1 photo

6. make photo (upload not working)

I do this on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Can somone check if has same ?

I cannot confirm that on my Poco F3 running Nextcloud 3.30.8.
After the app re-requested permissions, it uploads new images just fine, even when you delete one from your local gallery.

[st3iny]

I got a modal inside the app today which explained the situation. Automatically uploading new files works again. However, existing files that were missed since December had to be uploaded manually.

EDIT: Google Play user here

[tobiasKaminsky]

Thanks for confirming, @st3iny

[lieblinger]

Initially, the app asked me for permissions, which I granted completely. Afterward, newly created photos taken with the camera were successfully uploaded. However, a few minutes later, the auto-upload stopped working again.

Details:
Google Play version 3.30.8
Device: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

[fugue69]

Exact same situation as lieblinger. Granted the permissions asked for as allow always, it then successfully uploaded one photo, and now it won't upload anything anymore. Tried revoking, re-enabling permissions. Force stop, clearing cache, disabling/enabling auto upload... it won't detect new photos/videos on my device. The upload queue is empty (it does see the photos in settings -> autoupload, however... just won't queue them.

Details:
Google Play version 3.30.8
Device: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

[Heisenberg2018]

I can't even upload things to my next cloud myself without auto upload because I can no longer see them in the next cloud app.

For example, if I have an MP3 on my phone and I open the next Cloud app and want to load this MP3 into the next Cloud, I can't see the file.

Why is Google sabotaging the app? Do they want to force you to use their own cloud services?

[mrmipo]

Hi

I once again remove app. Then I delete DICM folder on phone. After that i install app from google store and connect to my nextcloud. And at the end do some photo and configure auto upload on detected new folder (DICM/Camera).

Now looks like all working fine new photo are automaticly uploaded even if I delete some of them on phone. The only things is that upload take random time ... Sometetimes it's few minutes sometime hour or two ... but finly auto upload working for me. Need to test if all photo will be uploaded (in december there was issue that not all photo was uploaded)

Client version: 3.30.8 (google version)
phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
android: 14 (with security patch from January)
Nextcloud version: 30.0.5.1 AIO

[copywizard]

Same problem here no matter what I do items won't upload at all when I make a picture it does not upload and does also not upload already existing pictures and other items. It's only the auto upload feature because manual uploads still work without problems.

Google pixel 7 pro
Android 15
App version 3.30.8

[smooth-baking-powder]

Do anyone have news or a notification of Google for this change? I don't find anything about it.

Its not good for customers, who use the cloud in company and need other files than media for upload.

The switch to fdroid or optanium is in company's no good option, if you use a device management or similar.

[fugue69]

I have something to add.

I was doing those tests 2 days ago (see above). Took a picture, a video, put it on charge (the condition to upload), and unlike in the past nothing appeared in the queue (Uploads). Like mentioned above, this after I cleared the cached, revoked and granted the permission, and disabled/enabled autoupload to those folder. When it didn't work (I gave it about half an hour), I was set to wait for any news in the future.

Yesterday, I left it on the charger all day. Around 8pm, grabbed it off the charger, took a couple of pictures and returned it to the charger overnight. This morning, I read some of these comments and I figured Id manually upload... where low and behold was surprised that they had been uploaded (along with my test pictures from two days ago). Took a test picture and video and put on the charger; those were added to the queue within a minute. So I don't know if by changing the permission or clearing the cache or something -- it had to iterate a ton of old photos... but it eventually started working. Wanted to share!

Details:
Google Play version 3.30.8
Device: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

[Nanganator]

Similar to everyone else. Auto-Upload stopped working sometime in December. I noticed in mid January and granted the permission again and new photos/videos after that moment would auto upload but photos/videos taken between when it stopped working and when I granted permissions again would not upload.

An uninstall of the app and re-install fixed it for me. What I noticed was different upon re-install of the app was more granularity in the photos and videos permissions. Previously in settings I only had "Always allow", "Ask every time" and "Don't allow". But upon re-installing I was prompted for the permissions again and it showed that I could select specifically which photos and videos Nextcloud could access (or all photos and videos which is what I chose). Now in the settings the "Always allow" permission is "Always allow all". My guess is that even though I'd re-enabled the permission, for some reason, the photos taken during the broken permission period still had broken permissions. But I had no way of changing that in settings.

[mieseprem]

Because I really want my backups auto-uploaded again (I'm desperate) , I gave another app a try FolderSync.

Now I am even more confused. With FolderSync it is no problem to grant the necessary permissions and autoupload (or on schedule) non media files. What is the difference between them and this app? Why are they allowed to access the data, and you don't?

Is it maybe because they just 'tag' their app as File Manager and you don't? To be honest, I have no clue how Android apps are created and if such tags exist or not. But I wanted to let you know that there exists at least one app that somehow managed this challenge.

[Heisenberg2018]

Very interesting information, so if nextcloud doesn't get it right in the next few days then I'll probably have to switch too.

I also find it unacceptable whoever is to blame for the fact that such serious errors occur with a data backup app that data has been missing during upload since December.

What's even worse is that there is no quick solution.

Who knows how many people who aren't so technically savvy have not even heard of the problem.

And the fact that the data could possibly be manipulated, e.g. GPS data could be deleted from photos, is also unacceptable.

Can Next Cloud please present a solution roadmap?

[bbernhard]

Very interesting information, so if nextcloud doesn't get it right in the next few days then I'll probably have to switch too.

I also find it unacceptable whoever is to blame for the fact that such serious errors occur with a data backup app that data has been missing during upload since December.

What's even worse is that there is no quick solution.

Who knows how many people who aren't so technically savvy have not even heard of the problem.

And the fact that the data could possibly be manipulated, e.g. GPS data could be deleted from photos, is also unacceptable.

Can Next Cloud please present a solution roadmap?

I totally get that you are mad. I am also not happy, that the sync stopped working. But please don't forget that this is an open source project, which is (largely) maintained by people who are volunteering their free (!) time to provide you software for free. I am sure they are doing their best to get the whole thing working again - but dealing with 3rd party changes is sometimes really hard and time consuming. So, give them some love and treat them with respect. They don't owe you anything. It's free software, you can always fork it and improve it yourself :)

[Sieboldianus]

You can use F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nextcloud.client/) as there the permission is still working.

Did anyone try to replace the GPlay nextcloud with the F-Droid one, without having to re-add all Upload Folders and settings? I find this cumbersome and prone to error.

[Heisenberg2018]

You can use F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.nextcloud.client/) as there the permission is still working.

Did anyone try to replace the GPlay nextcloud with the F-Droid one, without having to re-add all Upload Folders and settings? I find this cumbersome and prone to error.

Unfortunately you have to delete the Google version first and then install the f-droid version. I tried to install the APK like an update, but that didn't work.

[Sieboldianus]

Ah, this is really bad. I have 20+ Upload folders with all kinds of settings, that sync to specific folders on my nextcloud. At the moment:

• I don't know where the latest files/updates are, local or remote?
• how to add these folders, without re-creating the structure or duplicates on my nextcloud
• how long the F-Droid trick will be working, if google tries to lock down the filesystem itself gradually
• I need to do this procedure on 5+ mobile phones, for my family members, who all have whatsapp images, signal images, camera, notes and other stuff on auto upload

[GlassedSilver]

Very interesting information, so if nextcloud doesn't get it right in the next few days then I'll probably have to switch too.
I also find it unacceptable whoever is to blame for the fact that such serious errors occur with a data backup app that data has been missing during upload since December.
What's even worse is that there is no quick solution.
Who knows how many people who aren't so technically savvy have not even heard of the problem.
And the fact that the data could possibly be manipulated, e.g. GPS data could be deleted from photos, is also unacceptable.
Can Next Cloud please present a solution roadmap?

I totally get that you are mad. I am also not happy, that the sync stopped working. But please don't forget that this is an open source project, which is (largely) maintained by people who are volunteering their free (!) time to provide you software for free. I am sure they are doing their best to get the whole thing working again - but dealing with 3rd party changes is sometimes really hard and time consuming. So, give them some love and treat them with respect. They don't owe you anything. It's free software, you can always fork it and improve it yourself :)

Did the update that broke functionality fix a CVE? If it didn't it probably should have been halted and a lawyer should be contacted instead, because there's no reason for a competitor of G-Drive to be taken away the functionality to factually function as a competitor. (well of course there are reasons, I mean under fair competition laws)

[major-mayer]

Did the update that broke functionality fix a CVE? If it didn't it probably should have been halted and a lawyer should be contacted instead, because there's no reason for a competitor of G-Drive to be taken away the functionality to factually function as a competitor. (well of course there are reasons, I mean under fair competition laws)

To my knowledge, Google Drive has no functionality to automatically upload arbitrary folders on the file system to their cloud.
I think the image backup process runs via Google Photos and this is, as the name suggest, only valid for images/videos, which is possible with Nextcloud as well.

So yes, Google effectively removed the functionality to upload other non-media files/ folders, but that's true for both apps.

[GlassedSilver]

Did the update that broke functionality fix a CVE? If it didn't it probably should have been halted and a lawyer should be contacted instead, because there's no reason for a competitor of G-Drive to be taken away the functionality to factually function as a competitor. (well of course there are reasons, I mean under fair competition laws)

To my knowledge, Google Drive has no functionality to automatically upload arbitrary folders on the file system to their cloud. I think the image backup process runs via Google Photos and this is, as the name suggest, only valid for images/videos, which is possible with Nextcloud as well.

So yes, Google effectively removed the functionality to upload other non-media files/ folders, but that's true for both apps.

I - personally - don't think that a competitor needs to be cut from functions that don't exceed Google's own offering for this to be at least VERY sketchy.
I'm not a lawyer, but the arbitrary feature is the USP compared to G Drive which I think Google doesn't offer itself because I assume they don't want to deal with the support tickets. It's better if you store EVERY file in G Drive anyway and stop worrying! /s

Also, this is quite the rug pull experience for Nextcloud users, the bad experience being associated by Average Joe with "using that other thing" rather than Google's...

I'm really glad I'm not a sysadmin of a company or agency that uses Nextcloud and proposed the Nextcloud client to be acquired from Google...

[Heisenberg2018]

I also believe in sabotage, of course it will never be declared like that, Google will babble again about user experience or security for the users.

Unfortunately, I can't explain it any other way because otherwise it doesn't really make sense.

The same hypocritical justifications were used for ES-file-explorer, which was the most advanced and versatile file explorer available at the time.
Removed from the play store because it sends data to China, completely ridiculous justification, said the operator of a malware platform which itself collects endless data.

[motey]

Hey, your discussion is very interesting but misplaced.
Please keep the noise down. There are many people watching here for solutions or technical analyses to understand the problem. Theories about socioeconomic factors that lead to the problem are for the forums or reddit. Thanks

[Snamhdaen]

I just want to contribute my experience since I seem to be quite frustratingly stuck.

Running Android 14. After the December update broke my auto-upload I switched to F-Droid and everything worked as expected. But unfortunately the problem reappeared with 3.30.8. I tried reinstalling, regranting permissions manually and upgrading to 3.31.0 RC1 but to no avail. Auto-upload does not detect new media in the upload folders unless I manually re-trigger the upload process in the app. And after a while even this stops.

Then I tried the play store version 3.30.8 and granted the correct "new" permissions. Result was the same. Initially it worked but soon stopped and could not detect further new media (i.e. photos).

As a last resort I downloaded 3.30.5 (i.e. the version from before the forced change in permissions) from Github and installed this version manually (after having deleted the newer versions). Unfortunately even this is not working anymore. I can consistently trigger the upload manually from the app but it does not self-initiate. This is rather frustrating and I wanted to share my experience. Is anybody else having the same problem?

Best

[GlassedSilver]

I just want to contribute my experience since I seem to be quite frustratingly stuck.

Running Android 14. After the December update broke my auto-upload I switched to F-Droid and everything worked as expected. But unfortunately the problem reappeared with 3.30.8. I tried reinstalling, regranting permissions manually and upgrading to 3.31.0 RC1 but to no avail. Auto-upload does not detect new media in the upload folders unless I manually re-trigger the upload process in the app. And after a while even this stops.

Then I tried the play store version 3.30.8 and granted the correct "new" permissions. Result was the same. Initially it worked but soon stopped and could not detect further new media (i.e. photos).

As a last resort I downloaded 3.30.5 (i.e. the version from before the forced change in permissions) from Github and installed this version manually (after having deleted the newer versions). Unfortunately even this is not working anymore. I can consistently trigger the upload manually from the app but it does not self-initiate. This is rather frustrating and I wanted to share my experience. Is anybody else having the same problem?

Best

Shot in the dark, but did you remember to turn off battery optimization for Nextcloud in however many places that you may have to do this? (effectively also not just battery optimization turned off, but also disabling the permissions being reset for whenever Android decides you "don't use" the app (...) and any possible OEM "assistance" and helper tools.)

This kinda stuff I always remember to check for new apps, but if I need to re-install something this is something that I sometimes forget to deal with again.

If Android had an option to ask me about all those things in a 10-second wizard after every app install I'd be so much happier. Jumping around in the settings just because I have stronger opinions than Google and my OEM is annoying and this sort of stuff generates so many unneeded support tickets for others... I digress. Just check those settings don't interfere and maybe that works. Best of luck!

[Snamhdaen]

Thanks for your advice. I do know about the power management issues and tried my best to turn all and everything off. And to reiterate: until December that worked flawlessly. And I have to amend yesterday's comment a bit, because throughout the day 3.30.5 has been kinda working. But then it auto-updated to 3.30.8 again and everything stopped working again.

So I guess my main point is: reading this thread one would get the impression that as far as photos/videos are concerned the auto-upload problem has been solved and that only other files remain problematic. This is very much not the case, at least not for me.

[brjhaverkamp]

Hi all,

I discovered today that my photos don't sync synce december 18th, when I wanted to go through them on my laptop.
I understand that the issue is due to google revoking the permission, and not solved yet and everyone is working hard to get the permisison back.
Hope this succeeds soon, as my phone is IT managed, and I can't install the F-droid version.
What is puzzling me is that I am running 3.30.8, and I didn't see any explanation of the issue in the app.
I understood from the OP that there would be a clarification in that version.
It was only untill I started googling that I found the explanation in this thread (and others)
Did I misunderstand? It would have been great if the app had shown a pop up with warning about the issue earlier.

Bert

[Heisenberg2018]

I also noticed a problem yesterday.

Since I know that the app doesn't work properly, I wanted to do it differently.

I wanted to upload FLAC files from my file explorer (redmi Note 12 pro 5g) to my next cloud, seven of them, but only two were uploaded after several attempts.

The next cloud app is useless in every respect, not just auto upload!

I then copied the files out using the new Windows 11 feature where you can simply go to the Android folders. It worked without any problems.