How to expose system downloads folder?

[GunnerFan420]

Moto X4
Android 8.1.0

I've tried several gallery apps and currently I'm unable to determine a way to point my gallery app at my desired downloads folder. Scans don't seem to pick it up either.

I have two downloads folders which I can access using my "Files" app. I can tap Moto x4 in the Files app and then tap Downloads and I can see about six files. This folder is visible to any and all gallery apps.

I can also, in my Files app just tap the word Downloads (which is above moto x4 and my sd card in the list) and I can see a whole bunch of files that I've downloaded. This folder has about 30 files in it. None of these files (basically the images) are visible in my gallery apps.

I'm not that versed in android pathing, what's a truth path or a shortcut path but the visible, working folder is here:

/storage/emulated/0/Download

The folder I want to view via my gallery app that I can't see is here:

/data/data/com.android.providers.downloads/cache

I'm not saying it's possible to do what I want but it doesn't hurt to put it out there. Thank you very much for any insights or opinions.

 

[B. Diddy]

Using your file manager app, navigate to that /data/data/com.android.providers.downloads/cache, and see if there's a .nomedia file there. If there is, then delete that file.

That might also be a protected system directory, so if you're not rooted, you probably can't manipulate any files there. How did you download those files there in the first place? Did you download images using the Google search app without turning on its Storage permission first?

 

[GunnerFan420]

I didn't see a .nomedia file in that directory. I'm rooted and currently using RootExplorer to check folder properties. Permissions on the cache folder are rwxrws--x and the permissions on the emulated folder are rwxrwx--- which are actually less than the folder which is causing me trouble. I don't know about any additional protection of system files but I'd be happy to check.

As far as downloading all, or almost all, of my downloads go into the "cache" folder. Images, apks, etc. I can't really say why a few of the files ended up in the "emulated" download folder. I have no memory of taking any action that would change the location which catches downloads.

Thank you very much for taking the time out to help me. If there is anything I can do to assist just let me know. Thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm, I probably won't be able to suggest much else, since I don't have any rooting experience.

It's worth checking your Google app's permissions to make sure Storage permission is on anyway, since if it's off, that's a common reason for downloads from the Google app going to one of those system directories instead of the user-accessible /Download directory.

 

[GunnerFan420]

Oh right I forgot you said that so I'm using A+ Gallery now, already tried a few more, and when I look at the App Info and then Permissions all I see Storage with a slider and it's on. Perhaps that cache directory isn't part of the "storage" package or something. That doesn't really explain why, when using the default Files app, that tapping Downloads on the top level points right at that directory.

Anyway I really appreciate your efforts and I'll just keep plugging away. Thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

Many file managers do this annoying thing where the Downloads option is actually a category, not a specific directory. So the file manager figures out which files were downloaded by any app and groups them all together in the Downloads category (even though some of those downloaded files might be located in directories other than the main /Downloads directory). I can see this in the stock Files app on my Pixel 3 XL -- if I use the stock Files app, tap Menu, then Downloads, I see files that are in my main /Downloads directory, but also some other files that are in some other download directory (I think a protected system one). I think that's what you're seeing as well.