Is Root the only way to get full access to external SD?

[blackdogAC]

I really don't have any desire to root in general...perhaps if it were all simple and zero-risk, OK.
But I'm considering root just to get full, normal, access to microSD. Is root the only way to get access?

 

[Golfdriver97]

I think so, and even then I am not totally sure. I think some custom ROMs have it open, but not sure if that is true or which ones.

 

[Hikari Kobushi]

Hi blackdog

What you mean by getting full access to external SD card? Are you planning to move applications from internal storage? As I know external SD supposed to be used to store pics, videos and docs. Everything else should be kept on internal storage but sometimes (especially in low budget devices) internal space is poor and then some apps can be moved to external SD.

if you want to just view, copy, paste, move all your saved files on SD card you just need to just install some File Manager like ES File Explorer which allowed you to do some operations without rooting and much more when you root.

Most of the smartphones can be rooted without any worries, just post what is your model.

 

[JRDroid]

Hi blackdog

What you mean by getting full access to external SD card? Are you planning to move applications from internal storage? As I know external SD supposed to be used to store pics, videos and docs. Everything else should be kept on internal storage but sometimes (especially in low budget devices) internal space is poor and then some apps can be moved to external SD.

if you want to just view, copy, paste, move all your saved files on SD card you just need to just install some File Manager like ES File Explorer which allowed you to do some operations without rooting and much more when you root.

Most of the smartphones can be rooted without any worries, just post what is your model.

Not under KitKat. Applications are no longer allowed to write to folders they did not create, so a file explorer can no longer move files around.

 

[Hikari Kobushi]

Even after rooting the device? I had a short experience with KitKat.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[JRDroid]

Even after rooting the device? I had a short experience with KitKat.

Posted via Android Central App

You would have to flash a custom ROM, not just root the device. And not every device is going to have a custom ROM available that has full SD card access built in.

 

[blackdogAC]

Yeah, this is the whole issue. OK, so I have to root AND flash a ROM.
No, I don't want to move apps to the external SD. (I don't know why so many people seem to want that. ) Apps are fine on the internal memory, I just want my user data (mostly media), as much as possible, on the card so if the device bricks, or get's dropped in water, I can pull the card and have all that data without the phone needing to be operational.

I use ES Explorer all the time. But it won't work if I go to KK 4.4.2.

 

[osvanberg]

I'm in the same boat! Will not upgrade to Kitkat until I/some one had a simple solution to this. Damn I hate when things are getting worse....... Not better with updates!

Skickat fr?n min GT-I9195 via Tapatalk

 

[gerryex]

Not under KitKat. Applications are no longer allowed to write to folders they did not create, so a file explorer can no longer move files around.

I'm not sure that is always the case! I just bought a Sammy Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 which came with Kit Kat 4.4.2 and just yesterday got an update to the system. While its true that most apps cannot write to the ext. SD unless they created a folder there, some file managers CAN still write to any folder. I have the File Manager HD app and there is also an app that came pre-installed (I don't know if its Sammy specific) called My Folder. When I realized that the Kingsoft Office app could not directly write to the ext. SD I saved the file to the internal storage and then used File Mgr HD to copy it to the ext. SD and it worked. Just to make sure, before I posted this I used both File Mgr HD and My File to copy a file from the internal storage to the ext. SD and both times it worked.

So at least for me the work around is to do any work with an app that can't write to the ext. SD using internal storage and then when done copy or move it to the ext. SD. Pain in the neck but it works! But they DEFINITELY should make changes in future Android versions to once again allow apps to write to the ext. SD!

Gerry

 

[blackdogAC]

They're not going to change anything. They did it for very specific reasons- none of which have to do with our convenience or making life easier on developers.
At least you have the functionality of the on-board file-explorer.

 

[Standroid43]

... I saved the file to the internal storage and then used File Mgr HD to copy it to the ext. SD and it worked. Just to make sure, before I posted this I used both File Mgr HD and My File to copy a file from the internal storage to the ext. SD and both times it worked.
Gerry

Ok, I installed File Manager HD (the fourth fm app I've tried) and repeated your test. FMHD said it wrote the file to the extSD! But, the file ain't there. Repeated the test several more times with no joy. This on a Sony ZU GPe, 4.4.2.

What are you doing differently, or did you not test to verify that you can read the new file from the extSD?



Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk

 

[gerryex]

Ok, I installed File Manager HD (the fourth fm app I've tried) and repeated your test. FMHD said it wrote the file to the extSD! But, the file ain't there. Repeated the test several more times with no joy. This on a Sony ZU GPe, 4.4.2.

What are you doing differently, or did you not test to verify that you can read the new file from the extSD?
Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk

I was pretty sure I tested but just to make sure I did it again. First off my device is a Sammy Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 with NO phone capabilities. Its running Android 4.4.2 and had just gotten a system update about two weeks ago but I have no idea what changed with that update. Here's what I did just before posting this:

First I used File Manager HD (which just got updated) and looked into the internal storage under the DCIM folder where I only have some thumbnail images. I renamed one to Test.jpg, long pressed to select it and told it to copy. Then I opened a folder I created on the SD named Data and told it that was the destination for the copy. The file was successfully copied. Then I found Test.jpg in the Data folder and tapped on it and it opened in a photo viewer I selected.

The next thing I did was using the built-in file manager called My Files (this may be Sammy specific - I don't know) and went into the Documents folder on the internal storage and selected a file named Test.doc, a file I played around with using Kingsoft word processor. I selected it for a copy and then redirected My Files to the same Data folder on the SD and told it to copy which it did. I then located Test.doc in the Data folder, tapped on it and it correctly opened in Kingsoft. I made a small change to it and told Kingsoft to save it and it displayed an error message that it could not save it. This is what I have seen with Kingsoft and confirmed with other users in that Kingsoft can NOT write to the SD.

So its seems that some apps ARE allowed to write to the SD while others cannot. It also may have to with my device being a Sammy tablet vs. a smart phone. Again I do not know. But I do know that at least for me I have two file managers that can write to the SD!

Good luck,
Gerry

 

[Standroid43]

It must be something Samsung has added to its 4.4.2. I have made the the same test on both my z ultra gpe phone and my wife's lg g-pad 8.3 gpe tablet. In both cases fmhd was able to create a new directory on the extSdCard, but could not save a file to that or another preexisting directory.

I read elsewhere that the universal permission to write to a directory on the extSdCard is granted by a single line in root-protected storage and the big-g has been leaning hard on mfrs to not include that permission in their releases. Sammy has the clout to do it. My gpe devices aren't getting that one line change until google relents or I root.


Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk

 

[Jerrduford]

I hear talk File Expert gives access to the SD card without root access.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...pps/details?id=xcxin.filexpert&token=FInusEdh

 

[gerryex]

It must be something Samsung has added to its 4.4.2. I have made the the same test on both my z ultra gpe phone and my wife's lg g-pad 8.3 gpe tablet. In both cases fmhd was able to create a new directory on the extSdCard, but could not save a file to that or another preexisting directory.

I read elsewhere that the universal permission to write to a directory on the extSdCard is granted by a single line in root-protected storage and the big-g has been leaning hard on mfrs to not include that permission in their releases. Sammy has the clout to do it. My gpe devices aren't getting that one line change until google relents or I root.


Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk

Hi Standroid43,

Yes, I saw a thread somewhere that if you root all you have to do is add one line somewhere in a config file and you will gain universal access to the SD from all apps. And while I agree that Sammy probably has the clout to have their version of KK do that I have to repeat that MOST of my apps CANNOT write access the SD and I have confirmed from other Sammy Galaxy Tab Pro users that they are experiencing the same. So I really don't think Sammy set up their KK with universal SD access.

Now why I can write to the SD with File Mgr HD and you cannot I have no idea!!! Maybe give that other file manager that claims to allow SD writes a try.

Good luck,
Gerry

 

[Standroid43]

Maybe give that other file manager that claims to allow SD writes a try.

Good luck,
Gerry

Thanks Gerry, and I did try File Expert.

It started up with a huge banner about how it is the ONLY app that solves this exact problem. But, when I tried to copy a small file to the extSdCard it quietly reported "failed" and that was the end of the loud bragging. Again, I repeated the test with some variations, but no joy.

I am despairing that all the advantages I expected from these two GPe devices are overwhelmed by Google's unfortunate attitude toward on-device storage. Their world view may be valid for the bulk of mobile users who never venture out of their urban coverage envelope. I however only see any wireless signal for a few hours every week or two! The cloud is on the dark side of the moon for me and many others.

But, my Android device are - or were - very useful to me even without connectivity. I use multiple offline mapping apps, birding apps, plant identification apps, photo editing apps and more and all these need lots of on-device storage. I thought I had the perfect solution with these two Gpe devices and 64gb sd cards. But... arggg!

Stan

Sent from my C6806_GPe using Tapatalk

 

[gerryex]

Thanks Gerry, and I did try File Expert.
It started up with a huge banner about how it is the ONLY app that solves this exact problem. But, when I tried to copy a small file to the extSdCard it quietly reported "failed" and that was the end of the loud bragging. Again, I repeated the test with some variations, but no joy.
. . .

Hi Stan,

Sorry that other file manager also did not work. I hate it when these app writers claim that "we're the only one where XYZ works" and then you try it and it doesn't work! That's similar to the problem of flash videos not officially supported on KK and some browsers claim they have native support and work just great and they don't!! But that's another story.

Although I definitely don't have "full" write access to the SD I do seem to have limited access to it from certain apps. So maybe Sammy did make some changes to the base KK to allow that to work. I think you said your devices are not Sammy. That's the only think I can think of!

Good luck,
Gerry