Plz help! Storage not accessible after adopting SD card as internal storage.

[Freebogedy]

Android 7.

I formatted the SD card to use as internal storage. All was well for a few weeks and then all of a sudden I saw the "insert SD card" notice appear on the notification bar.

I open the back cover but the SD card looked like it was in place. I remove it and insert it back and the notice disappears.

But then I notice that when I go to file explorer (FX) to access my files, it says "Access was denied".

So now I can't access or see anything that is on my phone memory, although the apps are working. I guess system files are the only files accessible.

The phone can't write to the internal storage anymore. So I can't download anything on the phone...pop up says "SD card not found" whenever I try.

I can't see my files anymore. The photos on my messaging app (which were stored on the phone) don't appear anymore.

I can download apps though, as long as it's not too big. Or maybe only certain apps. Because sometime apps download and sometimes not.

I can't take sceenshots anymore...it says "couldn't capture screenshot. Can't save screenshot due to limited storage space".

Settings > Storage > Internal shared storage...
I see only...
"Apps (6.27 GB)"
"Cached data (2.87 GB)"

BTW...the phone is 16 GB and SD is 32 GB.

Settings > Storage > SanDisk SD card...
I see...
"Apps"
"Images"
"Videos"
"Audio"
"System"
"Other"
"Cached data"
"Explore"
Everything is 0 and greyed out except "System" which is 2.79 GB and accessible (clickable)

My phone is rooted so I tried to access the files through TWRP but I can only see system folders.

Can anyone please tell me how I can retrieve my files or what is going on?

Thanks a mill!!

 

[methodman89]

You rooted the phone. You'll need to "root around" for your files. Check the faq regarding rooting. Good luck

 

[mustang7757]

Possible that SD card is corrupt which is another reason not to use as Internal storage , see if you can reformat and put it as portable storage.

 

[me just saying]

are you able to access the files on your computer?

 

[Freebogedy]

are you able to access the files on your computer?

No. Tried connecting phone to computer via cable. Not working.

 

[Freebogedy]

Possible that SD card is corrupt which is another reason not to use as Internal storage , see if you can reformat and put it as portable storage.

I'm trying to retrieve my files. Isn't formating going to delete them?

 

[Freebogedy]

You rooted the phone. You'll need to "root around" for your files. Check the faq regarding rooting. Good luck

I don't understand what you mean by "rooting around". Could you elaborate plz?

 

[mustang7757]

I'm trying to retrieve my files. Isn't formating going to delete them?

Yes it will, not sure you'll be able to do that, can wait for other members to help.

 

[me just saying]

No. Tried connecting phone to computer via cable. Not working.

not what I am talking about, pull the card from the phone and place it in the computer card slot. if microsd card make sure you use the adapter. might even be able to do an error check

https://appuals.com/fix-corrupt-sd-card-via-chkdsk/

 

[methodman89]

I don't understand what you mean by "rooting around". Could you elaborate plz?

#10 in faq above
10) Have you rooted your smart phone?.. Many of you have attempted to root your smart phone in an attempt to be special and learn or access the phone's coding.. In the event that your inadvertently screw something up while attempting to root your phone, All bets are off when asking a question within the forum.

This means that if you've taken it upon yourself to attempt something which you do not have any knowledge in doing and something messes up, do not expect those offer support to know what it is you've done to your phone in order to correct the issue.

 

[anon(10614692)]

I'm trying to retrieve my files. Isn't formating going to delete them?

When you use SD card as internal storage, your files become encrypted so even if you could recover anything, you do not have the decryption key.

 

[Freebogedy]

#10 in faq above10) Have you rooted your smart phone?.. Many of you have attempted to root your smart phone in an attempt to be special and learn or access the phone's coding.. In the event that your inadvertently screw something up while attempting to root your phone, All bets are off when asking a question within the forum.This means that if you've taken it upon yourself to attempt something which you do not have any knowledge in doing and something messes up, do not expect those offer support to know what it is you've done to your phone in order to correct the issue.

My phone is already rooted, like i've already mentioned in the OP...

My phone is rooted so I tried to access the files through TWRP but I can only see system folders.

And no, rooting (or the process of rooting) did not cause this issue.

 

[Freebogedy]

When you use SD card as internal storage, your files become encrypted so even if you could recover anything, you do not have the decryption key.

Any way around that? Perhaps decrypting it?

 

[methodman89]

Originally Posted by Freebogedy

"My phone is rooted so I tried to access the files through TWRP but I can only see system folders.
And no, rooting (or the process of rooting) did not cause this issue."

It's either hardware or software.
How do you know rooting didn't cause this? It seems you're having similar issues to others with rooted devices.
Either you messed up your os or it's a hardware issue, but that seems unlikely.

 

[anon(10614692)]

Any way around that? Perhaps decrypting it?

Only if you have the key which AFAIK there is no way to find

 

[Freebogedy]

Only if you have the key which AFAIK there is no way to find

I do have the key and it's easy to find it. (Systems>Data>Misc>Vold) How to use it to decrypt, however, is where the difficulty lays.

 

[anon(10614692)]

I haven't experimented with this as I don't use SD card for internal storage but can't adb write the new key?

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

It is not advisable to use an SD card as internal storage as in some of our experience it makes the SD card unstable. Once it corrupts the data is lost. All you can do is to reformat it as portable storage and you will lose the data. Obviously you didn't know about this flaw when you first formatted it as internal storage. However, now it has corrupted there is very little that can be done to save your data. It is encrypted and if your phone can't read the card then the data is lost. Only the phone can decrypt it.

You will probably have to back up your phone data and factory reset the phone to work fully again.

Again, with it being rooted there is very little advice people on this forum can give you. Sorry.