TC 3.22 Android 11: no access to /android/data/ folder

[FreddyPL]

I have problems with TC >3 in Android 11 - Samsung Galaxy A50 (SM-A505FN)
I have no access to /android/data/ folder, after update to Android 11 - it's empty

[ghisler(Author)]

There should be actually two folders:
1. Total Commander's own private folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.ghisler.android.TotalCommander
2. A link "-> Installed apps" which allows to access the private folders of installed apps

Note that Android/data on the external SD card cannot be accessed with any method.

[FreddyPL]

Yes, folder com.ghisler.android.TotalCommander exist, but "installed apps" exist only when I'm check "phone" not "SD card"
Thanks

[ghisler(Author)]

Unfortunately as I already wrote:

Note that Android/data on the external SD card cannot be accessed with any method.

I have tried the tricks to pass the correct path to the Android file picker, but it doesn't want to go there. So even the Android files app cannot access this folder. The only way to access it would be to "eject" the card via settings, take it out of the phone, put it in a card reader, and then access it from a PC or via OTG adapter from the phone.

[FreddyPL]

Hmm, I know trick with "put it in a card reader" but ... I am lazy and I prefer easier access

[ghisler(Author)]

Me too, but unfortunately some "very clever" delevloper at Google disagrees.

[FreddyPL]

Fire a google developer

All you have to do is wait for a solution - thanks

[jj42]

My device just got an update to Android 11, and now I came across this issue

Actually, I wanted to use TC for Windows to do a backup of some files from the phone's external SD, using the "MediaAudio2" plugin. I found that I can still access the files with the ADB helper plugin on TC for windows, but that's more complicated than before.

@ghisler, I've read that devs need to apply for MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions with Google -- but then even this permission will not allow access to /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ !?! How would a file manager be able to manage all files without that? Will it be possible to backup some app's data at all without going the complicated ADB route?

https://www.xda-developers.com/android-11-all-files-access-permission-form/
https://teddit.net/r/Android/comments/j3zgmm/managing_files_in_the_androiddata_folder_on/
https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/manage-all-files

[jj42]

... OK, for this app (OsmAnd), it allows to move the data directory into a folder directly on the SD card (thank you, devs!). This makes it accessible by all apps and USB connections. But if other apps don't allow this, it might not be possible to do backups of their data.

[ghisler(Author)]

/Android/data/ and /Android/obb/ are protected on the SD card and cannot be accessed by any means. There are tricks to access these folders in internal memory, but not on SD card. Make sure to store your data in folders other than /Android on the card, then other apps can access that data too.

[DrShark]

/Android/data/ and /Android/obb/

My Redmi phone this month got an OTA update to Android 11 (from 10) , and for /Android/data/ in internal memory I got the access in TC4A back by entering /Android/data////Installed apps/ and choosing a root of /Android/data/ in SAF dialog.

However, when I enter /Android/obb/, it's empty there, even virtual "-> Installed apps" item is not there.

Should it be like that?

[ghisler(Author)]

No, /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb should contain the "-> Installed apps" link, it does on my S10e with Android 11. Is the path different for you?

[DrShark]

Is the path different for you?

No, TC's current directory shows exactly "/storage/emulated/0/Android/obb" path. Total Commander for Android v. 3.23.

[ghisler(Author)]

The only case where TC doesn't show anything there is when obb doesn't exist. It's possible that your phone hides the obb folder altogether.
You could try accessing it via virtual folder via blue "+" button (add the Android folder).

[DrShark]

On my device:
1. TC4A shows /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/ and allows entering it, though it's empty there.
2. The Google's Files app started with a button:

Function type:
Lanuch app (main function)
Command:
Files:com.google.android.documentsui:com.google.android.documentsui.files.FilesActivity

shows <Device name>/Android/obb/ and allows opening it,
and when opened, it shows the text in Ukrainian: "Нічого немає" (can be translated to English as "Nothing is there").
So it shows the /obb/ as empty.
3. In TC, when try to add it by +User-defined location, in SAF dialog the Files app doesn't show /data/ or /obb/ under /<Device name>/Android/, only the /media/ folder is there.