Total Commander

I am on Android 12 and will likely never see any further updates on my phone. TC was having no problem with accessing all folders on the device, including /Android/data but suddenly last week it and all my other file manager apps suddenly lost access to /Android/data, except its own subdirectory. I know that Google locked things down pretty tight with Android 13, but I thought TC could still access the subs of /Android/data on Android 12 if you jump to them directly, but this isn't working.

What am I missing?

2Slartibartfast

It is probably some Google update that changed yous access, but you should at least try with TCA version 3.42 in stead of your current v. 3.41.

I haven't had any Android updates since I bought the phone a few months ago and probably won't ever get another one. Something else happened but I can't figure out what it is.

I did find a trick to making the hidden system file browser app launchable and that has access to all areas, but I'd rather use TC like I have for many years.

2Slartibartfast

An how about updating to TC 3.42 - is that not an option, to see if it fixes the problem.

I just installed the latest Google-Play-version 3.42 on a new smartphone with Android 12 and have the same problem: no access to /Android/data, except its own subdirectory.

Blame Google for this.

The only possible way to bypass the thing is removing com.google.android.documentsui updates.

The same on Android 11. There is file managers that still have access to android\data
https://xdaforums.com/t/app-2-2-mixplorer-v6-x-released-fully-featured-file-manager.1523691/#post-23109280
(version hosted on gdrive. version beta https://mixplorer.com/beta haven't access too).
And this one file manager https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marc.files
have read-only access to android\data.

Uninstalling updates of the "Files" app definitely helps.

I have tried both Mixplorer versions from your link,
MiXplorer_v6.64.3_B23090710.apk and
MiXplorer_v6.64.3-API29_B23090720.apk
and they both use the same method as Total Commander to request access to /storage/emnulated/0/Android/data

Maybe you had granted it access to the folder before the update of then Files app,
then the access would still be allowed.

ghisler(Author) wrote: 2023-10-25, 14:22 UTC Uninstalling updates of the "Files" app definitely helps.

I remove Files updates. Nothing changed. I can see only media folder in Adnroid\data when I open grant access dialog. I don't get should I left Files enabled for TC functionality& (anyway with it or without nothing has changed).

ghisler(Author) wrote: 2023-10-25, 14:22 UTC Maybe you had granted it access to the folder before the update of then Files app,
then the access would still be allowed.

Nope Mix explorer (older version) works fine after Files update (I update application regular). I understand nothing...

What about the version without API29 in the name?

ghisler(Author) wrote: 2023-10-26, 09:36 UTC What about the version without API29 in the name?

Uhu ya r right. API29 works and with no API doesn't.

It's strange, I did get a "files by google" update too recently, but it works for me with both of these versions of Mixplorer. Maybe i didn't receive the same update? Anyway, API29 was the last one where apps could get unrestricted file system access, so I guess that this plays a role here.

ghisler(Author) wrote: 2023-10-26, 14:59 UTC It's strange, I did get a "files by google" update too recently, but it works for me with both of these versions of Mixplorer. Maybe i didn't receive the same update? Anyway, API29 was the last one where apps could get unrestricted file system access, so I guess that this plays a role here.

Honestly I dunno. API29 works in anyway as ya say. Remove updates for Files change nothing. Well I need to reset my phone to check from scratch but it takes times. Nowadays reset PC takes less time than reset phone.

I just tried Mixplorer with API29, no success, just like all other file managers - shortly I have a Samsung Note20 with Android 13. The same dialog keeps coming up, see screenshot attached. The only file manager that works is the build-in, which can be started via the “Files” app, that needs to be installed. However, it can only read, not update. So far the only way to write/backup these directories, is via USB/laptop.
Unfortunately, no backup programs work anymore. I back up with Syncthing, but that can no longer access these directories.
I'm curious to see how this continues

Addendum: I found in another thread that we should remove the updates to the “Files” app. Lo and behold, now all file managers can access Android/data. The “Files” app now has version t_frc_doc_330443000. What a mess ...