• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root [Guide] [Fix] External SD card wright problem

Tigatron

Tigatron

Android Expert
Wanted to share some info that I learned and a easy fix (for root users).

Turns out most (if not all) stock KitKat ROMs (the Volt included) have issues with apps being able to wright to the External SD card; this can be seen with many apps from Titanium backup to Camera & gallery apps.

In my personal experience was that I couldn't get different camera apps to save pics on my SD card and gallery apps could not delete pics and ones with editing abilities could not save changes to pics.

**NOTE: This was done by Google for Security reasons; if you feel that its not worth the potential security loophole don't do the following.

Thanks goes to portezbie for pointing this fix out.

Simply download the app SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD by NextApp Inc. From the Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix&hl=en
Open SDFix and follow the on screen instructions; reboot when done and you should be good to go.
You can uninstall SDFix when done.


Enjoy.
 
Tigatron said:
Turns out most (if not all) stock KitKat ROMs (the Volt included) have issues with apps being able to wright to the External SD card
Click to expand...
It's not a problem - Kit Kat considers ALL storage to be subject to permissions, Older versions excluded the external SD card, and any app could write to any folder on it. (That's a security nightmare.)

Simply download the app SDFix: KitKat Writable MicroSD by NextApp Inc. From the Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix&hl=en
Open SDFix and follow the on screen instructions; reboot when done and you should be good to go.
You can uninstall SDFix when done.
Click to expand...
This gives all MEDIA apps the right to write to the SD card, it still won't allow unlimited access to the card by all apps. It's also a security hole, so at least make sure that you always have your current SD card setup fully backed up.
 
Rukbat said:
It's not a problem - Kit Kat considers ALL storage to be subject to permissions, Older versions excluded the external SD card, and any app could write to any folder on it. (That's a security nightmare.)
Click to expand...
I think Google is getting over secure. what is the point of having an external SD card in the phone if you can't do anything with it but access what you already have on it?


Rukbat said:
This gives all MEDIA apps the right to write to the SD card, it still won't allow unlimited access to the card by all apps. It's also a security hole, so at least make sure that you always have your current SD card setup fully backed up.
Click to expand...

It fixed the issue most users have with apps and not being able to use there SD card.
for all the years I've been using old versions of Android I've never had a single security problem and least of all with my SD card.
in fact the only time I've ever lost the data on my SD card was when I had a phone that the card was under the battery and the heat killed it.

I'm going to add to the op that if you worry about security don't do it.
 
Doesn't root explorer give the option to mount sd card as w/r instead of r/o, I'd this the same as what your talking about?
 
ZAXIS said:
Doesn't root explorer give the option to mount sd card as w/r instead of r/o, I'd this the same as what your talking about?
Click to expand...
Not the same thing. He's talking about apps, like camera apps, etc, being able to save to the SD card.

Glad I came across this... Was trying to get my camera to save to the SD card with Xposed Download2SD module but it wouldn't save. Installed this and all is well. :)
 
Hey guys, don't forget kitkat emulates all storage devices, so we actually have "two" SD cards, an internal one and an external one. If you guys find that your apps are being moved to your internal card and would like to save some space and move your apps to your external card I suggest you guys get familiar with an app called folder mount.
 
Just a note for everyone, there is an Xposed module that is supposed to do the same thing as this, but on the fly. I tired it out and it didn't work.
 
I tried to use ES File Explorer for the 1st time last night to simple copy a file to my SD card. And to my shock, it did not work. Got an error.

So I then went an used the stock File Manager that came on the phone and was able to copy the file. The bummer is the stock app will only let you copy 1 file at a time! In ES File Explorer I can check off a list of files and copy them all.

So being the stock app allows copying, is there any other "File Manager" in the Play store that can also copy to SD (without being rooted)?

Thanks,
 
I presume if I have a large number of files to move, I could still attach my phone to my PC/USB and copy from internal SD to external SD?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom