Skip to main content

Samsung Devices: External Storage locked after 4.4 updates.

Comments

78 comments

  • Rick Clark

    I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Tab2 7" and will try to avoid the 4.4 update. Thanks for the information.

    0
  • Fish10
    I have a galaxy s4 from att with 4.4.2 update and have no problem saving to external sd card
    0
  • Nathan

    Fish10, lets hope that continues.

    0
  • Justin P
    Galaxy s4 no longer able to access ext storage has made this app mostly worthless to me. I spent a lot of time adding maps and in-app purchases to my external storage.
    0
  • David Pelton

    Sooo.....

    T-mo Galaxy Note3

    SEPF_SM-N900T_4.4.2_0005

    now that i cannot access, options?

     

    btw, wtf?

    0
  • Nathan

    There is no need for profanity.

    The information above should be applicable to Note3 as well.

    0
  • gilchrim

    While I understand your frustration over Google's rather callous treatment of its Android app developers and KitKat's restrictions re external storage, the explanations I've read for the motivation behind this change (stopping unrestricted read/write access to any and all storage locations on a device) is understandable, particularly from a security standpoint.  Although it may be a risk that new updates to either the Android operating system and/or the Backcountry Nav app would erase stored information on an external SD card with a app specific folder, it would seem to me that such a risk is worth regaining the ability to store route/waypoint/map information on the external SD card.  An aggressive campaign warning users of this risk, coupled with data backup strategy that every user should already be employing, would seem sufficient mitigation.  I would suggest instead of bemoaning what appears to be a reasonable security upgrade to the Android operating system, BCN be modified to re-enable the external SD read/write capability under the current KitKat development rules rather than suggest a solution that requires rooting.  After all, a BCN user does not have to use an external SD card even if BCN allows that capability if the customer does not want to incur the risk; at least give us a choice!

    0
  • Andy Wright

    Samsung Note 2 here

    Went to Settings>Storage Options>  Suggestion was to use /storage/extSdCard

    I accepted that option.

    Launch BC Nav and all my trip data is not visible.   Okay, I assume it is looking at the new folder on the ext card.

    Choose menu >Trip Data> Switch to another trip database:  I see only one choice default which is at /storage/extSdCard/bcnav/data

    I don't even know why this is here, since it does not offer the opportunity to point BC Nav at a different location. 

    BTW:  ES File Explorer or Astro show my existing bcnav folder with data (1.44 GB of my phone internal storage).  

     

     

    0
  • Nathan

    BCNav definitely DOES allow you the ability to look at a different folder. You just did it. It was looking at the internal bncav folder until you redirected it, and I recommend you stay there. In addition the the suggestions, there is also a browse button on that dialog.

    Changing the folder does not move files. You start with a clean slate, but you can move files with file explorer.

    However, given the history, I do not suggest you do so. Stick with the internal storage.

    >Choose menu >Trip Data> Switch to another trip database:  I see only one choice default which is at /storage/extSdCard/bcnav/data

    Yes, if you change where the root bcnav folder is, that applies to where it looks for all the subfolders.

    >I don't even know why this is here, since it does not offer the opportunity to point BC Nav at a different location.

    It's likely meant to inform, not imply that you can change it from there. We could take that out.

     

    0
  • Andy Wright

    >I don't even know why this is here, since it does not offer the opportunity to point BC Nav at a different location.

    It's likely meant to inform, not imply that you can change it from there. We could take that out.

    Maybe so, Nathan.  When there is only the default trip data, and a user would like to Switch to another database, then they don't want to be informed, they want to "switch"

    -----------------------------UPDATE-------------------------

    I used ES File Explorer and moved my bcnav folder from internal to external storage.  I just can't afford to have 1.4 GB of internal memory dedicated to the data, and I prefer not to selectively delete files to gain room.  BC Nav launches fine and finds the correct folder on the external card, and when I select Switch to another database, it shows me the other trip databases to choose from.   However, the choice is actually limited to only the .bcn files inside the data folder.  In other words, BC Nav does not allow me to look at another location.   I suppose I can change the Storage Root (default location), but that is then limiting me to only look in that single location.  

    Wouldn't it be nice if BC Nav allowed users to browse to another location for their files; on their LAN, or in the cloud, or maybe just on their storage card on their device?  I mean browse, not change the default storage location.

     

    0
  • Nathan

    I am going to ask you to move this to the feature request forum

    http://support.crittermap.com/forums/392230-Feature-Requests

    As it is a great discussion but no longer fits the topic above. Your external storage appears to be working fine - hope that continues.

     

    0
  • Alan Taylor

    I have a Samsung S4 also and I suggest a work around would be for the programmers to allow tracks to be saved on internal storage while leaving external storage active for pre-stored maps that have been moved there using a file manager.  Yes it appears to be possible to use all features of the app if you are restricted to internal memory but for stored maps as we have seen, very little can be stored on the S4 internal memory. 

    0
  • Johnny Boy

    You could complain to Samsung, but it's really a Google issue.  I just bought the new HTC One (M8) and have the exact same problem!  ...and to think I was so excited about the M8 having an SDcard slot (unlike the M7) and supporting up to 128GB... perfect for storing lots of map data files without consuming internal storage, eh?!  It just seems like one piece of this puzzle is preventing the advantages of the other, where they really ought to be working together!  If this is a tactic to force their cloud storage, that obviously doesn't work for this app when we're out hiking and don't have/don't want cell coverage.

    So... maybe the more people reporting this directly to Google, the more likely they'll consider a change??  I just called them and logged an issue with a customer support rep and left a message on the post-call survey.  I'd invite you to do the same: 1-855-836-3987

     

    0
  • Charles Carrigan

    Do I understand correctly that the app works just fine so long as I rely on internal storage?  I have a GS3 on Verizon running 4.3, so I think I would only have a problem if I was 1) using external storage; AND 2) got upgraded to 4.4.  Is that correct?  I don't see the GS3 getting updated to 4.4 anytime soon.... 

    0
  • Johnny Boy

    I read an article over the weekend about this hot SD card issue with KitKat.  Sounds like it was done for security reasons.  More specifically, this restriction prevents any old app from reading the SD card and pulling info that doesn't belong to them.  However, the article also says "third-party applications — as in ones you download from Google Play or elsewhere — can only write to files and folders that they have created or have taken ownership of". 

    So I wonder if that means each individual app developer can get around this issue by creating a folder on the SD card that only they would have access to for its own files.  If I'm understanding that correctly, BCN could make this available in a future version for those of us on KitKat??

    Read the full article at: http://m.androidcentral.com/kitkat-sdcard-changes

     

    0
  • Daron Hargadine

    Hey Nathan,

    First of all, I love Backcountry nav.!  But is there anything new on this issue?  I'm trying to setup my new S5 and can't get it to use the external SD card.  From other sites I've read that the 3rd party developers can get around this problem now? is this true? and when are you guys going to use the Fix? I also don't want this to mess up my Galaxy Tab3 if they update to KitKat. Have an awesome outdoor weekend! Thanks for any info.

    Daron

    0
  • Brian Weed
    How do I restore my lost data? I wish I would have seen this sooner. Last night I updated my gal s4 and poof my waypoints and other trip data seem to be gone. I did store them on the SD card... not on the phone. How can I at least read the data.. or move it back in to see it.. I can't lose this information right now.
    0
  • Mpgrady

    Given the high risk of losing BC Nav functionality after a firmware update to Kit Kat

    but faced with the insistent screen display to do so, either now or later,

    do you know of any way to prevent that update?

    I'm sure Verizon/Samsung/Google will eventually cause the update to happen in

    the background and I'll be in the same situation as the other users

    I'd like to permanently avoid the update until all these bugs are eliminated.

    Thanks

    Michael Grady

    0
  • s phantom

    Nathan,

    First off, and to the point, please do whatever you can to bring back external storage capabilities on affected Samsung devices, even if it means risking loss in case of reinstall.

    Secondly, let me thank you for making such an amazing navigation app. I have gotten a lot of use out of it.

    Offline map and trip data storage is probably my number 1 reason for purchasing bcnav. I use bcnav primarily to keep myself on-track on back-country trail runs, where I have no data service and I'm on-foot with only what I can carry on my back, and getting lost, or even a few miles off course would have major implications. I use offline maps/imagery, as well as trip data with route plans and waypoints, etc.

    Due to the amount of storage required, especially for offline map tiles, it is very important for me to specify that this data be stored on my external SD card, rather than in primary storage. Despite the inconvenience of potentially losing my data if I uninstall without backing up, being able to store it on the external card is still better for me than being forced (thanks Samsung & Google) to use my primary storage.

    I've thought of some alternatives that might make things a little less painful for users, but would definitely add work for you. Maybe you've already considered them too.

    1. Let user specify location for offline maps separately from where trip data is stored. If only offline maps are stored externally, it's not too hard to go back and re-select areas for offline storage if you uninstall/reinstall. And, at least in my case, trip data is pretty small, and would probably be ok in primary storage.
    2. Cloud-enable trip-data, such that what's on my device is only a local copy for use when I'm out of service. Then, if I lose the data for any reason (sdcard loss/damage, app reinstall, etc), my trip data can be easily restored from the cloud. I'm thinking this could probably be done using an existing (or possibly users choice of existing) cloud storage services like Google Drive, Drop Box, SkyDrive/OneDrive, etc. (I probably wouldn't want to pay a recurring fee to have bcnav host it, unless it were a very small fee.)
    3. If possible, bcnav could store metadata about which areas of which map sources a user has selected for offline use, and store this metadata locally, and in the cloud, so that a users offline maps could be automagically recovered after an app reinstall as well.

    Thanks for a great app, and for awesome support.

    -Scott

     

     

    0
  • Mike Walker

    Agree with Scott's comment.  I just upgraded to KitKat and of course BCN broke.  I temporarily moved to internal storage, and decided to delete all cached tiles, routes, waypoints and just start fresh, because I simply don't have that much room on internal storage (16GB versus 64GB external) and preserving the cached tiles just isn't that important.  (I keep all my kml/gpx on Google Drive and can reload from there) The right answer is to make BCN fit the (yes, improved) Android storage model and write to /Android/data - or at least give you that choice in the UI.  It is infinitely preferable to using internal storage with the very small downside of understanding the data will be wiped when the app is uninstalled.  That I can deal with; what I can't deal with is using up limited internal storage.  In the meantime, I will simply wipe the cache periodically and only download what I need for an upcoming trip - re-downloading as necessary.

    0
  • Tim Guthary

    Ditto on previous post.   

    As there's no solution in sight from Samsung/Google, etc... I agree with previous post that we need some sort of a fix, whether temporary or permanent.  Especially for those of us who rely heavily on huge offline maps/packages.   Example:  I've only got ~3gb free on my Galaxy S4 (without bcnav installed), yet I have well over 5gb of offline maps/packages from previous downloads.   

    Here's an idea:   Add a 2nd storage option in bcnav settings.  It would look something like this:

    -Storage Root for Waypoints/Tracks/etc  (default to internal storage),
    -(New) Storage Root for Maps (default to internal storage),
    -Users can download offline map tiles/packages to internal storage, then manually move them to extSDCard as we run out of space. 
    -When we want to view those maps offline, we simply switch the Storage Root for Maps to external SD Card.    The app should still be able to WRITE waypoints/tracks/trip data to internal storage, while READing the download maps from the SD Card.   

    Feasible?

    0
  • Nathan

    Please note:

    If anyone knows how to stop the update, please note it here.

    5.3.0 lets you choose the app private folders that will get deleted on uninstall.

    There are other good ideas here, but please note that they can cause a lot of turmoil (on top of the usual), so we can't promise them instantaneously.

    0
  • Tomsteinbrink

    I just tried the 5.3 option of changing to the "emulated" directory. However, it looks like that it's just saving to another directory that is still on my internal storage, not my external.

    0
  • Nathan

    You are probably right. It might take some more tries on our part. Not having the same device here was a limitation.

    0
  • s phantom

    Nathan,

    Thanks for the quick turnaround on an update release!

    I installed 5.3.1 on my Galaxy S5 this evening. And to start with the good news, it appears that after some playing around, I'm able to store trip data and offline map packages to my external storage card.

    At first I thought I was seeing the same thing as Tomsteinbrink, because the "emulated/0/..." path showed 8.x GB of 11.x GB, rather than the 50+GB it should have showed for my external card.

    Since the default "sandboxed" option wasn't what I wanted, I tapped around a bit and eventually tapped "Browse" and saw The contents of the "/mnt" directory, which were "extSdCard" and "sdCard". I think at this point I was confused by a subtle detail of how the dialog works. I tapped the radio button by "extSdCard", not realizing that I could also tap on the name itself, "extSdCard" to navigate to that folder and see it's contents.

    When I selected the radio button, the hit "Ok", I wasn't able to store anything at all, couldn't create a new trip DB, couldn't load existing trip DB, etc. I think this is because I had pointed bcnav to the root directory on my sd card, which is "blocked" by kitkat/google and samsung.

    When I later found that I could tap on the text "extSdCard" (and subsequent subdirectories), I was able to navigate all the way to /mnt/extSdCard/Android/data/com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license. After selecting this directory, I was able to create new trip DBs, add wayponts to those DBs, and switch between trip DBs. However, in my initial test, I was UNABLE to create offline map sets with this storage location selected. Oddly, though, now that I'm trying again, it seems to be working. I tried to capture a screenshot of the error message I received, but it seemed like the error message disabled screenshot capability. Anyway, I'm downloading a 50 MB test area of the National Forest Service map as I sit here typing.

    I'll play around with the options a bit more over the next few days/weeks and let you know how it goes.

    I hope my above post may prove useful in helping others to get this option working, and/or provide some insights for you in your ongoing development efforts to give us the best possible experience, despite the restrictions from Google and Samsung.

    0
  • Tomsteinbrink

    You're my hero - navigating to the /mnt/extSdCard/Android/data/com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license in the manner that you just described worked this time. THANK YOU!

    0
  • Tim Guthary

    Works for me!   Just upgraded to 5.3.1 .... Galaxy S4  4.4.2 KitKat,  and successfully able to change storage to /mnt/extSdCard/Android/data/com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license ....

    **Also was able to copy the internal bcnav folder to the SD Card see previously downloaded maps.  I turned off the "Internet loading of tiles...", and deleted the internal device bcnav folder to verify everything was reading/writing to the SD Card and not internal memory.   All seems working fine so far!  Thanks!!!!

    0
  • Tim Guthary

    Also, per above:  "It is possible that we could write to "/storage/extSDcard/Android/Data/com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license". However, it has some dangerous implications. The files cannot be seen outside the app." .....   

    fyi, I have no problem seeing these files/folders outside the bcnav app, and I'm non-rooted.     I'll just remember to backup that folder before doing any uninstall/reinstall of bcnav.   Maybe a simple 'warning'/pop-up when somebody chooses external storage location would minimize any upset users who lose everything on an uninstall/reinstall because they didn't manually backup that folder.    I'd also just disable the storage location feature in the DEMO version so you don't have to worry about folks wiping anything out when purchasing the Pro version.    (plus would be a good upsell feature to Pro).

     

    0
  • John Thomson

    It looks like good news for owners of Samsung Galaxy S3's: Samsung is not going to upgrade them to Android 4.4  (I had a scare this week when Verizon issued an upgrade, which turned out to be limited to changing phone network when roaming in Canada)  http://www.knowyourmobile.com/samsung/samsung-galaxy-s3/22140/samsung-galaxy-s3-android-44-kitkat-update-not-happening 

    Nathan; I really like your app!

    0
  • Nathan Morrow

    I also moved to external storage using the app-specific directory. This didn't stop me from complaining to Samsung as well. I don't want to be juggling maps, so I purchased a 64GB external SD right before I upgraded from S3 to S5. Other than this stupidity, the phone is great. I store several gigabytes of maps since I am a hunter and work with my son's Boy Scout troop. This was poised to be a deal breaker for me, since the GPS role is a major reason why I use a high-end android phone in the first place. I told Samsung that I would stop buying their products if their change requires me to divert my money to dedicated GPS devices and stupid storage space workarounds.

    DoggCatcher also offered a similar solution. Maybe there are additional steps before we uninstall and reload these apps, but that is better than being limited to a few hundred megabytes.

    0

Article is closed for comments.