Previously I had a Nokia 7.1 (Android 9) when I started to notice this issue. Every few time, the older images I had on my Download folder disappeared without I doing nothing. From time to time it happened again. I let this pass. Every time that ocurred, I manually download the images again, because I needed to have those images there. Today, I have another smartphone (Multilaser MS50X, a brazilian cellphone with Android 8.1) and exactly after a month of started using it, the older images of my Download folder disappeared again!!! I've checked some apps that I think it could be doing something like that: * Google Chrome (downloads data to this folder) * Google Photos (sync and backup images) * File Manager + (access to data and folders) * Quickpic (gallery app) But no one have an option to "automatically delete Download folders content after a while". I don't have any Clean App, neither use the function "Free up space" of Android. Also none of those cellphones had an option like "storage booster" or "smart storage" like state on this thread: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/165200/android-phone-automatically-deletes-photos Any clue where can I look? It's annoying Regards Update: When I open Google Photos, go to 'Photos on device', and select 'Download', I can see all the deleted images (the images that should be on that folder and it doesn't)

I'm trying to figure out what is stored where on my Android phone (an unrooted Samsung Galaxy S8 with an SD card). I can examine the phone's contents either via any of the several file manager apps I've installed, or by mounting the entire phone as a network drive on my Windows 10 machine. My File Manager App shows me the contents of "Main Storage" and the contents of "SD Card". The contents of "Main Storage" show up on the network drive in a directory called /sdcard. The contents of "SD Card" show up on the network drive in a directory called /storage/0000-0000 . This is very odd, since the directory called "/sdcard" on the network drive is the *opposite* of the directory called "SD Card" in the File Manager app. The File Manager app shows 57 gigs total in "Main Storage" and 256 gigs in "SD Card". This suggests to me that the former is the phone's built-in memory and the latter is the actual SD card. But I'm thrown for a loop by the fact that the former is called "/sdcard" and the latter is called "storage/0000-0000", which seems backward. I could, of course, pull the SD card out of the phone and examine its contents directly on another device, but I'm squeamish about handling the card. And no matter what I learned, I'd still be curious about the odd naming conventions. So: Question 1: What's going on? What's in which directory? Question 2: If I want to back up all of the data (but not the system files or software) on my phone, does it suffice to make copies of /sdcard and /storage/0000-0000, or are there other places data might be stored? Additional Info: The App X-plore confirms the odd naming, in that it shows me two directories, one named both "Phone Memory" and /sdcard (it shows the former in bold and the latter in roman, both labeling the same directory) and another named both "SD card" and /storage/0000-0000.

I was at 99% of my Google drive storage the other day, so I went into my Google storage and deleted an Android phone backup for an old phone stored on Google storage, that took up about 3gb, with my current phone backup taking about 3.5 GB. Fast forward a few days, I get that annoying red notice on my profile again, and now I check and my phone back up is now taking up 6 GB! It seems like it will take up what ever storage it is able to? I don't want to delete my phone backups outright, but I also want a couple gigs of storage for things I need, and to get rid of that red notice. Is there a way to choose what is backed up to this category (I have photos backup turned off) or to cap the size of the backup? All I really want backed up are device preferences and text messages. I definitely don't need 6+ GB of my app data and device preferences backed up.

I have two Android system users configured.

$ pm list users
Users:
	UserInfo{0:Owner:13} running
	UserInfo{10:security space:13} running
	UserInfo{999:XSpace:800010} running

When the mobile is running at Android 8.1, I can access the secondary user's space /storage/emulated/10 easily in adb shell. But after I upgrade to Android 9, I can no longer do it:

$ ls /storage/emulated/10
ls: /storage/emulated/10: Permission denied

Any ideas how I can access my second user's space in adb shell? Btw, my /sdcard/ always points to the first user's space /storage/emulated/0 at adb shell regardless what my current user is at mobile UI. The adb shell connection remains the same when I switch users at mobile UI too. When I switch users at mobile UI level, my adb connection remains the same. And I do see the current user changes with the following command:

$ dumpsys activity | grep mCurrentUser
    mCurrentUser=0
$ dumpsys activity | grep mCurrentUser
    mCurrentUser=10

I want to extend my storage using an SD card. To ensure the data is secure even if the phone is lost or stolen, the SD Card should be encrypted. So formatting the card as portable storage is out. Requirements: - Encrypted - Ability to decrypt and access data using a PC (Linux machine is fine) - SD card should be usable by common apps. - Even when formatting the SD card as adoptable storage, some apps cannot be moved and don't give the option to use said adoptable storage. They do give the option to store their data on a card formatted as portable storage. - Read/write speeds should not be significantly lower than when using SD card normally. - Nice to have: I can still restrict which apps have access where to keep separation and avoid a shared storage space accessible to all apps. I found a couple of other threads on this topic, however, it seems with newer Android versions and scoped storage, these previous methods have some limitations. Considered options: - Format as adoptable storage and move apps there. - Issue 1: not all apps can be moved, some data, like photos/videos are still stored internally. - Issue 2: Decryption isn't easily possible, guides such as [this one](https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/145443/how-to-decrypt-adopted-storage/145446#145446) appear to be outdated. I believe the encryption mode has changed. (If someone has pointers to adapt this to current versions of Android, I'd be thankful). - Set up a LUKS encrypted partition. Various instructions exist on how to set this up in principle, including this [handy script](https://github.com/pegelf/Android-LUKS-mount/blob/e05de18a770cc63a04b86922d12e5af27f449666/01-mount-luks-sd.sh) . - Seems to work in principle, in that I can mount and access the encrypted file system somewhere in /storage/emulated/0/. However, I've not been able to figure out how to get apps to actually be able to write to that mount, given the scoped storage concepts in Android -> permissions error. - Also, some apps don't provide the option to alter the location where they store data, as long as they don't believe an SD card is inserted (e.g. camera storing photos). - **EDIT:** Actually, my main issue here seems to be SELinux. If I setenforce 0, I can use this mount. I haven't found a way around this without significantly weakening security. The perfect solution would be if I could get the phone to think it sees a SD card in "portable storage" mode, which is actually a LUKS-encrypted partition on the card under the hood. Any ideas/pointers on how to set up something like this or similar? Environment: rooted LineageOS 22.1

After I got my phone restored from an nandroid backup, I found almost all apps cannot gain access to /sdcard/ (internal storage), including ES file manager, Z archiver and so on. When any of these apps access /sdcard/, or any other equivalent folders like /storage/emulated/0, /storage/emulated/legacy, /storage/sdcard0, they only shows a blank directory, and I cannot create any file or folder. When I try with the stock file manager (My files), it does show the files, but i cannot rename, edit, or create anything. Android File manager is able to copy most of my files out. But It stucks when I try to create a folder or send something. I tried to re-flash the same ROM again (which worked perfectly before), the issue remains. I have backed up important data from /sdcard/. In terminal emulator, cd sdcard, ls gives opendir failed: permission denied. Then I tried su, ls shows the correct directory. How should I fix it? Extra: I found a new folder called knox-emulated in /storage which is not there before. External SD card (/storage/extSdCard) works fine. Device Information: Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Android 4.4.2 Rooted, with a custom ROM modified based on the Stock ROM. Custom recovery installed.

I’m using an LG Tribute phone (Virgin Mobile service). The default email app installed is synced with my Microsoft Outlook account. I only use this account for ticket confirmations, boarding passes and the like. However, recently I noticed it is taking up the following storage: Total: 635 MB App: 24.5 MB App (SD Card): 0 MB Data: 610 MB Data (SD Card): 0 MB Considering my phone only has 2 GB of storage, the above is a heavy price to pay. When I hit the “Clear Data” button, I get the message “All this app’s data will be deleted permanently. This includes all files, settings, accounts, databases, etc.” I don’t want to delete my account so I was wondering if there is any other way to slim down how much data my Email application is using?

I would like to backup over 100 GB of photos and videos stored on an Android phone to a local external drive (SSD or HDD). Unfortunately, the Android phone does not have a microSD card (which would make this task trivial). I do not want to upload anything to the cloud. As a first attempt, I connected the Android phone via USB 3.x to a Windows 11 box using the MTP protocol. I also connected an external SSD via USB 3.x to that same box. I configured FreeFileSync to copy the desired folders, and began the copying process. After about 5 minutes of process stabilization, FreeFileSync reported that it would take another 2 days to complete the operation! That's no good. What's the fastest way to complete this task? It's important that, if possible, file timestamps are preserved (in addition to Exif timestamps, of course). I would prefer to use a Windows 11 box for the transfers, but I can instead use a Linux box if Windows is the problem. In this particular case, the Android device is a Google Pixel 6 phone, but I would like to be able to quickly handle the same task for other devices, including Samsung, Motorola, LG, and Sony phones.

The Droidentify program allows you to save a report of the information it gathers by using the send action intent. Source code extract: public static void shareReport(Context ctx) { Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND); intent.setType("text/html"); ... On my device, this results in Android presenting four possible recipients, all of which I do not want because I just want to save it to the local file system (/mnt/sdcard or wherever). Are there any system configurations to enable file system as share target? Or do I have to install some program to do this? I am looking for a free one, with source code available if so.

In my Samsung Galaxy S9, WhatsApp is showing that it uses 37.89GB of internal storage when I checked the app info. Due to that, my phone's data is getting full and all the other apps are getting hung due to less storage space left in my mobile phone. When I checked the WhatsApp 'Settings' -> 'Data and storage usage' it shows only 195.1MB of data has been stored for WhatsApp. From where the 37.89GB of data is being shown in the app info on my phone? **Please note:** I don't want to delete my WhatsApp and reinstall it to fix this issue because I don't want to lose my WhatsApp messages, and I can't take the backup also because there is no more space left on my mobile to take the backup.

I was hacked and managed to transfer most of my laptop data to a USB device. USB has a mini USB port for a Type C like my Android phone. I have an unactivated Android phone that is showing the files, but it wants to fix the USB and I need those files. Will fixing the USB destroy or erase the data stored?

I tried to install a large game (3.2 GB) in APK format from my SD card (the place where I save the APK file) using ZArchiver. I clicked install and waited for like 10 minutes but there was nothing, no app installed. I tried many times (I think this is the mistake) installing the game but it is still the same. And when I see the storage, it takes 60 GB. Before is like 50 GB used. I check the app from Settings and I don't see the game installed. What should I do? I don't want to reset my phone.

Followup on https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/185326/how-has-usb-file-transfer-changed-in-android-changed-over-the-years I've learned that Android 4.3 and later versions don't have this feature because Micro$oft. Newer options, Media device (MTP) or Camera (PTP) mode, are horrendous. It also causes other issues for (Windows) programs that relied on android having USB Mass Storage Mode. ---------- Off hand reasons why MTP is awful. 1. Can't copy more than one thing at a time. (Device is busy warning) 2. Warnings that I need to convert files before copying every single time. 3. Just seems to be a lot slower at copying files. 4. Can't edit files on the phone from Windows. ---------- So, how can you enable USB Mass Storage Mode on newer versions of Android? Let's say I'm rooted and can install a custom iso if that makes a difference. *I've tried searching google, the app store, and xda forums for solutions.*

I have a Razer Phone running 8.1.0. When I go to the camera app, it says > Device Storage Full > > You do not have enough storage available to capture media. Free up space by deleting unneeded apps, videos or other device files. But my device is not full. I have 2.34 GB free (of 64GB) in system memory (I do not have an SD card installed). Shouldn't that be enough to take a few hundred pictures?

I integrated my SD card to use as phone memory. Everything was fine until a couple of days ago. 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 then I formatted it as external then the notice disappears. But then I notice that when I go to file explorer (FX) to access my files, it doesn't show anything like the internal storage doesn't exist, crashes my settings when I click storage. I can't access anything that is on my phone memory, although the apps are working. I guess system files are okay. My device is not rooted and it seems the only thing I can do now is to format my phone..I don't want to go that route please.

I have multiple Samsung android stock handsets (not rooted) and I need to backup the data to my Linux pc. Call logs, SMS, Photos, WhatsApp Messages, Samsung notes, Spotify, etc. One problem I've found is that data like call logs and SMS do not appear to exist as files on the device, or if they do are hidden away in directory paths that may not be accessible depending on Android version - Eg Android 10 we can view ***Internal Storage/Android/data***, but in Android 11 we cannot. Additionally, data like WhatsApp messages would require the manual exporting of each and every chat thread, this is a very tiresome and exhaustive process. Ideally I'm seeking a method akin to Linux dd if=handset of=pc This way the entire device is backed up in one go, and if I need to access a specific file, I can do so later, without the dread of potentially forgetting to save x file from x path What is the simplest way I can wholesomely, in a timely manner, save the data from these devices and continue with my life? Somebody has mentioned using EDL, but another said EDL only works if you want to restore the backup to that Exact device, whereas I want to save files to my pc.

My phone is an HTC 10. I'm trying to understand what the Storage Manager option in the Storage settings is supposed to do. The text says "Remove photos & videos" and I chose the option "Over 90 days old". So far, it hasn't done anything. I've found some articles introducing the feature that seem to imply that ALL backed-up photos will be removed every 30/60/90 days. In Photos, the "Free up space" option removes anything that's already backed up, regardless of age. So does the storage manager option do what it says it does? When or how often does it run? Does it instead clear all backed-up photos every X days?

Which Android version supports **exFat**, if at all? The web seems unclear about that. Thanks!

What does the forget subcommand of the sm command do? For reference, here's the help output for sm: usage: sm list-disks [adoptable] sm list-volumes [public|private|emulated|stub|all] sm has-adoptable sm get-primary-storage-uuid sm set-force-adoptable [on|off|default] sm set-virtual-disk [true|false] sm partition DISK [public|private|mixed] [ratio] sm mount VOLUME sm unmount VOLUME sm format VOLUME sm benchmark VOLUME sm idle-maint [run|abort] sm fstrim sm forget [UUID|all] sm set-emulate-fbe [true|false] sm start-checkpoint sm supports-checkpoint sm unmount-app-data-dirs PACKAGE_NAME PID USER_ID

I have a (seemingly) simple question to which I haven't found a clear answer to. My phone creates an "Android" folder on my SD card and I'm wondering if it could be moved into the phone's internal storage instead. I just got a new phone and it's got way more storage than my last phone, so I'd like to make the most out of it as I can, so I'd prefer that all the application data is on the internal storage rather than on the SD card. That's the way it worked on my old phone, so I'm a bit puzzled that it doesn't seem as easy to do anymore.