Android 14, an update released on 22 June under no more description than ‘security update’ has stopped syncthing being able to write to folders, even the few it allowed me to previously specifically grant access to. I can’t add a folder to sync, as it says ‘your android version hasn’t granted syncthing write access, this folder is locked to read only’ and then doesn’t even add it.

My specific model, moto g73 doesn’t support root or custom ROMs, which I wasn’t aware of when I got it, but I have it now and apart from that it’s a really good phone, so I hope there is some way to rescue this.

I should have the option to decline their ‘security’, even if it is buried under many layers of settings, and grant the apps storage permission anyway. Otherwise it is not security, it is them stealing ownership of my device from me.

It should absolutely be Motorola’s onus to fix this, not the hardworking Syncthing team, but if you do know some way to get this working again, I would be grateful.

EDIT: Oh, by the way, this update also stopped every file manager app I had, of which I had three, one being the native Android file manager itself, working properly.

Edit2: This only seems to apply to the micro SD card storage, not internal storage. Unfortunately, I’ve filled up my internal storage and need to use my micro SD card. I was using Syncthing as a backup, so I had a copy in case the micro SD card corrupted everything.

  • @helpImTrappedOnlineEnglish
    9•1 month ago

    Well that really sucks.

    It sounds like the file permissions were changed/reset. As a not Motorola user, I have no clue any difference you may have, but I’ll try to help.

    Judging by your date of June 22, I’m guessing its been a month sence you got this, or was it just rolled out to you in the last few days?

    Here a few potential spots to start, theres a high chance you’ve done them already, but I’ll start here.

    • If you share a new folder to your device, does it ask permission to “access the folder”. You may just have to redo all your syncs.

      • if you where previosuly syncing to the system “root” folder, you can not. (The folder with “Android” and “Pictures”. You have to be in a sub-folder. (No idea how long this has been a thing, but will include anyways)).

    • Does sync thing (and your file apps) have any new required permissions, obviosuly ensure your running the latest version. It might require a reinstall to retrigger the permission diologues.

      • There is a backup option in the sync thing app, however I have never used it and thus have no idea how “complete” of backup it is.
    • JackGreenEarthOPEnglish
      4•1 month ago

      Yeah, I tried the first thing basically immediately, I grant it access to a subfolder (I discovered much earlier to my chagrin I couldn’t just sync the root folder). I checked the app’s settings to see if there were any permissions it needed I could give it, there weren’t, but I hadn’t tried reinstalling the app as I didn’t want to lose my data. The backup option just backs up the configuration file of the Syncthing app.

    • JackGreenEarthOPEnglish
      1•1 month ago

      I tried uninstalling Syncthing and installing Syncthing Fork, but it both had the same issue.