How to view /Android/data directory on external sd card on Android 11?

Question

After updating to Android 11 I have noticed that I am unable to access the Android/Data/ directory on my external sd card (able to access internal storage /storage/emulated/0/Android/data with Storage Access Framework). This is evidentially due to the new scoped storage requirements.

I believe this an unavoidable fact, if anyone can show otherwise I would be interested to see.

Is it possible to view this directory if the phone has been rooted?

Does this answer your question? Android 11: Can't see contents of Android /data even with root — beeshyams, Oct 26 '21 at 05:57
No, unfortunately I am able to view the /Android/data directory on the internal sd card, but not on the external one. — Kai Dijon, Oct 26 '21 at 14:52
Update: I rooted the phone, and am able to access the directory on the external SD card. However I would still be interested if this is possible to do without rooting. — Kai Dijon, Oct 26 '21 at 17:22
Thanks, here is the relevant part of that page if anyone comes and is curious: https://developer.android.com/about/versions/11/privacy/storage#other-app-specific-dirs. — Kai Dijon, Oct 28 '21 at 05:36
Fair enough, upon first glance I just didn't see any information specifically about external sd cards in your link. My fault for not reading closely enough! — Kai Dijon, Oct 28 '21 at 20:40
No problem. You can either close it as duplicate yourself or make out an answer expressly clarifying the ext.SD bit — beeshyams, Oct 29 '21 at 05:06

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 29 '21 at 14:06

Due to storage changes in Android 11 it is no longer possible to access the .../Android/Data/ directory on an external sd card on an unrooted phone.

From the Android developer documentation:

On Android 11, apps can no longer access files in any other app's dedicated, app-specific directory within external storage.

It remains possible to access the /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ directory, see Android 11: Can't see contents of Android /data even with root.

How to view /Android/data directory on external sd card on Android 11?

1 Answers1