Open Source File manager that can access app data folders?

1

So I sometimes have need to access the android/data folder.

This used to be easily doable but since A12 and higher (at least I think it was A12 it may have been A13 can’t remember) can no longer trivially grant apps access to those folders…

So I was wondering is there any FOSS file manager that can solve this problem and still gain access to them?

I am not opposed to Privileged methods like ADB or Shizuku.

2

It is a restriction of newer versions of the system. That folder (<storage>/Android/data/) can only be accessed from a computer (or other device) that is connected to the phone with a cable, or with the privilege of adb, Shizuku or root. A simple workaround is to connect two phones together with a cable and use the other phone to access that folder, because it is accessible by MTP; this is a hardware solution. There is no known software solution except… privilege.

3

I am using the Total Commander file manager as well on my Pixel 8 Graphene phone and I don’t have any problem to access directories within the ‘Android’ directory.

4

But needs non-FOSS Shizuku, right?

5

No, don’t have installed any Shizuku, didn’t use it ever before.

You should get the app directly from the developer, not with playstore (it is a slitely different version!):

6

They even have an F-Droid repo, and I do… but I still can’t access Android/data

a popup appears “on Android 13+ you need to grant access” then the storage is opened… but I can’t grant access if the actual Android/data folder is not an option to select…

yes, “all files access” is granted

7

It might depend on the phones OS?

I will try on a lineage22-OS and report about the result:

At my Pixel 4a with Lineage22-OS it works as well. At the first try to enter the Android/data directory it asks to allow.

10

I discovered a possibly usable software solution to the problem discussed in Open Source File manager that can access app data folders? .

There is a system component com.android.documentsui.files.Files Activity, which is a an activity, and if you manage to launch it, such as by using this or that (the later is a very simple but innovative app I discovered recently), you gain access to a built-in file manager (like the file picker) which can access Android/data on one’s phone, bypassing the said restriction. (Experience may vary depending on one’s device manufacturer, as described in its GitHub page.)

11

It seems that you can use Activity Launcher to create a shortcut to the activity I mentioned, and it will inherit the icon of that activity (a beautiful blue folder icon with gradient on white background).

12

shizuku plus material files is what i ended up using. you have to enable the shizuku thing in material files settings, after that android/data browses fine, no root. only annoying part is shizuku dies after a reboot so you gotta start it again from the app. if you got adb on a pc anyway the wireless debugging route works too but honestly the shizuku way is less hassle day to day.