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.
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.
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.
But needs non-FOSS Shizuku, right?
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!):
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
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.