[APP][2.1+] FX File Explorer Dev Thread (5.0: Material Design UI, Wi-Fi Direct Xfers)

[techguyone]

There's a lot of no response these days, is this about to become abandonware I wonder?

 

[SigmundDroid]

lot of no response these days... abandonware

Perhaps people just happy because it still works? That's the case for me...

 

[osm0sis]

tliebeck isn't really present in the thread anymore, but every time we get super worried about signs of life he releases a new build.

 

[megaspel]

Fingers crossed he returns, it seems write access needs updating so we can write to the SD card with this? Unless someone's figured out a non-root workaround.

 

[Lister Of Smeg]

Fingers crossed he returns, it seems write access needs updating so we can write to the SD card with this? Unless someone's figured out a non-root workaround.

Hi Megaspel,

Check out my post here, and see if this still applies in your current setup....

I performed this under Android 11, using the special build of FX back then... and still have SD Write access despite OTA updates to Android 12, and Android 13.... Once you have write access, you can update to the latest FX build too. But you need the older FX to enable write...

// this wasn't my findings (as quoted in original post) but sharing it to help others... as I tried all the 'workarounds' on the net, and none of them worked, except this method.

Thanks, Lister

 

[techguyone]

Hi Megaspel,

Check out my post here, and see if this still applies in your current setup....

I performed this under Android 11, using the special build of FX back then... and still have SD Write access despite OTA updates to Android 12, and Android 13.... Once you have write access, you can update to the latest FX build too. But you need the older FX to enable write...

// this wasn't my findings (as quoted in original post) but sharing it to help others... as I tried all the 'workarounds' on the net, and none of them worked, except this method.

Thanks, Lister

do you have a link to the old version of fx that does this?

 

[Xetc]

do you have a link to the old version of fx that does this?

Hi, I'm the one who's post Lister Of Smeg referred to.
Not sure if you specifically need v.8.0.3.0, as he mentions, it's just what I used, and it worked.

To recap:
You need to install from scratch, obviously, then enable write access, then it'll work through updates, *BUT* (big but), if you swap cards, you'll need to redo the whole process to (re/)enable write access, including to previously write enabled card(s) if you granted write access to any other card in the meantime.

Anyway, here you go (it's on apkmirror, btw).

Edit: if you have Aurora Store, you can also manually dl any old version from the PlayStore by typing in its version code (8008, in this case).

 

[techguyone]

Hi, I'm the one who's post Lister Of Smeg referred to.
Not sure if you specifically need v.8.0.3.0, as he mentions, it's just what I used, and it worked.

To recap:
You need to install from scratch, obviously, then enable write access, then it'll work through updates, *BUT* (big but), if you swap cards, you'll need to redo the whole process to (re/)enable write access, including to previously write enabled card(s) if you granted write access to any other card in the meantime.

Anyway, here you go (it's on apkmirror, btw).

Edit: if you have Aurora Store, you can also manually dl any old version from the PlayStore by typing in its version code (8008, in this case).

Thanks for that.

 

[megaspel]

Hi Megaspel,

Check out my post here, and see if this still applies in your current setup....

I performed this under Android 11, using the special build of FX back then... and still have SD Write access despite OTA updates to Android 12, and Android 13.... Once you have write access, you can update to the latest FX build too. But you need the older FX to enable write...

// this wasn't my findings (as quoted in original post) but sharing it to help others... as I tried all the 'workarounds' on the net, and none of them worked, except this method.

Thanks, Lister

Thanks so much, but on Android 13 on my Note 20 Ultra 5g it doesn't seem to work, when I go to select the SD card folder it says I can't select it "for my own protection" like before.


EDIT: this command seemed to work for me, you need ADB debugging enabled in the developer options.

adb shell pm grant nextapp.fx android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

 

[Lister Of Smeg]

do you have a link to the old version of fx that does this?

Hi @techguyone ,

Yes, in the post that I referenced above, the specific version was linked too in Step 2) however thankfully @Xetc came to the rescue again...

Hi, I'm the one who's post Lister Of Smeg referred to.
Not sure if you specifically need v.8.0.3.0, as he mentions, it's just what I used, and it worked.

To recap:
You need to install from scratch, obviously, then enable write access, then it'll work through updates, *BUT* (big but), if you swap cards, you'll need to redo the whole process to (re/)enable write access, including to previously write enabled card(s) if you granted write access to any other card in the meantime.

Anyway, here you go (it's on apkmirror, btw).

Edit: if you have Aurora Store, you can also manually dl any old version from the PlayStore by typing in its version code (8008, in this case).

Hi @Xetc ,

Yeah, I'm not sure if other builds work either... I have tried a few up/newer than the quoted and some random builds, and neither of them worked. And what with trying all other solutions all over the net, and failed... when I came across your post, that saved my bacon... as was starting to doubt/get annoyed that the phone I purchased would never be able to use the SD Card slot and the new 128GB card got for it. When I tried FX v8.0.3.0 from your post and relieved it worked, I renamed the APK and kept a backup of it for future use...

Yeah I get most my APKs from APKmirror too, as know they are legit there... I do use Aurora too, and also like en.uptodown.com (App) as that shows whats installed, and shows older/newer builds, and also runs the APK against about 40 odd AntiVirus products... it's a nice little app.

Thanks so much, but on Android 13 on my Note 20 Ultra 5g it doesn't seem to work, when I go to select the SD card folder it says I can't select it "for my own protection" like before.


EDIT: this command seemed to work for me, you need ADB debugging enabled in the developer options.

adb shell pm grant nextapp.fx android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Hi @megaspel ,

As per your discovery, I am guessing this method doesn't work directly on newer versions of Android. I know when I researched this issue, Google was tweaking (butchering) the SD Card access with each newer version of Android as they came out, as the message and access changed per release.

I know when I tried this method, I was on Android 11 at the time and worked like a charm. Then slowly and unexpectedly (Xiaomi) actually started rolling updates out to my phone, after waiting ages to get A12... Was relieved to know when it still worked, and not long after A12 came out for my phone that Android 13 was quickly released not long after... and thankfully all still working after that too.

I've not swapped SD Cards since, so not had to re-run the process, thankfully... but pleased to hear you've found a method that works for you too....


Thanks all, Lister

 

[kevinco1]

Hi @techguyone ,

Yes, in the post that I referenced above, the specific version was linked too in Step 2) however thankfully @Xetc came to the rescue again...

Hi @Xetc,

Yeah, I'm not sure if other builds work either... I have tried a few up/newer than the quoted and some random builds, and neither of them worked. And what with trying all other solutions all over the net, and failed... when I came across your post, that saved my bacon... as was starting to doubt/get annoyed that the phone I purchased would never be able to use the SD Card slot and the new 128GB card got for it. When I tried FX v8.0.3.0 from your post and relieved it worked, I renamed the APK and kept a backup of it for future use...

Yeah I get most my APKs from APKmirror too, as know they are legit there... I do use Aurora too, and also like en.uptodown.com (App) as that shows whats installed, and shows older/newer builds, and also runs the APK against about 40 odd AntiVirus products... it's a nice little app.

Hi @megaspel ,

As per your discovery, I am guessing this method doesn't work directly on newer versions of Android. I know when I researched this issue, Google was tweaking (butchering) the SD Card access with each newer version of Android as they came out, as the message and access changed per release.

I know when I tried this method, I was on Android 11 at the time and worked like a charm. Then slowly and unexpectedly (Xiaomi) actually started rolling updates out to my phone, after waiting ages to get A12... Was relieved to know when it still worked, and not long after A12 came out for my phone that Android 13 was quickly released not long after... and thankfully all still working after that too.

I've not swapped SD Cards since, so not had to re-run the process, thankfully... but pleased to hear you've found a method that works for you too....


Thanks all, Lister

You can also solve this issue by simply using the NoStorageRestrict module Magisk or LSPosed version

 

[Lister Of Smeg]

You can also solve this issue by simply using the NoStorageRestrict module Magisk or LSPosed version

Hi @kevinco1 ,

Thanks for this info, unfortunately I am not rooted yet... still on stock/factory firmware....

Cheers, Lister

 

[mcichy10]

Hi. Has anybody problem with accessing to android/data or android/obb? There are apps that have access (e.g. x-plore or solid explorer) but I want to use FX Explorer. Is there any solution for this?
I'm using xiaomi.eu MIUI 14 (android 13)

 

[SigmundDroid]

problem with accessing to android/data or android/obb

data no: denied in this version of android

obb yes: folders but no items in there (at least not shown)

but: can access it via System (Root)

 

[roanv]

Feature request:
Can we get an option to always show folders first?
This is an existing option but currently it only works when sorting by name
I'd like to also have folders first when sorting by something else

 

[aostrom]

I just upgraded to a Pixel 8 Pro from my Pixel 6 Pro. I'm wondering if it's possible to re-arrange the icons on the home screen - none of the suggestions earlier in this thread about long-pressing the icon work (didn't work on Pixel 6 either).

Thanks!

Andy

 

[roanv]

That button isn't available to you?

 

[WhoIsJohnGalt1979]

I just upgraded to a Pixel 8 Pro from my Pixel 6 Pro. I'm wondering if it's possible to re-arrange the icons on the home screen - none of the suggestions earlier in this thread about long-pressing the icon work (didn't work on Pixel 6 either).

Thanks!

Andy

I also upgraded to Pixel 8 Pro, the root add on app is not longer available for download in the playstore for this phone. Any thoughts?

 

[NeoteriX]

For what it's worth, I too upgraded to the Pixel 8 Pro, and similarly ran across another Nextapp app delisted, SystemPanel2: https://xdaforums.com/t/app-4-0-roo...-does-not-clean.3552690/page-12#post-89101122

Normally the dev is pretty communicative and engaged with the community but has been noticeably less so over the past several months. I'm really hoping everything is okay with them!

 

[osm0sis]

FX must ship an arm busybox since it fails to do `ls /` (in the root diagnostics in FX) on Pixel 8 Pro. Installing my busybox module in Magisk and switched FX to use it in the advanced root settings got things working.

CC: @tliebeck