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From: Andrew <andrew@spam.net>
Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android
Subject: Re: where are incoming text photographs stored?
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:25:36 -0000 (UTC)
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Jeff Layman wrote on Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:19:15 +0100 :

> I used your favourite app manager to get information about where Google 
> puts its messages and any "attachments". It told me the messaging app 
> was com.google.android.apps.messaging, and the data directory was:
> /data/user/0/com.google.android.apps.messaging
> 
> I tried accessing that with Total Commander, but it was not possible. 
> Total Commander referred me to 
> <https://www.ghisler.com/androidspecialfolders.htm>. This states:
> 
> "Accessing the special folders Android/data and Android/obb
> 
> Google has recently restricted access to the folders Android/data and 
> Android/obb to the following two methods:
> 
>      The built-in "Files" app
>      A connected PC or Mac (via USB)
> 
> Access for other apps like Total Commander has been blocked. This was 
> done by an update of the "Files" app via Play Store.
> 
> On Android 13 and older, you can get back access to these folders by 
> uninstalling all updates of the "Files" app. On Android 14, the newer, 
> restricted version of the "Files" app is built into the operating system 
> and cannot be uninstalled.
> 
> To uninstall the updates of the "Files" app, follow these steps:
> 
>      Click OK in the Total Commander dialog which warned you about the 
> blocked access to launch the "Files" app
>      Open the list of all running apps (task manager, e.g. by slowly 
> sweeping up from the bottom of the screen)
>      Click on the icon above the "Files" app
>      Choose "Info" or "App-Info" or click on the "i" icon (depends on 
> Android version)
>      In the app information, click on the 3 dots in the top right corner
>      Click on "Uninstall updates"
> 
> Android will automatically update the "Files" app again, but you will 
> not lose access to folders after granting it once."
> 
> I'm on Android 13 (MIUI 14.0.5), but I'm not going to do the updates 
> uninstall or use the USB to PC connection. Micky can try it if he wants.

Hi Jeff,

We've met before and you've taught me good stuff, which I appreciate.
Everything you said I (think I) fully understand, so please don't think I'm
chastising you - I'm just explaining what you did was right but your
conclusion wasn't correct - as far as I know anyway.

Andy & Arno (among others) will know this stuff better than I do, but to
help you understand why that data directory did not work for you, please
look at these composite images I just made for you by way of example:
 <https://i.postimg.cc/bvWQHZLx/pulsesms06.jpg>
 <https://i.postimg.cc/rpQ1dhRP/pulsesms07.jpg>
 <https://i.postimg.cc/QtDM3sML/pulsesms08.jpg>

However, I appreciate you are smart enough to use the Muntashirakon App
Manager to find the location that the app stores its "data". I'm not quite
sure if that's the same thing as where the app stores its messages though.
I think they're different.

However, I'm not chastising you as I commend you for LOOKING where your
messenger app stores "stuff". I think there may be different kinds of data.

a. Data specific to the app (e.g., app settings data)
b. Data that is commonly shared with others (e.g., incoming saved media)

To test that hypothesis, I used the Muntashirakon App Manager to look at
what it says for data for PulseSMS xyz.klinker.messenger Version 5.4.6.2816
(2816) - which is a version before Maple Media bought the open-source app.

Muntashirakon App Manager said the PulseSMS directories are the following:
 Data Directory: /data/user/0/xyz.klinker.messenger
 Device-protected Data Directory: /data/user_de/0/xyz.klinker.messenger

Notice that this is NOT the directory where Pulse stores its MMS media:
  /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Pulse/.

What this tells me is that if an app has "all files" access, it can store
the data anywhere it wants to (that you give it permission for).

Notice also that some file managers can't even see /data/user/0/ so that's
why you see a plethora of the best file managers on my Android (as I've
tested all the free file managers long ago and settled on those few).

ZArchiver for sure can see /data/user/0 but it can't go deeper on my
unrootable Android phone (and likely it's the same on your phone also).
 <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.zdevs.zarchiver>

This alone explains all the results you found, but not your conclusions.

Hope you take this in a good (constructive) light as I want to some trouble
to document (which takes longer than anything else) the statements I made.