Android 6.0.1: Using external SD for offline maps?

[Benjamin Danowski]

Hi!

I'm on Marshmallow (Optimized CyanogenMod 13) and don't like to use my SD card as Adopted (internal) storage. My internal storage is to small to hold my apps and OsmAnd map files.

Is it possible to use a custom location on my external SD and if not is there an update coming to fix this problem? One has to go via the Document Storage Provider now, I think.

Greetings,

Benjamin

[Jack Burke]

Yes. In Settings->General Settings, scroll down to the Miscellaneous section and tap Data Storage Folder then tap the pencil icon. "External Storage 1" should be your SD card.

[Benjamin Danowski]

Thank you but I already knew that. I wonder if it is possible to have the maps in a custom location on Marshmallow.

Following your advice the files are being placed in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/net.osmand.plus/files

This means that by deinstalling the app the map files are deleted also.

[Jack Burke]

On the Data Storage Folder screen at the bottom, you can select "Manually specified" and put any directory path that Marshmallow will allow the app to write to.  Unrooted Android 6.x restricts where apps can write.  When you change the data storage folder, OsmAnd will offer to move all of the data files to it, including the maps.  Deinstalling the app will delete the map files no matter where the data directory is located; any good app is supposed to completely clean up after itself when uninstalled.  You can copy the map files to another directory before uninstalling if you want to keep them.

--jack

[Benjamin Danowski]

I'm rooted but no matter what I can't choose another directory.
On Android 5.1.1 uninstalling the app didn't delete the map files when choosing a custom location.
I guess I have to live with the workaround you are suggesting.

[Jack Burke]

I'll try some experiments when I get a solid hour of free time and see if I can figure it out, then....

[MAx 1234]

Since Kitkat, regular applications cannot write anymore to custom locations on external SD cards, due to security restrictions introduced by Google (yes, they must be evil geniuses); instead, read/write access is allowed only to the folder which has been registered during app installation.

Fortunately, Android is an Open operating system, and there's a way to re-enable this feature; unfortunately, it requires root and is quite risky (an error might compromise the entire system, forcing to reinstall everything from scratch or, in the worst case, it could lead to a device brick.

If you are bold enough :), you can try this procedure: http://winaero.com/blog/unlock-external-sd-card-writing-for-all-apps-in-android-4-4-kitkat/ : it's written for Kitkat but it works for Lollipop too (tested by myself).
Time required: a couple minutes, plus a device reboot. Just read the instructions carefully!

Max - Italy