Storage Permission is Granted, but I Still Get “Permission Denied”?!

Are you scratching your head, wondering why your app still throws a “permission denied” error even though you’ve explicitly granted storage permission? You’re not alone! This frustrating issue has plagued many developers, but fear not, dear reader, for we’re about to dive into the solutions.

The Mystery of the Missing Permission

Before we dive into the fixes, let’s quickly recap what’s happening behind the scenes. When you request storage permission, the system grants it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your app can access the storage immediately. There might be other factors at play, such as:

• Incorrectly declared permissions in the manifest file
• Misspelled permission names or typos
• Targeting the wrong SDK version
• Storage permission not being granted for the specific scope
• App-specific settings or restrictions

Solution 1: Double-Check Your Manifest File

The first step in solving this mystery is to verify that you’ve correctly declared the storage permission in your app’s manifest file. Make sure you’ve added the following line:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

If you’re targeting Android 10 (API level 29) or higher, you should also include:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION" />

Solution 2: Handle Runtime Permissions

In Android 6.0 (API level 23) and later, you need to request permissions at runtime, not just declare them in the manifest file. Use the following code to request storage permission:

if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
    ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE}, REQUEST_EXTERNAL_STORAGE);
}

Don’t forget to override the onRequestPermissionsResult() method to handle the permission result:

@Override
public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, String[] permissions, int[] grantResults) {
    switch (requestCode) {
        case REQUEST_EXTERNAL_STORAGE:
            if (grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                // Permission granted, proceed with storage operations
            } else {
                // Permission denied, handle the error
            }
            break;
    }
}

Solution 3: Check for App-Specific Settings or Restrictions

Some devices or custom ROMs might have app-specific settings or restrictions that could be blocking your app’s access to storage. Check the device’s settings or configuration files for any restrictions. For example, on some Android devices, you might need to enable “Install unknown apps” or “Allow from unknown sources” for your app to access storage.

Solution 4: Verify the Storage Permission Scope

Make sure you’re granting storage permission for the specific scope your app needs. For example, if your app only needs to read files, you can request READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission only:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

If your app needs to write files, you should request WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

Solution 5: Target the Correct SDK Version

Ensure you’re targeting the correct SDK version in your app’s build.gradle file:

android {
    compileSdkVersion 29
    defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion 21
        targetSdkVersion 29
        ...
    }
    ...
}

Solution 6: Check for Storage Permission in the App’s Info Screen

On some devices, you can check the app’s info screen to see if storage permission is enabled. To do this:

1. Go to the device’s Settings app
2. Find and select the “Apps” or “Application Manager” option
3. Find your app in the list and select it
4. Look for the “Permissions” or “App permissions” section
5. Check if the “Storage” permission is enabled

If the storage permission is disabled, toggle the switch to enable it.

Solution 7: Grant Storage Permission using ADB

If you’re testing your app on an emulator or a physical device, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to grant storage permission manually:

adb shell pm grant  android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
adb shell pm grant  android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Replace <package_name> with your app’s package name.

Conclusion

By following these solutions, you should be able to resolve the “permission denied” error even though storage permission is granted. Remember to double-check your manifest file, handle runtime permissions, and verify the storage permission scope. If you’re still stuck, try checking app-specific settings or restrictions, targeting the correct SDK version, and granting storage permission using ADB.

Solution	Description
1. Double-Check Your Manifest File	Verify that you’ve correctly declared the storage permission in your app’s manifest file.
2. Handle Runtime Permissions	Request storage permission at runtime and handle the permission result.
3. Check for App-Specific Settings or Restrictions	Verify that there are no app-specific settings or restrictions blocking your app’s access to storage.
4. Verify the Storage Permission Scope	Ensure you’re granting storage permission for the specific scope your app needs.
5. Target the Correct SDK Version	Ensure you’re targeting the correct SDK version in your app’s build.gradle file.
6. Check for Storage Permission in the App’s Info Screen	Check the app’s info screen to see if storage permission is enabled.
7. Grant Storage Permission using ADB	Grant storage permission manually using ADB.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “permission denied” error and ensure your app can access storage successfully.

Additional Tips and Resources

For more information on Android permissions, check out the official Android documentation:

• https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/permissions
• https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting

Remember to always handle permissions correctly to ensure a seamless user experience and maintain the security of your app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do I still get a “permission denied” error even though I’ve granted storage permission?

A: There might be other factors at play, such as incorrectly declared permissions, misspelled permission names, or app-specific settings or restrictions. Check the solutions presented in this article to resolve the issue.

Q: How do I request storage permission at runtime?

A: Use the code snippet provided in Solution 2 to request storage permission at runtime. Don’t forget to override the onRequestPermissionsResult() method to handle the permission result.

Q: What is the difference between READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions?

A: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission allows your app to read files from external storage, while WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission allows your app to write files to external storage.

Q: How do I check if storage permission is enabled in the app’s info screen?

A: Follow the steps presented in Solution 6 to check if storage permission is enabled in the app’s info screen.

We hope this comprehensive guide has helped you resolve the “permission denied” error and ensure your app can access storage successfully. If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to ask!

Frequently Asked Question

Stuck with the “permission denied” error despite granting storage permission? We’ve got you covered!