Android app access to albums/folders restricted through bad android permissions GIT #16020

[visual sluice]

On request of @tight ice creation of this help desk support. With the goal to enable further testing.
See here link to GIT issue: https://github.com/immich-app/immich/issues/16020

[dull grove]

:wave: Hey @visual sluice,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Please carefully read this message and follow the recommended actions. This will help us be more effective in our support effort and leave more time for building Immich .

References

• Container Logs: docker compose logs docs
• Container Status: docker ps -a docs
• Reverse Proxy: https://immich.app/docs/administration/reverse-proxy
• Code Formatting https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/210298617-Markdown-Text-101-Chat-Formatting-Bold-Italic-Underline#h_01GY0DAKGXDEHE263BCAYEGFJA

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I have...

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4. :ballot_box_with_check: reviewed Github for known issues.
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6. :blue_square: uploaded the relevant information (see below).
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Information

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• Logs from all the containers and their status (see above).
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[tight ice]

@visual sluice Thanks a lot for opening a help desk thread. Did you always have this issue or is this something from a recent app update? If it used to work in a previous version, do you happen to know when you started experiencing this issue?

[visual sluice]

@tight ice Happy to help. Indeed this is from a app update. I had no issues with earlier versions. I started using Immich arround the end of december 2024. The exact version I used at that time, I do not remember. I guess it would be around v1.123.0.

[tight ice]

Also, I'd give you a test apk from the library we are using. Would you mind checking if you face the same issue there as well?

[visual sluice]

sure, I would love to try

[tight ice]

@visual sluice Can you install this APK, go to advanced usage -> gallery list and check if all the assets are listed? You can play around with the filters in the gallery list as well. Once all the photos are listed, can you share me the list of filters used.

[visual sluice]

@tight ice could it be that part of the issue is in what is writen in the permission menu? the subtext 'accessed in past 24 hours'?

[tight ice]

No. Android shows the subtext if the permission was accessed recently. Can you see all your photos in the test app shared?

[visual sluice]

@tight ice Without change of filters or with change of filters, I see only what is currently available in the immich app. This happens in menu 'gallery list'. If I use a 'custom filter example' --> 'custom filter with sql' I am able to see all assets.

Sometimes I get this message

[tight ice]

That is super helpful. Thank you!

Can you go to gallery list -> Change filter options, and change the start date to an older time, and test?

Enable ignore size with image and need title option as well

[visual sluice]

added three images. filter options before change. filter options after change. and results in gallery list

[woven veldt]

Hey, I was one of the others that had the same Problem. Is further help still needed?

[tight ice]

No, Thank you! I'll build a debug version of Immich with the custom filter and share it later for testing. However, if you can, do test the above shared app and check if you experience the same behaviour with custom filters. If confirmed, I'll check how the library uses the two different filters and why we are getting different results between them.

[woven veldt]

Can confirm, 'custom filter with sql' and 'advanced custom filter' both showed all images

[tight ice]

Thanks a lot!

[tight ice]

@visual sluice Do you mind me creating an issue in the library to check with the maintainers for this inconsistency by including your screenshots for reference? Do you also mind sharing your device specifications for the issue

[visual sluice]

I do not mind! Lets go, I want a fix 🤩. My device info is already in the GitHub issue, if I remember correctly. But to be sure: motorola edge 20 pro, android 13. Or do you need more detailed information?

[tight ice]

That should do for now, I'll let you know if anything else is required. Sharing the screenshot will also expose your albums name, are you okay with that?

[visual sluice]

Thanks for asking, but for me that is okay. I see currently no information that should not be shared. (Or do you see something?)

[tight ice]

I don't. Just wanted to confirm it with you 😄 Thank you! Will keep you posted

[tight ice]

@visual sluice / @woven veldt Apologies for the ping. But can one of you install the following debug build (It can be installed alongside the production app), in the login page, go to setting -> advanced -> and enable the "use alternate device sync filter" option, come back to the login page, double tap the logo to login to the demo instance, and check if you can find all your local albums listed in the backup albums page?

You can also download the app from the PR artifact if that's how you prefer them
https://github.com/immich-app/immich/pull/17344

[dull grove]

[Pull Request] fix(mobile): use custom filter to fetch asset path entities (immich-app/immich#17344)

[fervent bolt]

Yes, this can see all of them now

Uh, although, on the normal app, clicking that button shows them all

[tight ice]

Can you select the album for backup in the debug app and check if the timeline is populated with all of your assets? The normal app should have a different count for your camera folder when compared with the debug app, or are they the same?

[fervent bolt]

(normal app)

[tight ice]

Can you select recents in the debug app and check the timeline as well?

[fervent bolt]

Yes, sorry, they are now there

[visual sluice]

@tight ice I will check, but am searching for time. I will tag you when I have tried

[tight ice]

Sure, Thanks for the update

[visual sluice]

@tight ice Downloaded the debug build from the link in discord. Followed the instructions to try alternate device sync option. See image for result, it is stuck on the searching for local albums

[tight ice]

do you have any error in the logs?

[visual sluice]

@tight ice With logging on 'fine', the above image could maybe help

The logs are telling me that indeed more local albums are found, however they are not shown in the backup window

[tight ice]

Thanks for testing it, the change is merged but it probably might not help you. I am currently working on rewriting the entire sync logic for a future release. I believe it might be addressed then. Fixing this in the current codebase is sadly not trivial

[balmy zenith]

Hey I have an idea, let me build something to try out

@visual sluice Do you mind use this APK? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1naLjjbhHe_W81qvJNddFeJAQ2EeWkq5m/view?usp=drive_link

[visual sluice]

@balmy zenith I do not mind. What do you wish me to do?

I have downloaded the .apk but did not install it yet

[tight ice]

You just need to check if all of your albums are being listed and choosing them lists all of your local assets as well

[vapid summit]

I have the same problem since 3 weeks. The App don't show all folders.
When I try the fix-album-querying apk the log shows that they found 39 albums but stocks at loading. Without the special option it says 6 folders.
@alex.tran1502
@tight ice
I attached my log

[balmy zenith]

Can you go to the app settings > advanced > turn on use alternative album query method?

[vapid summit]

Yeah. That is the special option that I mentioned.
With this setting the log show 39 albums but stucks with the load circle.

[balmy zenith]

Can you help capture a screen recording?

[vapid summit]

I've already waited several times for over 30 minutes and more but it is still hangs when loading the folders with the setting.
A new installation of the app has already been made and a reset too.
Nothing helps.

[balmy zenith]

And do you see any album without that experimental settings turned on?

[vapid summit]

Without the experimental setting, only I see 6 folders. None of the 6 are of interest.

[tight ice]

Looks like it is detecting the other albums but failing at a later point. We can probably experiment around the filters to handle this. However, the new sync already uses a different way to fetch the albums. You might have to wait for the new sync implementation to be released which might fix this.

[spare fog]

Hello! Just stumbled upon this issue on an Android device I have, in particular the case in which using the alternative query method causes the app to get stuck into loading (and most albums not being shown without that setting turned on).

Any more info about the new sync, or if there's some information that could be useful to solve this issue? Thanks!

[balmy zenith]

Anything special regarding the library in this Android device that come to your mind that can potentially be the cause of this issue?

[spare fog]

Nope, actually it’s mainly the “Camera” folder of which I see only the last 12 photos, instead of ~3000. The device is a OnePlus Nord 2, with Android 13

[balmy zenith]

hmm

[spare fog]

Also, all photos taken after installing the app can be seen. And now that I’m noticing, on the app I see exactly 2 weeks before of the app installation date

So it looks like a “limited library permission”, I don’t know if that’s the case or it’s just a coincidence

[balmy zenith]

hmm, can you try allowing all

[spare fog]

Yeah I’ve tried searching for something like this, but there no such setting. I can only allow or deny, without more restrictions

[fervent bolt]

Does it happen with the F-Droid verison?
https://nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-android-file-upload-issue-google/