Android MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission reject by Google playstore for social networking app

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I have created social networking app which also has inbuilt messaging part. So for this i need to send and receive files and need access all files (Including PDF,APK,DOC or Raw files) like whatsapp/telegram or other instant messaging app.

I tried to remove android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true" and MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE one by one each one of them stop showing files and Media in my app's custom gallery.

When i filled Sensitive Permission declaration form i mentioned there that i have an chat app but didn't show them that it not limited to media files but still get rejection where whatsapp/telegram and Duo has access to management of all files. So how can i get MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission and what i need to tell them in form to get this permission in next update

kotlin google-play permissions android java
1 Answers

From what you've said in your post, your app would not qualify for the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, as explained by the Use of all files access permission policy

In some cases, apps may wish to access sensitive user data for purposes where a safer and more secure alternative exists, or where risk of data exposure doesn't warrant access.

  • Media files access (see Alternatives below)
  • Any file selection activity where the user manually selects individual files (see Alternatives below)

The same page has a list of types of apps that would qualify for MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, but neither social networking, nor chat apps are included.

Telegram/WhatsApp/etc... do not (to the best of my knowledge) have MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but rather they have:

  • targetSdkVersion=29
  • android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true"
  • request READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

If all three of those are true, and the app is running on Android 11+, then the permissions screen shows "Allow management of all files", because that app has access to all of those files. This is explained here under "Target any version":

Users can see which apps have the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in system settings. On the Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Files and media page, each app that has the permission is listed under Allowed for all files.

It seems likely the app would need to be updated to work without MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE before setting its targetSdkVersion to 30. This could be done by using the system document picker in place of your own, or following steps to allow apps that have access to that data to share it with yours.

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