Google is reportedly blocking Nextcloud, the open-source cloud storage service, from full file access on Android devices. Nextcloud is accusing Google of anti-competitive behavior, while a fully functional version remains available through the F-Droid store.

Nextcloud is a self-hostable and open-source cloud platform, allowing you to host your own file storage (like Google Drive or OneDrive), online office suite (like Google Docs), calendar, contacts, video conferring, and other services. It has desktop and mobile clients available for file synchronization and other features.

Nextcloud told The Register that Google removed the ‘All files access’ permission from the Nextcloud Files app, and requested that the app use “a more privacy-aware replacement.” In modern versions of Android, that permission is supposed to only be used when applications can’t function with the more limited scoped storage features, like the Storage Access Framework (SAF). Google says in its developer documentation, “If you publish your app to Google Play, carefully read the notice. If you target Android 11 and declare All files access, it can affect your ability to publish and update your app on Google Play.”

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Nextcloud claims it can’t use the alternative options, because they don’t allow the app to access (and optionally synchronize) as many local files on the device. The company said, “SAF cannot be used, as it is for sharing/exposing our files to other apps ... MediaStore API cannot be used as it does not allow access to other files, but only media files.” There are complaints from users that the app can’t properly synchronize folders from outside the application—for example, if you select a local folder of game or notes data, two-way synchronization with the cloud probably won’t work.

Nextcloud also said, “Despite multiple appeals from our side and sharing additional background, Google is not considering reinstating upload for all files. […] Big Tech is scared that small players like Nextcloud will disrupt them, like they once disrupted other companies. So they try to shut the door.”

Google did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Register, but many large and small app developers have complained about the Google Play Store’s app review process over the years.

If you want the best possible Nextcloud experience on Android, you’ll have to download it from the F-Droid store, which can freely use the ‘All files access’ permission (after you grant it) for full functionality. You can also try moving as many files as possible to Nextcloud’s own app storage, instead of trying to synchronize them from external file system locations. The version available through F-Droid is still free, but does require the F-Droid app to be installed for automatic update checks.

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