Cannot select ROM directory on latest nightly with Android 15

[jalavosus]

• Device model: Pixel 8a
• Android version: Android 14 15

Problem:
melonDS does not request any storage permissions from the operating system, making it impossible to select a ROM directory.

Steps to reproduce (if applicable):

1. Install latest melonDS nightliy
2. Attempt to choose a ROM folder
3. There is no way to actually select a folder for use, as the app does not request any storage permissions

[rafaelvcaetano]

The storage permission kind of no longer exists nowadays. Users give permission by selecting the files or folders through the system's file picker.
Which folder are you choosing? There are some folders that the system does not allow you to choose, such as the root directory or, in some devices, the Downloads folder.

[jalavosus]

Appreciate the response.

Using the file picker, I create a new folder in what I'm assuming is /sdcard/ (adb shell confirms this), but regardless of how many times I attempt it, I can't grant permission whatsoever.

If this has something to do with the fact that I sideloaded the latest nightly and didn't download melon from the Play store, then uh, womp.

[rafaelvcaetano]

Do you think you could upload a video showing the steps you are taking in the app?

[jalavosus]

Bet.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DNBMge7Zwe9hJaLVA

[jalavosus]

Oh, sweet god, I'm a dumbass. I'm in Android 15. That's... That's a huge difference

[rafaelvcaetano]

I can't reproduce the issue, but the video really helps me understand what's going on. I'll see what I can find.

[jalavosus]

Just for extra reproduction help:

• downloaded the nightly APK from here
• issue happens regardless of whether I do adb install or install it from a file explorer (I've tried both inbuilt [Files by Google] and CX)
• this also happens with the current version available on the Play store, so I don't think it's related to any recent MelonDS4A updates.

I'm not an Android developer, but I am a developer in general, so let me know if there's anything I can do to help out.

[FATCatAndroid12]

Can you try that?

[rafaelvcaetano]

I tried running the app on a remote device from Firebase, but they only have Pixel 8a running Android 14 and couldn't reproduce this.
Did you try the app when running Android 14? If so, do you remember if it worked fine?
On a different note, does the OpenGL renderer work well for you? Or is it completely broken?

[jalavosus]

@Fatcat2024-cpu I did actually check that first before posting here (though I appreciate you checking that I checked!)

I only have this one option in that menu, and showing hidden files does not change anything.

It seems that the app just can't get the directory tree view for /sdcard (/storage/emulated/0). After looking through some Android dev permissions documents, the permission(s) I thought would have caused this problem would have caused this problem from Android 11, so I have no clue what's going on.

@rafaelvcaetano since I'll have some time this weekend, I'll see if I can get some debug logs for you.

[jalavosus]

Ah, neat, here's one thing I can provide immediately. Ran adb logcat and saw this cute lil nugget:

02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: Error in checking file equality check.
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: java.nio.file.NoSuchFileException: /storage/emulated
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at sun.nio.fs.UnixFileSystemProvider.isSameFile(UnixFileSystemProvider.java:344)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at java.nio.file.Files.isSameFile(Files.java:1504)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at com.android.externalstorage.ExternalStorageProvider.isRestrictedPath(ExternalStorageProvider.java:352)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at com.android.externalstorage.ExternalStorageProvider.shouldHideDocument(ExternalStorageProvider.java:313)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at com.android.internal.content.FileSystemProvider.queryChildDocuments(FileSystemProvider.java:414)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at com.android.internal.content.FileSystemProvider.queryChildDocuments(FileSystemProvider.java:385)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.provider.DocumentsProvider.queryChildDocuments(DocumentsProvider.java:618)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.provider.DocumentsProvider.query(DocumentsProvider.java:935)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.content.ContentProvider$Transport.query(ContentProvider.java:296)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.content.ContentProviderNative.onTransact(ContentProviderNative.java:107)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.os.Binder.execTransactInternal(Binder.java:1391)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W ExternalStorage: 	at android.os.Binder.execTransact(Binder.java:1335)
02-21 16:00:09.841 10818 13905 W FileSystemProvider: Queried directory "primary:" is hidden

Different but possibly related bit, happens whenever I open the file picker: 02-21 16:15:00.857 26268 26268 E oid.documentsui: No package ID ff found for resource ID 0xffffffff.

It could be that FileUtils isn't getting the /0 end of /storage/emulated/0? This is beyond my realm of knowledge.

[jalavosus]

Did you try the app when running Android 14? If so, do you remember if it worked fine?
On a different note, does the OpenGL renderer work well for you? Or is it completely broken?

I did not try it on 14, unfortunately. And I have no clue if the OpenGL renderer works, since I can't load up any ROMs 😢

[wolfdewitte]

For what it's worth, I'm using a Pixel 9 on Android 15 and was able to set the ROM directory fine using the latest nightly build.

This is what the directory view looks like on my end:

I understand this probably isn't very helpful, but since I'm also using a Pixel device on Android 15 I thought I'd share my experience.

[jalavosus]

@wolfdewitte are you rooted? Just out of curiosity, since I'm running stock.

[wolfdewitte]

@wolfdewitte are you rooted? Just out of curiosity, since I'm running stock.

No, I'm using stock Android as well.

[rafaelvcaetano]

Thanks for keeping this discussion going guys! All the information you have gathered is really useful.

I also managed to kind of reproduce this on a Samsung device. However, the UI is slightly different and it still allows me to select other directories from a side menu, which kind of acts as a workaround. I'll keep investigating.