Develop Bugs

How do you hide folders from HTC Album?

I tried making the folders hidden by adding a period, but it's still read by HTC Album. How do I get around this? Is there any tweak to change the read permission on folders?
Luckily I discovered this problem myself.

create a file named ".nomedia" and put it in the folders you don't want the media player to show.
Windows will not let you create such a file, so create an empty text file named "a.nomedia", copy in the folders, then using Astro rename it deleting the "a" and you're good to go

JapanLover said:
create a file named ".nomedia" and put it in the folders you don't want the media player to show.
Windows will not let you create such a file, so create an empty text file named "a.nomedia", copy in the folders, then using Astro rename it deleting the "a" and you're good to go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!

Dodgy pics of the missus eh? Say no more.
I just moved a picture into a folder starting with a fullstop and it's not showing up in the gallery anymore. Are you running the HTC photo gallery or the Cooliris Gallery app?
[EDIT] I also just added a fullstop to the front of a folder on my SD card (/media/wallpapers became /media/.wallpapers) and it's no longer showing in the gallery.

Seems to work. Thanks!

I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not using it for sensitive documents
Are you running the HTC photo gallery or the Cooliris Gallery app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the HTC one. The widget doesn't display hidden folders, but when you list all media (where the app searches for pics and vids), it shows.

my (well, it's not mine of course ) method doesn't delete anything. Or at least I'm doing so in almost three cells and since... hmmmm let's say 6 months.
as for putting a dot in front of the folders... keep in mind that it can cause probs to the apps using that folder.
I.E. a GPS app will not find its icons and so on.
Just use the file methid, I'm pretty sure it's safe

JapanLover said:
my (well, it's not mine of course ) method doesn't delete anything. Or at least I'm doing so in almost three cells and since... hmmmm let's say 6 months.
as for putting a dot in front of the folders... keep in mind that it can cause probs to the apps using that folder.
I.E. a GPS app will not find its icons and so on.
Just use the file methid, I'm pretty sure it's safe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I created the wallpapers folder so no apps should be using it.

Adding a .nomedia file worked for me, but only after a reboot. No more album art showing up.

samsanchez88 said:
I have read elsewere that this method can erase the files in that particular folder. I'm not sure when or why it does it but watch out!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are right:
h_t_t_p://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3692

Forget what I said. It doesn't work. I rebooted the phone, effectively refreshing the album cache, and .nomedia is listed when it searches for photos and videos.

Aitese said:
Dodgy pics of the missus eh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At first i read this as doggy pics, which sounded gnarly.
I also just added a fullstop to the front of a folder on my SD card (/media/wallpapers became /media/.wallpapers) and it's no longer showing in the gallery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does "adding a full stop" mean?
And why is windows referenced above, vs android OS?

I just downloaded Pandora which essentially does the job.

Android is a Linux based OS. A folder with a period in front of it means its hidden to any app that doesn't directly know its there

biemsy said:
Adding a .nomedia file worked for me, but only after a reboot. No more album art showing up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And then I realised the .nomedia meant music players ignore the folder too. Doh!

I just do the full stop method and use astro file manager to view the items.

Excluding Folders from Gallery

I've tried the .nomedia method but that doesn't seem to work in ICS. Does anyone know how to prevent a folder from being shown in the Gallery app?
Thanks.

I'd be interested in a solution to this too, don't really want all my album art and images from games etc cluttering the gallery.
Either a method to exclude certain folders or one to only include certain ones would do.

Tried .nomedia as well for my icons folder... doesn't seem to work.

This is driving me nuts. I tried the .nomedia thing too before I found this post. This is such an oversight for the gallery app.. it's pulling all of the downloaded icons/images from my mail app..

i was having issues with gallery not displaying thumbs & even wouldn't open some files. i ended up looking for an alternative and found this:
QuickPic
it is working well and you can specify folders to include/exclude.

Thanks - just downloaded this as well. Should work until someone can find a fix to the .nomedia thing..
Does anyone know what the Scrapbook Photos folder is? I think it may have come from picasa or G+.. but mine is empty and cannot be deleted in the regular gallery.

after putting the .nomedia, try rebooting, or downloading "sdrescan" from the market (free). the android media scanner indexes your files, but its often slow and doesn't update unless the camera puts something there. chances are it just hadn't known there was a .nomedia sucks, they'll probably have a fix eventually

cancerouspete said:
after putting the .nomedia, try rebooting, or downloading "sdrescan" from the market (free). the android media scanner indexes your files, but its often slow and doesn't update unless the camera puts something there. chances are it just hadn't known there was a .nomedia sucks, they'll probably have a fix eventually
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately it seems that there are certain folders where .nomedia will never work. So far I've found this with the downloads folder. No amount of rescanning or rebooting will stop images in the downloads folder appearing in the gallery.
I found that creating a subfolder with a dot in front of it (ie, .stuff) inside the download folder, moving the images into this folder, then rescanning will work.

you guys are honestly just unlucky. .nomedia works perfect for me. i even have a .nomedia file in my music folder and it works.

neok44 said:
you guys are honestly just unlucky. .nomedia works perfect for me. i even have a .nomedia file in my music folder and it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which application did you use ?
Cheers~

The .nomedia method works for me too in the Gallery app.

no media does not work for me and its extremely frustrating...bump.

sluflyer06 said:
no media does not work for me and its extremely frustrating...bump.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After trying many solutions , finally this one is working for me : https://market.android.com/details?id=com.theronrogers.vaultyfree&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS50aGVyb25yb2dlcnMudmF1bHR5ZnJlZSJd
Good luck !
Cheers~

tossero said:
After trying many solutions , finally this one is working for me : https://market.android.com/details?id=com.theronrogers.vaultyfree&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS50aGVyb25yb2dlcnMudmF1bHR5ZnJlZSJd
Good luck !
Cheers~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looked to me like Vaulty physically moves the selected files to a folder and renames them so they're 'protected' because when i tried it out (it did work) but the location where the files were was not empty in root explorer.

voxigenboy said:
i was having issues with gallery not displaying thumbs & even wouldn't open some files. i ended up looking for an alternative and found this:
QuickPic
it is working well and you can specify folders to include/exclude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been using this for a bit now. Seems to work really well.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I second QuickPic. I used to use it on my HTC Magic because it was too slow for the 3D galley and I've used it ever since. Very efficient, fast, and allows you to zoom in to 100%.

Why don't you guys just put a dot in front of whatever filer its in? So like if the folder was "Pix" then make it ".Pix"....

nomedia is working for me too

It seems that Gallery mostly respects hidden (.foldername) folders and the .nomedia flag, but some process is alerting the Gallery to new folders and files as they are created, and that process does NOT respect hidden folders or .nomedia.
If you believe your problem is solved with the nomedia app, I suggest you move a photo into your hidden and/or .nomedia-ed folder and see if Gallery does not show it afterwards.
The only workaround that I have found is to Force Stop the system app called "Media Storage", clear it's cache and reboot. When media storage runs again at startup you'll find .nomedia and hidden folders are treated correctly (i.e. ignored) again. Beware though, my ringtone and notification tones were reset and I suspect it was a side-effect of doing this.

Duplicate file app?

Hey what's up guys. I've searched the Market and messed around with different apps and file explorers with no luck. I want to clean up my duplicate files on this phone.
I've tried the Pro version of SDMaid. Something with that app and the ICS ROMS I've been on aren't playing well together. SDMaid is not recognizing the Pro version. I've tried a couple other duplicate file apps and the pain in the a#s part of it is is these apps will only let me delete one duplicate file at a time. I have something around 1500 duplicate files.
So basically I'm looking for an app or procedure so that I can delete duplicate files.
1500 is a little ridiculous.
TIA guys.

Plug it into PC so u can use a mouse lol sorry
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

caspersfi said:
Hey what's up guys. I've searched the Market and messed around with different apps and file explorers with no luck. I want to clean up my duplicate files on this phone.
I've tried the Pro version of SDMaid. Something with that app and the ICS ROMS I've been on aren't playing well together. SDMaid is not recognizing the Pro version. I've tried a couple other duplicate file apps and the pain in the a#s part of it is is these apps will only let me delete one duplicate file at a time. I have something around 1500 duplicate files.
So basically I'm looking for an app or procedure so that I can delete duplicate files.
1500 is a little ridiculous.
TIA guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you send me a mail, i'm sure i can fix your sd maid issue, if not i can grant you a refund.
The problem is there is no smart automatic procedure for selecting which duplicate file to keep.
You can try by modified date, path length or random, but it will never be a 100% correct.
Imagine the case of a two mp3 files, both duplicates (maybe with a different name, but same content).
One in a directory called "Single X - Artist Y" and one in a directory called "Best of Artist Y".
How can a computer know, which one to keep, or if none should be deleted, although they are duplicates.
Yeah well, we could use one of the methods and just be okay, as one copy will always be left.
But this will almost certainly lead to lots of users going "OMG can't find my files", when the remaining copy is not where they exspect it to be.

Dark3n said:
If you send me a mail, i'm sure i can fix your sd maid issue, if not i can grant you a refund.
The problem is there is no smart automatic procedure for selecting which duplicate file to keep.
You can try by modified date, path length or random, but it will never be a 100% correct.
Imagine the case of a two mp3 files, both duplicates (maybe with a different name, but same content).
One in a directory called "Single X - Artist Y" and one in a directory called "Best of Artist Y".
How can a computer know, which one to keep, or if none should be deleted, although they are duplicates.
Yeah well, we could use one of the methods and just be okay, as one copy will always be left.
But this will almost certainly lead to lots of users going "OMG can't find my files", when the remaining copy is not where they exspect it to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pm sent. Not concerned about a refund. From the great info you provided it really doesn't sound like the issue is app related.
Thanks for the useful info and look forward to hearing back from ya.

[How To] Store Google Music Cache on ExtSDCard

If you're like me and trying to conserve space on the internal sdcard and you use Google Music, this may really help you.
This is actually really easy.
1) Download ROM Toolbox from the market.
2) Create a new folder on your extsdcard and call it whatever you want.
3) Inside that folder create another folder and call it music.
4) Launch ROM toolbox and in the tools section browse to the extsdcard/whatever you named this folder/music
5) Tap and hold the music folder and create a shortcut.
6) Now navigate up the structure to data/data/com.google.android.music/files and paste the shortcut.
7) Delete the "music" folder (you'll need to redownload your music later)
8) Now rename shortcut to "music"
9) Load up Google Music and check "On device music" ,you will now have whatever capacity is available on your extsdcard.
I hope this helps someone. Enjoy......
If you want to say thanks, please check out my blog at lostandtired.com and learn something about #autism
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

I'll definitely be trying this out. Though in my opinion, 11GB of internal storage space is more than enough for cache.
Also, this thread should be moved to the Note II general discussion. Better yet, how about the Android General section, as this would apply to all devices capable of running Google Music.

Stefenatefun said:
I'll definitely be trying this out. Though in my opinion, 11GB of internal storage space is more than enough for cache.
Also, this thread should be moved to the Note II general discussion. Better yet, how about the Android General section, as this would apply to all devices capable of running Google Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope it works for you. If the mods want it moved than so be it. Please don't get caught up in playing forum police, it never ends well. I mean that with all do respect.
This is a productive how to thread. I don't know if this is posted anywhere else, I just thought it would be helpful here as people are concerned about storage.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

Nice.. Any other tips u have for saving space please do share :thumbup:
-TeaM VeNuM Like A Boss
-Galaxy Note II Edition

Now if you could just figure out how to get App Data (like Spider Man, Need For Speed, Aspault, Batman, and etc) to get stored on the external sdcard!

wwjoshdew said:
Now if you could just figure out how to get App Data (like Spider Man, Need For Speed, Aspault, Batman, and etc) to get stored on the external sdcard!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This same principle should work for anything stored in DATA. This doesn't want to work with anything stored on the internal SDcard.

Why doesnt the apps2sd app work. Anyone know this? I asked earlier today in the general forum but nobody has responded. What's the point of external space if we can't use it
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

Stefenatefun said:
I'll definitely be trying this out. Though in my opinion, 11GB of internal storage space is more than enough for cache.
Also, this thread should be moved to the Note II general discussion. Better yet, how about the Android General section, as this would apply to all devices capable of running Google Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not nearly enough when you have the measly 11 gb filled up. Some people like me actually use their phone and no app2sd native is not enough.
Also this guy is part of our Samsung community for some time, and he posted this in the perfect place, where it belongs.
I'm only here for my devices, I don't hang out in android general. I'm sure a lot more people are the same.
.:Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Note II:.

i actually just transferred all my saved google music to my sd card using Directory Bind, a pretty sweet app. it essentially tricks the os and allows any system folder to be directed to a folder on the external card. this also allows you to save game data to the card and not take up valuable space.
for google music songs:
1) install directory bind --> preferences --> make sure the follow are checked: bind on boot, alternate dbase mgmt, persistent service, AND bypass path verification <--this was crucial to making it work
2) add new entry, manually type this in:
source (data) path: /storage/extSdCard/**make up a folder where u want the music** (i used DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/)
mount (target) path: /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ (this seems to differ on older versions of Play Music, and also other devices? maybe.
transferring the data from /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ to /storage/extSdCard/DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/ didnt work via Directory Bind but I took care of this manually with Root Explorer.
after you add the entry, the diskette looking icon should be grey and after you tap on it, should turn green! Green = good. works for me, let me know if directions are misleading...

ROB!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP!!!!
I loved MidNight Rom on the OG epic and the E4GT!!! I thought you had left Sprint. I am so glad to see you back man!

netzer119 said:
i actually just transferred all my saved google music to my sd card using Directory Bind, a pretty sweet app. it essentially tricks the os and allows any system folder to be directed to a folder on the external card. this also allows you to save game data to the card and not take up valuable space.
for google music songs:
1) install directory bind --> preferences --> make sure the follow are checked: bind on boot, alternate dbase mgmt, persistent service, AND bypass path verification <--this was crucial to making it work
2) add new entry, manually type this in:
source (data) path: /storage/extSdCard/**make up a folder where u want the music** (i used DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/)
mount (target) path: /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ (this seems to differ on older versions of Play Music, and also other devices? maybe.
transferring the data from /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ to /storage/extSdCard/DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/ didnt work via Directory Bind but I took care of this manually with Root Explorer.
after you add the entry, the diskette looking icon should be grey and after you tap on it, should turn green! Green = good. works for me, let me know if directions are misleading...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. This helped me out so much.

netzer119 said:
i actually just transferred all my saved google music to my sd card using Directory Bind, a pretty sweet app. it essentially tricks the os and allows any system folder to be directed to a folder on the external card. this also allows you to save game data to the card and not take up valuable space.
for google music songs:
1) install directory bind --> preferences --> make sure the follow are checked: bind on boot, alternate dbase mgmt, persistent service, AND bypass path verification <--this was crucial to making it work
2) add new entry, manually type this in:
source (data) path: /storage/extSdCard/**make up a folder where u want the music** (i used DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/)
mount (target) path: /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ (this seems to differ on older versions of Play Music, and also other devices? maybe.
transferring the data from /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ to /storage/extSdCard/DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/ didnt work via Directory Bind but I took care of this manually with Root Explorer.
after you add the entry, the diskette looking icon should be grey and after you tap on it, should turn green! Green = good. works for me, let me know if directions are misleading...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the link to directory bind? For whatever stupid reason, I'm not able to find it
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

ix3u said:
Do you have the link to directory bind? For whatever stupid reason, I'm not able to find it
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first result in Google for me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410262

faceless said:
first result in Google for me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410262
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.... I was just looking in the play store for it. Figured I was spelling something wrong or it was named something different... I ended up finding it like five minutes after posting and then felt dumb
Thanks for it though
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

netzer119 said:
i actually just transferred all my saved google music to my sd card using Directory Bind, a pretty sweet app. it essentially tricks the os and allows any system folder to be directed to a folder on the external card. this also allows you to save game data to the card and not take up valuable space.
for google music songs:
1) install directory bind --> preferences --> make sure the follow are checked: bind on boot, alternate dbase mgmt, persistent service, AND bypass path verification <--this was crucial to making it work
2) add new entry, manually type this in:
source (data) path: /storage/extSdCard/**make up a folder where u want the music** (i used DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/)
mount (target) path: /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ (this seems to differ on older versions of Play Music, and also other devices? maybe.
transferring the data from /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ to /storage/extSdCard/DirectoryBind/GoogleMusic/ didnt work via Directory Bind but I took care of this manually with Root Explorer.
after you add the entry, the diskette looking icon should be grey and after you tap on it, should turn green! Green = good. works for me, let me know if directions are misleading...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting some odd behavior with this...DirectoryBind seems to be working, and when in Airplane mode, GoogleMusic sees files in the extSdCard folder and recognizes files as saved, but after I play the tracks they reappear in the /data/data/com.google.android.music/files/music/ folder! So after I play the tracks both this folder and the Google Music folder on the extSdCard are the same size? (Before playing, the internal data folder showed as empty.) Any thoughts?
Also I don't seem to be able to use the folder shortcut method with my extSdCard. Rom Toolbox gives me an error that it can't create a shortcut there. (My extSdCard was formatted on the phone, but not sure rt now on exact format type)

Just here to say hello to Rob!! Hope all is well
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work for "relocating" folders that live on the internal sdcard (/sdcard | /storage/sdcard0). Pasting the shortcut results in "operation failed."

siraltus said:
Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work for "relocating" folders that live on the internal sdcard (/sdcard | /storage/sdcard0). Pasting the shortcut results in "operation failed."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think if your on a non touch wiz rom it wont work. It worked for me. Im on touch wiz and works fine for me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

cameljockey1 said:
I think if your on a non touch wiz rom it wont work. It worked for me. Im on touch wiz and works fine for me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on non-touchwiz, Carbon ROM. I followed the instructions exactly as stated in the OP. Everything worked flawlessly.

The only place I seemed to be able to find my saved google music was in this directory
/data/user/0/com.google.android.music/files/music

Two questions about the stock gallery on OnePlus 3.

Hello!
I'm using the OnePlus 3, with latest OTA update.
I want to know if there is a way to either disable or secure the pictures that appear when you swipe left on the camera, like what happens during lockscreen.
Related to this, I was trying to hide stuff in DCIM\>Camera from gallery, and I pasted a .nomedia file into it. The result is that now I can't see anything from Camera folder in the gallery, but it's a major inconvenience.
I tried using Media Scanner to bring everything back, but the app gets stuck on whatsaap sent images and recordings, even when I specify the Camera directory. Please help.
Thanks in advance!

Sskhussaini said:
Hello!
I'm using the OnePlus 3, with latest OTA update.
I want to know if there is a way to either disable or secure the pictures that appear when you swipe left on the camera, like what happens during lockscreen.
Related to this, I was trying to hide stuff in DCIM\>Camera from gallery, and I pasted a .nomedia file into it. The result is that now I can't see anything from Camera folder in the gallery, but it's a major inconvenience.
I tried using Media Scanner to bring everything back, but the app gets stuck on whatsaap sent images and recordings, even when I specify the Camera directory. Please help.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have to remove that file. It will prevent any media scanner from seeing anything in that folder.
You will have to manually move the pics to a separate folder or find a gallery that has a lock option.

zelendel said:
You will have to remove that file. It will prevent any media scanner from seeing anything in that folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for the reply!
Sorry, I forgot to add that I already deleted the .nomedia file. That would be the first thing you do, actually.

Sskhussaini said:
Hey, thanks for the reply!
Sorry, I forgot to add that I already deleted the .nomedia file. That would be the first thing you do, actually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then there is something in the watsapp folder that is causing the iisue. I cant be sure myself as no one I know uses it.

[Fixed]
Thanks for your suggestion, the pictures started becoming visible because of one or more of these steps:
• I used a media scanning app.
• I restarted the phone, after clearing cache and force freezing the app.
• I just shifted all of the contents into another directory and back.
• Or because I viewed one or two images in the directory, which forced the system into scanning the entire folder, after which the pictures started showing up again.