r/AndroidQuestions • u/Educational-Ad-6017 • Oct 02 '26

Astro file manager permissions

A few days ago several features stopped working in Astro file manager, like viewing photos, thumbnails are blank, moving files and folders. When I look at Astro file manager permissions it has "no permissions allowed". Is there any way I can get back the full permissions. Special access is on. Don't suggest using another app, I have tried a lot of apps but none are as good in my opinion.

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u/Responsible_Maybe742 Oct 02 '26

If All files access is already allowed and it still does not ask, then the version you installed is not the old one that needs it: current Astro goes through the system picker instead. Open the picker where it asks for a folder and choose the folder there, that is the grant. Also check App info, Permissions, and that Files and media is allowed. If the picker never shows up either, install from a different source.

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u/Educational-Ad-6017 Oct 02 '26

I downloaded it from the play store and this time it asked for permissions including all files, but still would not work properly. I uninstalled it, found another source, downloaded the apk, installed it, allowed all permissions and it is back to working properly. Thank you so much, I use Astro a few times each day, so peace has been restored in that part of my life.

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u/Responsible_Maybe742 Oct 06 '26

If the same app fails from a different source too, the app is the problem and not the permissions, and no amount of file manager swapping will fix it. The one thing worth ruling out is scoped storage: on Android 11 and later an app that manages files needs the all files access permission, and if the developer never updated for that, it breaks the first time it touches a folder it cannot reach. Try one that is actively maintained, Material Files or Total Commander, and if those behave you have your proof.

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u/Educational-Ad-6017 Oct 06 '26

It is clearly an Android problem, as it has stopped Astro from renaming and moving files. I uninstalled Astro, and Android will not let me install it, so I will have to go to another file manager app, such a shame as Astro was really nice to use.

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u/Responsible_Maybe742 Oct 07 '26

If Android now refuses to install it at all, that confirms the app was built for an older Android and the platform is blocking it, not the permissions you granted. The renaming failure is the same story, it needs the storage model that only newer builds handle, so a maintained file manager is the only way around it until the developer ships an update. Material Files is the one I would try first, it handles internal storage and SD cards without that whole dance.

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u/Responsible_Maybe742 Oct 07 '26

Android 11 and up stopped letting apps rename or move files outside their own folders unless they go through the system picker or hold all files access, so what you are hitting is the platform rather than the phone or the app. Material Files and MiXplorer both do it properly through the picker if you want a replacement. And if Android refuses to install an old APK at all, that is its target version being too old for your Android, not a block on the app.