DCIM folder write-protected under Android

[Islander]

I’m trying to sync the whole DCIM folder. This used to work on all my other Android phones/tablets.

I set up the folder successfully, but now Syncthing-Fork gives the error message

Files are protected from changes made on other devices, but changes made on this device will be sent to the rest of the cluster. Din Android-version ger Syncthing endast skrivskyddad åtkomst till den valda mappen.

The second part of the error message, translated:

Your Android version gives Syncthing only write-protected access to the selected folder.

I’m using Android 14 on a Xiaomi Redmi note 12.

Is this a known limitation? Can it be circumvented?

It’s an issue for me, since I used to share the DCIM folder between multiple Android phones/tablets. That way, I could snap pictures on my phone, and sort/delete/edit them on my tablet.

[tomasz86]

Is this about a DCIM folder located on the internal storage or an SD card? In either case, please make sure that Syncthing has the “all files access” permission enabled in the Android settings.

[Islander]

Yes, it’s on internal storage (I don’t have an SD card in this phone). I just double-checked that “all files access” is enabled for Syncthing-Fork.

The error message makes it sound like the OS exempts DCIM specifically from access.

[tomasz86]

Have you checked if the same thing happens with any other folder or is it limited to just DCIM?

[Islander]

@tomasz86, it only happens to DCIM. I have a dozen other folders synced on the same device, and have made local and remote changes that synced fine.

[tomasz86]

Yeah, it sounds like some non-standard restrictions, likely implemented by Xiaomi in their version of the Android OS.