### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/1 "2023-11-16T18:09:41Z")
Please check this post; I briefly explain the issue.
> [@Syncing Files from PC to Google TV (Android 11) via USB Drive?](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/syncing-files-from-pc-to-google-tv-android-11-via-usb-drive/21096):
>
> I can sync things between my PC and TV local storage without any issues, but I am unable to make it work with external storage. I received a warning stating, “Your Android version does not allow syncing to external storage devices.” After researching in the community, people mentioned that this issue persists until Android 10, but it has been resolved in Android 11 and beyond. (Via [u/decipher90](https://www.reddit.com/u/decipher90/) If the device is android 10 or below, syncthing will have issues accessing external storages due …
The mentioned issue has apparently been fixed by [@Catfriend1](https://github.com/Catfriend1)
>
>
> After a recent Android update syncthing fails to do what it did just fine before…. I'm "sharing" a file from a writing app and selecting the 'save to syncthing' icon, but the action fails with "0 files copied", and something about checking applications logs (where are they?). Attempting to set the synced folder by tapping on 'browse' produces this error message which has zero google search results:
>
> "Warning: Your Android version does not allow syncing to external storage devices"
>
> The synced folder is shown under "Internal storage" in My Files app, there is no external storage (?).
>
> What does this mean, why did syncthing stop working properly after android update, and how can I get it working again?
If you could take a look at this code and pull it into your next release. (Catfriend1 added lots of cool features to his forked version of Syncthing; it would be great if you could consider that for the release branch. Thank you.)
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### Author:  [@tomasz86](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/tomasz86)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/2 "2023-11-16T20:31:18Z")
As explained on GitHub, the Android app is in maintenance mode, which means that non-critical fixes aren’t likely to happen unless someone steps in and voluntarily comes up with a pull request.
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### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2023, 8:41am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/3 "2023-11-17T08:41:03Z")
> unless someone steps in and voluntarily comes up with a pull request.
Fair.
But I still think it shouldn’t fall under non-critical fixes. Not being able to sync on external devices is critical, I would say.
Hi, @Catfriend1, I saw your fix. Could you please make a pull request to the og repo?
Side note: The nerd inside me went a little further and tried to replicate what you did. I attempted to make the pull request myself, but I’m not completely sure what other code needs to be fixed to make it work with external storage devices.
[Comparing main…LLCodeWiz-patch-1 · LLCodeWiz/syncthing-android · GitHub](https://github.com/LLCodeWiz/syncthing-android/compare/main...LLCodeWiz-patch-1)
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### Author:  [@tomasz86](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/tomasz86)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2023, 8:54am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/4 "2023-11-17T08:54:40Z")
> [@444\_Guy](#):
>
> But I still think it shouldn’t fall under non-critical fixes. Not being able to sync on external devices is critical, I would say.
There can be different definitions, but in this case, “critical” is basically something that either prevents the app from working at all, issues that could lead to data loss, or adjustments required by Google to keep the app on the Play Store.
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### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/5 "2023-11-17T11:44:00Z")
👍
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### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/6 "2023-11-17T13:13:19Z")
Update:
I tried the latest Syncthing-Fork v1.26.1.0 APK from [Releases · Catfriend1/syncthing-android (github.com)](https://github.com/Catfriend1/syncthing-android/releases). However, I’m still facing the external devices issue.
---
### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/9 "2023-11-18T18:07:44Z")
First of all, sorry for any confusion caused by me.
Since my initial research on why it’s not supported on my Android 11 TV, I came across various claims from people stating that on their Android 11 TVs, they can work with external drives with Syncthing just fine.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Syncthing/comments/15l0ma2/comment/jwvhtud/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Syncthing/comments/15l0ma2/comment/jwvhtud/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
so upon serching I landed on this thread on github
>
>
> After a recent Android update syncthing fails to do what it did just fine before…. I'm "sharing" a file from a writing app and selecting the 'save to syncthing' icon, but the action fails with "0 files copied", and something about checking applications logs (where are they?). Attempting to set the synced folder by tapping on 'browse' produces this error message which has zero google search results:
>
> "Warning: Your Android version does not allow syncing to external storage devices"
>
> The synced folder is shown under "Internal storage" in My Files app, there is no external storage (?).
>
> What does this mean, why did syncthing stop working properly after android update, and how can I get it working again?
Based on the above thread, I initially thought the external file picker is not picked up by Syncthing because it was targeted to KitKat. What I got from this comment is that if you just change the Android version, it could work, so it clearly seems it was my mistake.
> What is the exact problem now? Android’s read only restriction on your device regarding external storage?
So, coming back to the original question, my exact problem is that with any third-party file manager,
For eg, I used this [Material Files | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository](https://fdroid.org/en/packages/me.zhanghai.android.files/)
I can read and write with my external drive. It means, on my OS level, it is achievable. However, unfortunately, I can’t do the same with Syncthing.
---
### Author:  [@444\_Guy](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/444_Guy)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2023, 7:36am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/please-fix-the-two-way-synchronization-on-external-devices-android-11/21101/11 "2023-11-19T07:36:51Z")
> [@444\_Guy](#):
>
> I can read and write with my external drive. It means, on my OS level, it is achievable. However, unfortunately, I can’t do the same with Syncthing.
On the Syncthing Android app, using the WEB GUI, I am finally able to sync using an External USB drive. For the solution, please refer to [this](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/syncing-files-from-pc-to-google-tv-android-11-via-usb-drive/21096/19) post.