# Stop creating DCIM folder and scaning user photos after the first Syncthing-Fork installation
**URL:** https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274
**Category:** Android
**Created:** [May 4, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274 "2025-05-04T06:05:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@wohenbushuang](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/wohenbushuang)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/1 "2025-05-04T06:05:13Z")
From [Stop creating DCIM folder and scaning user photos after the first installation · Issue #1363 · Catfriend1/syncthing-android · GitHub](https://github.com/Catfriend1/syncthing-android/issues/1363)
> Hi, I’m new here from the deprecated syncthing-android by the recommendation of the Syncthing official website. After I installing Syncthing-Fork from F-droid, it automatically create a folder named “Android camera” and started to scan `/DCIM` . I think this action is unnecessary, and it will take a long time on a long-time used device. Besides, I felt scared when I first saw that this app was scaning my photos!
How about create an empty sync folder, like `/Document/Sync/`, as PC client does(`%user%/Sync/`)?
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### Author:  [@tomasz86](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/tomasz86)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/2 "2025-05-04T07:01:28Z")
This is indeed what happens by default on Android. Just for the record, the same was true for the now defunct official Android app.
> [@wohenbushuang](#):
>
> How about create an empty sync folder, like `/Document/Sync/`, as PC client does(`%user%/Sync/`)?
The default folder called `Sync` is no longer created in the upcoming Syncthing v2 (on any platform).
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### Author:  [@acolomb](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/acolomb)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/4 "2025-05-04T09:11:44Z")
Some reasoning here for my vote: Yes, the use-case of syncing pictures taken on an Android device is very common, useful and desirable. _However_, it is not the only sensible application and not universally wanted by all users. So it comes down to judging the cost / benefit ratio.
If there were no associated costs, we could clearly keep it, as deleting the folder from the config again is very easy. But the real cost is that anything in the pre-existing DCIM folder is scanned, whether the user wants it synced in the end or not. And that is not negligible.
In Syncthing core, the “default folder” concept is about to be ditched as well, even though it had even lower “costs” associated. Because the folder would usually not exist yet, or if it existed, likely be the wanted target anyway (from a previous Syncthing setup for example).
Instead of creating the folder automatically, there could be another page in the first run wizard on Android, to decide whether it should be created or not. Which can still be selected by default.
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### Author:  [@wohenbushuang](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/wohenbushuang)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2025, 9:22am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/6 "2025-05-04T09:22:22Z")
> [@Catfriend1](#):
>
> Create DCIM folder on first Syncthing Android app usage?
Maybe it will be better to be more specific:
**add** DCIM folder on first Syncthing Android app usage
Reason: Because it might be confused with creating a folder in the storage, which has been done by Android system
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### Author:  [@wohenbushuang](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/wohenbushuang)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/7 "2025-05-04T09:35:41Z")
I agreed. My Android OS has builtin gallery cloud syncing service, so I only use Syncthing to sync the office documents, and I also believe other users have their different folder syncing needs.
> [@acolomb](#):
>
> Instead of creating the folder automatically, there could be another page in the first run wizard on Android, to decide whether it should be created or not.
Seems a good idea, and other folders such as `Movies` `Musics` `Documents` `Downloads` can also be listed. Users then can choose via checkboxes what they want to add to Syncthing.
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### Author:  [@marbens](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/marbens)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2025, 4:07am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/9 "2025-05-06T04:07:40Z")
> [@wohenbushuang](#):
>
> Seems a good idea, and other folders such as `Movies` `Musics` `Documents` `Downloads` can also be listed. Users then can choose via checkboxes what they want to add to Syncthing.
I think you mean the `Music` folder, instead of `Musics`, and the oddly named `Download` folder instead of `Downloads`.
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### Author:  [@cosas](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/cosas)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/10 "2025-05-06T18:23:34Z")
The DCIM use case is very common. But this is not the single reason why it is desirable : IMO creating it on first start, maybe after a prompt popup as @Catfriend says above, gives a good example of a folder share with relevant parameters.
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### Author:  [@wohenbushuang](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/wohenbushuang)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/11 "2025-05-09T09:45:33Z")
Yep these are typos, thanks.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.syncthing.net/u/system)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/stop-creating-dcim-folder-and-scaning-user-photos-after-the-first-syncthing-fork-installation/24274/12 "2025-06-08T09:45:49Z")
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