The VideoLAN Forums

Hi,
I have searched but cannot find an answer, sorry if I have missed it.

I have a Samsung S4 I9505 OS KitKat 4.4.2 I really want to use VLC because I have always had it on my laptop
My problem is that it can not see the folders on the sdcard.
I entered /storage/extsdcard/ and tried a few alternatives but with no luck it is seeing the sd card but shows nothing on it also I now have an extSdCard & an extsdcard folder I need to delete one.
I have a video folder, Music Tango folder & Music Salsa Folder on the sdcard

I would appreciate it if someone could help

Thanks

Michael

You can select it in the directories option in the preferences.

Hi,
No Preferences just shows the check box for the internal memory and the option to Add a custom path which I entered as shown in my first message.
I now have 2 folders but neither show any contents.

Thanks

Michael

Is the folder spelled correctly (including case sensitivity)?

Can it be access through a file manager application like OI File Manager?

I entered /storage/extSdCard/ and tried a few alternatives but with no luck. I now have an extSdCard Folder showing in VLC but there are no files inside.
ES File explorer shows extSdCard and all the folders on it and mp4 tracks inside the music folders.
Thanks

Michael

If the file manager can't see it, VLC cannot see it either.

Hi,
I do not understand why you have said that.
I put ES File explorer shows extSdCard and all the folders on it and mp4 tracks inside the music folders.

Michael

Then VLC should work fine. Make sure the capitalization is correct. Don't forget to refresh VLC so that it picks up the new files.

Hi,
When I open the side menu VLC lists
Video
Audio
Directories
History

Video shows "No media files found, Please transfer files to your device or adjust your preferences"
Audio shows nothing just a blank screen
Directories
Internal shows 16 subfolders
extStdCard shows nothing just a blank screen

I have entered extStdCard with the capitals because that is the way it is shown in FS File explorer which also lists the music folders and mp3 tracks inside.

I do not know what to try next

Thanks

Michael

Hi vlc developer,
Just noticed this tread.
Apparentely, it's a new kitkat feature as more apps have this issue.
Below is an article i found on this topic.

I hope you can fix this in the new version....
"

If your app reads from external storage...

Your app can not read shared files on the external storage when running on Android 4.4, unless your app has the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission. That is, files within the directory returned by getExternalStoragePublicDirectory() are no longer accessible without the permission. However, if you need to access only your app-specific directories, provided by getExternalFilesDir(), then you do not need the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
"

According to Google:

If your application already requests write access, it will automatically get read access as well.

Since we request the more powerful android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE this should not be a concern.

Hi Edward,
I am not a programmer but there is really an issue here.
When you browse to the sd card within vlc on android 4.4.2 it shows nothing at all.
Same card and files and android 4.3 there is no issue.

Same story for my tomtom app as well
But my internal storage cannot hold all my media files and my tomtom maps

Can you please investigate this ?
I am willing to test things for you if needed.

Hi Edward,
I am not a programmer but there is really an issue here.
When you browse to the sd card within vlc on android 4.4.2 it shows nothing at all.
Same card and files and android 4.3 there is no issue.

Same story for my tomtom app as well
But my internal storage cannot hold all my media files and my tomtom maps

Can you please investigate this ?
I am willing to test things for you if needed.

https://my.owndrive.com/public.php?serv ... TORAGE.apk

Hi Edward,

Just tried the version you shared with the same result, I added some pictures to show you:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/os53qon3qz5i3 ... nshot1.jpg
As you can see i does not mention any files or directories in the ExtSdCard folder.
When you click on this you get nothing see screenshot2:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/at5d63wcm18b5 ... nshot2.jpg
The files are there and can be seen with mx player of the file explorer, see screenshot3 below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9cnw2wetqt0s ... nshot3.jpg

Regards,
Rene

Use this build: https://my.owndrive.com/public.php?serv ... TORAGE.apk

Browse to the problematic folder

Dump logcat log (Preferences → Advanced debugging)

Paste contents of log here.

Unfortunately that version won't install.
It stays forever at installing see below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4o83x51argau7 ... nshot4.jpg

Try to uninstall and reinstall using the provided APK or use a nightly build.

Managed to install this debug version and below is the debug output file.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aaf2wh2la58zh ... 073730.log
I hope this helps.

VLC is browsing /mnt/media_rw/extSdCard

If this folder is not accessible, then there is no way VLC can play files from this folder.

All i did is select extsdcard from the screenshot below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/os53qon3qz5i3 ... nshot1.jpg
Then i can't see any files on the sd, see below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/at5d63wcm18b5 ... nshot2.jpg

There are in fact files on the external sd as you can see in the screenshot from the filemanager..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9cnw2wetqt0s ... nshot3.jpg

As i mentioned before on android 4.3 with same card i could browse from within vlc without any issues.

Yes, but I see that screenshot3.jpg has a different path no?

The screenshot with the files is from the root of the extsdcard.
Within vlc there is nothing to select, it just says extsdcard and cannot find files there.

Try adding the custom path that the file managers can see directly.

Creating this account to share I am experiencing exactly the same problem as TS. It is definitely a bug. Was working fine previously. Reinstalled vlc but same problem. ES File Explorer can find files on the extsdcard and I can even play the mp4 using vlc inside ESFE.

Samsung Note 3
Android 4.4.2

Try adding the custom path that the file managers can see directly.

Tried that as well same issue.