Verified Fix

How to Fix Android Error EACCES (Permission denied)

If you are encountering error EACCES (Permission denied) on Android, this guide will help you resolve it.

Quick Summary

The 'EACCES (Permission denied)' error on Android indicates that the application you are using does not have the necessary permissions to access the requested file or directory. This often occurs due to insufficient or improperly granted permissions within the Android operating system.

Common Causes

Insufficient App Permissions: The application hasn't been granted the required permissions to access storage or specific directories. Android's permission model requires apps to explicitly request permissions from the user.
Incorrect File Permissions: The file or directory itself has permissions set that prevent the application from accessing it. This may happen if the file was created or modified by another user or application with different permissions.
External Storage Access Restrictions (Scoped Storage): Android's Scoped Storage feature restricts apps' access to external storage. If an application targets a recent Android version (e.g., Android 11 and above), it needs to use the MediaStore API or request specific permissions for broader access. Without proper implementation, access to certain file paths on external storage may be denied.
SELinux Enforcements: Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is a security module in Android that enforces mandatory access control (MAC) policies. If SELinux policies are misconfigured, they may prevent an app from accessing a file or directory, even if the app has the necessary permissions.

Step-by-Step Fixes

Method 1: Grant Necessary Permissions

Step 1: Navigate to your device's Settings app.

Step 2: Go to 'Apps' or 'Applications'.

Step 3: Locate the application that is throwing the error.

Step 4: Tap on 'Permissions'.

Step 5: Ensure that the necessary permissions, such as 'Storage' or 'Files and media', are granted. Enable the permission if it is disabled.

Step 6: Restart the application and try again.

Method 2: Check File Permissions (ADB Shell Required, Requires USB debugging enabled)

Step 1: Enable USB debugging on your Android device in Developer Options.

Step 2: Connect your device to your computer via USB.

Step 3: Open a terminal or command prompt on your computer and use 'adb shell' to access the device's shell. You might need to accept a USB debugging authorization request on your device.

Step 4: Use the 'ls -l ' command to view the file permissions of the file in question. Replace <filepath> with the actual path to the file or directory.

Step 5: Use 'chmod' to change the file permissions if possible. For example, 'chmod 777 ' would grant read, write, and execute permissions to all users (use with caution). Note that this requires root access on some devices, which is generally not recommended for security reasons.

Step 6: Exit the adb shell and test the application to see if the error is resolved

Method 3: Verify External Storage Access (Scoped Storage)

Step 1: If your application is targeting Android 11 or higher, ensure that it is correctly implementing Scoped Storage requirements

Step 2: For access to media files, use the MediaStore API to query and modify files.

Step 3: If broader access is required, request the 'MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE' permission. Note that Google Play Store has specific guidelines for apps requesting this permission. Misuse can lead to app rejection.

Step 4: For access to app-specific external storage, you don't usually need explicit permissions as these directories are generally accessible to the app and specific uninstall. However, verify your code correctly uses `getExternalFilesDir()` or `getExternalCacheDir()` API to work with these directories.

Method 4: Clear App Data and Cache