The recently lost file upload feature in the Nextcloud app for Android

Summary

Dear users, We are aware that for some months, Nextcloud file uploads for Android users have not been working as expected: you cannot upload all data to your Nextcloud, only photos and videos. We have seen your complaints in various forums such as the Nextcloud help forum, on GitHub, Reddit, or other forums. As your experience with the Nextcloud Files app for Android has worsened, we wanted to share the background. Google has revoked a critical permission to sync all files. Despite multiple appeals since mid-2024, Google has refused to reinstate it, forcing us to limit file uploads for millions of users. The Nextcloud file uploads issue means that some media files, such as pictures and videos, can still be uploaded from Android devices to Nextcloud, but all other files cannot. And that is pretty much beating the purpose. Google is stating security concerns as a reason for revoking the permission. This is hard to believe for us. Nextcloud has had this feature since its inception in 2016, and we have never heard about any security concerns from Google about it. Moreover, several Big Tech apps as well as Google’s own still have this. What we think: Google owning the platform means they can and are giving themselves preferential treatment. Despite multiple appeals since mid-2024, Google has refused to reinstate the permission, blocking automated Nextcloud file uploads for millions of users. To make it crystal clear: All of you as users have a worse Nextcloud Files client because Google wanted that. We understand and share your frustration, but there is nothing we can do. The more tech-savvy of you are certainly able to use the alternative app store, such as F-Droid. But for our user base of roughly one million users on the app store, this will hardly be an option. For transparency, we have compiled more background below to help you understand the Nextcloud file upload issue and how Google is abusing its gatekeeper position. Sincerely, the Nextcloud team Error message “C...