Many users who got Android 11 after previously running Android 10 noticed that the Android Data folder is empty for some reason. The reason is simple and Google calls it Scoped Storage. Luckily, there are still ways to check these files. Learn what apps you need below.
How do I access the Data folder on Android?
With the introduction of Android 11, users can no longer access the Android Data folder with the stock file managers. You can still use apps like Files by Google or File Manager + to access and copy files from the Data folder. However, it’s a one-way street — you can’t move files inside. The best way that comes to mind is to download the Files app. Have in mind that this is just a shortcut of the built-in system file manager. With it, you should be able to access the Data folder.
Arguably, this is a valid security measure. The idea is to push all third-party apps outside of the Android folder (system folder). Google called this Scoped Storage and it gives apps access to only essential parts of the internal storage or SD card.
The problem with this is that some users want to access and move files that are, by default, only found in the Data folder. For example, WhatsApp media files and chat backups are stored there and this change to Data folder accessibility made things harder. Furthermore, the bigger problem for some users is SD card access to the data folder. Some users can’t see files at all, let alone move them. Unless your device is rooted and file explorers have root access, you won’t be able to access them.
What you can do is remove the SD card from your device and try to read it on your PC. If you connect your phone via a USB, the Android\Data on your SD card will be empty. There’s hardly anything you can do to change that. It’s just the way Android deals with Data access on external memory.
With that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions with us in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.
