Haven’t Yet Moved Beyond Android 10? Be Aware of the ‘Scoped Storage’ Impact on Your Device Applications

We write this article when the most recent version of Android is 15. However, we know that enterprises often lag behind in migrating the OS on their mobile devices. There remain many companies which are still running older mobile computers and tablets which are on Android 10 or earlier. However, as time goes on, the aging mobile devices will have to be replaced… the internal IT team will at that time have to contend with newer devices which require more recent versions of Android.

We provide this background and write this article because from Android 11 onward, there have been meaningful changes which can play havoc with the software companies run on their mobile devices. Approach any software written for Android 10 or earlier with some suspicion and be sure to check if the concerns we address below are relevant. Here’s the issue: You may discover that you are unable to run your critical software on newer devices without software updates. This can delay your ability to update failing mobile devices if you have not prepared beforehand.

First some background… what’s with the Android updates?

Every year Google releases a new version of Android, bringing both new features and new challenges for developers and enterprises. For most consumer apps, these updates are a welcome sign of progress. But for businesses that rely on rugged mobile computers and custom-built apps, the changes can disrupt long-established workflows. One of the most significant updates came with Android 11, which enforced a new way of handling file storage called scoped storage.

For companies still running software built for Android 10 or earlier, this shift may cause compatibility issues when moving to newer devices. In this article, we’ll explore what changed in Android 11, why scoped storage was introduced, the risks it poses for legacy apps, and how enterprises can test their readiness for migration.

Why Android Updates Every Year — and What Changed in Version 11

Google’s yearly Android releases serve multiple purposes:

• Security: Closing vulnerabilities and reducing attack surfaces.
• Privacy: Giving users more control over their data and app access.
• Consistency: Streamlining APIs and platform behavior so apps run more reliably across devices.

Android 11 was a major milestone for privacy and data protection. It introduced:

• Stricter storage permissions via scoped storage.
• A new permission for “all files” access (MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE), limited to specific use cases.
• Updates to the MediaStore and Storage Access Framework (SAF), encouraging developers to use standardized APIs for file access.

For enterprises, the biggest shift was the formal enforcement of scoped storage — a new storage model that fundamentally changes how apps read and write files on a device.

What Is Scoped Storage and Why Was It Implemented?

In earlier versions of Android, apps that had permission to read and write external storage could freely access nearly all shared files on a device. That openness led to two problems:

1. Privacy risks — apps could quietly scan, collect, or tamper with files they had no business touching.
2. Security concerns — malicious or poorly written apps could corrupt other apps’ data or expose sensitive information.

Scoped storage was introduced to fix this. Under scoped storage:

• Each app has its own private storage space for files.
• Apps must use MediaStore APIs to add or retrieve shared media (photos, audio, video).
• For arbitrary files, apps must rely on the Storage Access Framework, which requires user approval.
• The broad ability to scan or modify all external storage is gone, except in rare cases where the special MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission is approved.

The intent is simple: protect users’ data while nudging developers toward safer, more consistent APIs.

How Scoped Storage Affects Older Apps

While good for security, scoped storage disrupts many older enterprise apps. Legacy applications often assumed they could:

• Save files anywhere on external storage (/storage/emulated/0/).
• Scan directories to locate data created by other apps.
• Share files freely without user involvement.

With Android 11 enforcing scoped storage, these assumptions break. Common issues include:

• Crashes or file access errors when apps attempt to open or write outside their permitted scope.
• Missing data when directory scans no longer return expected files.
• Compatibility failures when the requestLegacyExternalStorage flag (which helped on Android 10) is ignored on Android 11 and higher.
• Publishing restrictions since Google Play only allows the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission for specific app categories.

In short, workflows that depend on open file access — such as barcode scanning apps that export CSV logs to shared folders — may not work without significant code updates.

How to Test Your Software for Android 11+ Compatibility

Many organizations still run older devices with Android 10 or earlier. Before upgrading hardware, it’s critical to test whether existing apps can handle the scoped storage model. Here’s how:

1. Inventory Devices and Apps

• Record the models and Android versions of all devices in use.
• List all business-critical apps and their versions.

2. Check App Configurations

• Verify each app’s targetSdkVersion. If it’s below 30, it may behave differently once rebuilt or updated.
• Look for code or libraries that reference direct file paths like /sdcard/ or Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().

3. Run Tests on Android 11

• Install apps on an Android 11 emulator or test device.
• Exercise all file-related workflows (import/export, sync, file scanning).
• Use adb logcat to catch SecurityException or file-not-found errors.

4. Validate Business Workflows

• Confirm that critical flows — such as data capture, exports, and sync — still work as intended.
• If apps rely on shared files, test whether SAF or MediaStore integrations are required.

5. Plan Migration Strategies

• Preferred: Update apps to use MediaStore or SAF for file handling.
• Fallback: For in-house apps not distributed via Play, use MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE cautiously.
• Interim: Migrate data flows so apps exchange files through app-private storage or user-approved exports/imports.

CSSI Technologies Can Help with Android Migration & Software Challenges

Organizations relying on rugged devices running Android 10 or earlier should proactively test their apps on Android 11 to uncover compatibility issues before upgrading hardware fleets. By auditing apps, running real-world workflow tests, and planning a migration path, businesses can ensure that critical applications remain reliable and compliant as they move into newer versions of Android.

You may lack the resources or expertise to tackle one or both of Android migrations and test for or correct issues with your in-house developed software. CSSI can help. We offer support services for mobile device management and OS upgrades, even on an ad-hoc basis. For software challenges, our team of developers is available to consult on updating your internal software to be compatible with Android 11 and up. We have built experience in navigating these issues with multiple clients, and can accelerate your upgrades. Please contact us at CSSI to discuss Android updates and scoped storage challenges.