Storage switched back to internal at every reboot [Samsung Galaxy S7/S8, encrypted SD]

[bill_hobkins]

Samsung Galaxy S7, Android 7, patch level 12.2017 (stock)
Spotify version 8.4.35.152 armV7
64GB Kingston MicroSD UHS-3
SD card encrypted, using stock encryption

Hey!

As reported several times and always closed without solution:

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Ongoing-Issues/Android-encrypted-SD-Card-Offline-Music-lost-on-Rebo...
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Ongoing-Issues/Samsung-Galaxy-S7-S7-Edge-w-SD-Card-Offline-Tracks-D...

Spotify changes external storage to internal storage at each reboot, deleting all songs and having to redownload everything. The reason is that Samsung phones need about 30 seconds after boot to mount encrypted MicroSD card. The Spotify BACKGROUND service starts before (automatically, without user interaction) and so does not find the MicroSD card. It then switches to internal storage without user interaction and de-syncronize each playlists.

SOLUTION:

A simple workaround would be for the service to wait 60 seconds or until the app is launched after boot time before checking the storage state.

The issue is apparently present since at least 2016 on all Samsung phones including the S8/S8+ and Note 8. Without resolution, I am thinking about switching to a concurrent service.

Thanks to have a look at it seriousely.

Forum posts about the issue:
https://community.spotify.com/t5/forums/v3_1/forumtopicpage/board-id/spotifyandroid/thread-id/59790/...
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Android/Encrypted-sd-card-causes-Spotify-to-lose-offline-music/td-p...
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Ongoing-Issues/Samsung-Galaxy-S7-S7-Edge-w-SD-Card-Offline-Tracks-D...

[pernsdorff]

As also mentioned in other posts, this is not only an issue with Samsung nor encrypted. Have the exact issue on 2 other fairly generic Android devices without encrypted SD cards.

[bill_hobkins]

You are right, I guess the bug exists as long as the system does not compete the MicroSD card mounting before the Spotify background service starts, encrypted or not, Samsung or not.

[charno]

Thank you for posting. The user elfranchu has found a workaround that actually works: Installing the spotify app on the sd card. With the installation on the sd, the app can't start before the SD is decrypted. You can find a howto at https://youtu.be/PfN0S2RiOS4 (Move app to SD). To have developer options, you have to first enable developer mode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eJXHhploOo).

It's a shame that we have to rely to such hacky workarounds. I would strongly prefer for spotify to actually care about us paying customers instead...!

[bill_hobkins]

Thank you for the solution you provided. I tried it and confirmed that it works but as you say it's a very "hacky" way. Indeed, you have to enable the developper settings (most people never do that) to force the app on the SD card (by default Spotify does not allow the app to be moved to the SD card) this is already out of reach of most users, let alone that they get to know this solution. Finally, moving the app on the SD card slows down the app so this is only a very partial solution.

This bug is still valid and should be adressed.

[pernsdorff]

By the way, last week I somewhat accidentally ran in to another possible solution. I changed the Android settings to use the SD card as default storage. When I reinstalled Spotify it automatically set its storage location to be the SD card. My first reboot test still had my downloaded content. 

[bill_hobkins]

I guess you mean using the "adoptable storage" Android function, then yes Spotify will work correctly since the system will not load anything before mounting the SD card but adoptable storage is not available on Samsung phones.

[pernsdorff]

Of course every phone implementation is going to have different features.

Its not the "adoptable" or "smart". On my Android music device - an Onkyo - under the Settings -> Apps, there is a setting available to choose "Preferred Install Location" and I can choose "Removable SD Card". Funny thing is that since Spotify is built to not allow install to SD Card, it installed to the system storage, but, used SD as its default storage. This appears to work so far.

I suspect that having the option set changes how the device boots and mounts the SD card since now it thinks it needs to find app content there.

[Hubo]

Hey folks! Thanks for your reports!

I understand your frustration. Great to hear things are working again after the solution @charno posted. Rest assured, the right folks are still looking into this. If you need any help in the meanwhile, feel free to give me a shout! 🙂

Have an awesome day!

[pernsdorff]

Nice copy/paste canned response - and why did you close this item yet again!

Been giving out shouts for a long time -- not a peep as to a solution/suggestion from the "right folks". 

Certainly looking forward to another product catching up to Spotify so that a switch is reasonable - and not using an Apple product 😉

[Hubo]

Hey @pernsdorff!

I understand your frustration. All information on the issue has been passed on to the right teams at Spotify and they're looking into this. Meanwhile, I recommend following @charno's solution, as that helped for some users. Let me know if there's anything else.

Take care! 🙂