Recreated reddit post [OC]

So, I had an issue with the new Smart Audiobook Player version when I installed it on a new(ish) (refurb) phone, and did manage to solve the problem but had already emailed the developer. His solution was so much more elegant than mine, so I’m posting it in case anyone else has the same problem. Also involved was the fact that I had loaded all my books to an external SD card. Here’s his take on how to solve:

The problem is that the system’s External Storage component can lose its normal access to files on Samsung phones with Android 13.

Please check the following: Go to Android Settings–Apps–menu–Special Access (or just search for ‘Special Access’ and choose Apps/Special Access from the results). Tap ‘All Files Access’. Tap the three-dots menu and enable ‘Show System Apps’. Ensure that the ‘External Storage’ app in the list is set to ‘Allowed’.

I also posted, as a comment, what I actually did that worked, and at least one other person said it helped, so here’s that:

I tried all the things, emailed the developer, then tried one more thing and had to email right back, because I got it fixed! This is what I said:

SOLVED:

Well, I got lucky I guess that the very next thing I tried worked!

*Settings > Apps > Options (three dots in upper right corner) > Reset app preferences *

I’m a nut about turning off permissions, and thought that I might have somehow accidentally prevented SABP from being allowed to properly access the files even though it could find them and recognize them. I think that was the case!

Sorry to have troubled you!