Backup on mobile Electrum | Bitcointalksearch.org

BitMaxz

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Quote from: Edwardard on February 21, 2023, 11:57:57 PM

This bug still hasn't been fixed after android 10 was introduced and you can't do anything by playing with the settings. I read somewhere that this bug is occuring probably due to the "scooped storage" function which was first introduced in android 10.

I don't think this is a bug but it looks like the same as apple devices to secure storage but this time for Android 10 and above they called it scoped storage aka fused.

The only guide that I haven't tried yet is the guide from the XDA forum because it requires OEM enabled and must be rooted but it looks like it would work.

I found the guide here below if someone wants to try it
- https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/closed-module-scoped-storage-disabler-11.4348419/

HCP

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Quote from: nc50lc on February 21, 2023, 04:24:19 AM

Should be in your internal storage (not root), inside a folder named "org.electrum.electrum".
There'll be no notification but an in-app message near the center of Electrum saying "Backup saved" followed by the backup directory.

Yeah... I don't get that "toast" message (the in-app popup)... it just drops straight back to the wallet overview screen and there is no org.electrum.electrum folder created anywhere.

I'm running on a Samsung Galaxy S20FE on Android 13, so I assume it's related to the issue that Edwardard referenced regarding storage issues and the way that Electrum is attempting to access the file system. I'd take a dig around the source code, but I haven't done any Android dev work in a looooooooooong time... not even sure I have the ADB installed these days Undecided

Edwardard

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Quote from: BitMaxz on February 21, 2023, 11:24:48 AM

It was working before on Android 9 but after the update it doesn't work anymore and the problem is I can't able to go back to the old Android version.
Tried to change a few settings on developer settings to allow permission to storage but still, it does not work.

This bug still hasn't been fixed after android 10 was introduced and you can't do anything by playing with the settings. I read somewhere that this bug is occuring probably due to the "scooped storage" function which was first introduced in android 10. This stops some apps from accessing the system's external storage directly. But this wasnt the case for older android versions. Thats why users having android 9 and below aren't facing this issue.

BitMaxz

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I have a Samsung phone upgraded to Android 10 but the same thing happened to me can't able to save the wallet file always permission denied.

However, I can able to back up the seed phrase and private key the only that doesn't work is the exporting wallet file.

It was working before on Android 9 but after the update it doesn't work anymore and the problem is I can't able to go back to the old Android version.
Tried to change a few settings on developer settings to allow permission to storage but still, it does not work.

nc50lc

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Quote from: HCP on February 21, 2023, 02:01:21 AM

Quote from: khaled0111 on February 16, 2023, 11:15:49 AM

-snip-

Out of curiosity... where did Electrum export your wallet backup to? Or were you using a copy of the 'actual' wallet file that you exported from the protected app folder using 'root' permissions?

Should be in your internal storage (not root), inside a folder named "org.electrum.electrum".
There'll be no notification but an in-app message near the center of Electrum saying "Backup saved" followed by the backup directory.

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Quote from: khaled0111 on February 16, 2023, 11:15:49 AM

I tried exporting a backup of my electrum wallet on Android and import it into electrum on PC but it didn't work. I assume there is a compatibility issue.

Out of curiosity... where did Electrum export your wallet backup to? Or were you using a copy of the 'actual' wallet file that you exported from the protected app folder using 'root' permissions?

When I select the "Export Backup" option on my phone it doesn't seem to do anything. I get no notification/'toast' message to say it's been exported, but I don't get any error messages either, it just switches back to the default wallet view (with Send/History/Receive tabs etc).

nc50lc

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Quote from: khaled0111 on February 16, 2023, 11:15:49 AM

Quote from: nc50lc on February 11, 2023, 12:39:56 AM

The backup file is a complete copy of your wallet file. It should be compatible with PC Electrum and protected with the password that you've set.

I tried exporting a backup of my electrum wallet on Android and import it into electrum on PC but it didn't work. I assume there is a compatibility issue.
Here is the error message I got when I tried to import the wallet backup file:

That's because the wallets' versions don't match, the error is self-explanatory.
You can import an older wallet file to a newer Electrum client but not to an older Electrum client.

You're using either of the versions 4.0.2 up to 4.07 in your Desktop while using the latest in Android.
(based from the "storage version" in the error)

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Quote from: nc50lc on February 11, 2023, 12:39:56 AM

The backup file is a complete copy of your wallet file. It should be compatible with PC Electrum and protected with the password that you've set.

I tried exporting a backup of my electrum wallet on Android and import it into electrum on PC but it didn't work. I assume there is a compatibility issue.
Here is the error message I got when I tried to import the wallet backup file:

Quote from: NotATether on February 14, 2023, 07:14:26 AM

Why is this even necessary? All Electrum would need, theoretically, is the user permission to access the user's files in order to make its own directory to store the backups, and restore from them as well. Root access should not be required to access the backup file.

Sorry if my previous reply was not so clear. I was talking about the original wallet file not the backup file. Not sure about others, but on my mobile the whole directory is hidden so a user you can't access it. This is why I said you need root privileges to see it.

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Quote from: khaled0111 on February 10, 2023, 02:23:03 PM

Husires and dkbit are right, you need root privileges to be able to see and access the wallet file. You will have to root your device to be able to copy the wallet file and transfer it to another device. I don't recommend doing this for security reasons.

Why is this even necessary? All Electrum would need, theoretically, is the user permission to access the user's files in order to make its own directory to store the backups, and restore from them as well. Root access should not be required to access the backup file.

Charles-Tim

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Quote from: Abdussamad on February 11, 2023, 08:33:09 AM

there is a bug in electrum android that leads to errors like this:

https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/6774

Thanks for this reply, I was kind of pretty sure the error is not from my side.

Quote from: Husires on February 11, 2023, 05:31:24 PM

@Charles-Tim what is your Android/wallet version?
I read some comments in above link and some of them indicate that the problem is related to Android 10.
I tried it on Android 9 Wallet version 4.3.2 without problems.

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 11, 2023, 06:17:31 PM

Can you tell us more information, what device you are using and what version of Android?

Android 12, running the lastest update. I later tried it on my old device which I remembered I have exported the file before successfully, it did not also work now, but I upgraded the device from Android 9 to android 10 immediately the phone Android 10
OS was released.

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 11, 2023, 06:17:31 PM

Did you mes around with your smartphone, maybe installing some custom android rom, rooting phone and unlocking it?

No

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Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 12:45:43 PM

The file storage permission is enabled, just like I meant before.

Can you tell us more information, what device you are using and what version of Android?
Did you mes around with your smartphone, maybe installing some custom android rom, rooting phone and unlocking it?
If everything worked fine on different device you can use it again, or maybe try installing Electrum in android emulator for testing.

Husires

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Quote from: Abdussamad on February 11, 2023, 08:33:09 AM

there is a bug in electrum android that leads to errors like this:

https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/6774

Woow some reports from 2020. Shocked

@Charles-Tim what is your Android/wallet version?
I read some comments in above link and some of them indicate that the problem is related to Android 10.
I tried it on Android 9 Wallet version 4.3.2 without problems.

It is looks like related to Scoped storage in Android 10

Quote

To give users more control over their files and to limit file clutter, apps that target Android 10 (API level 29) and higher are given scoped access into external storage, or scoped storage, by default. Such apps have access only to the app-specific directory on external storage, as well as specific types of media that the app has created.

Abdussamad

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there is a bug in electrum android that leads to errors like this:

https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/6774

nc50lc

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Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 12:45:43 PM

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 10, 2023, 10:52:45 AM

This error is certainly related with your device app permission.

The file storage permission is enabled, just like I meant before. I used another device just of recent, there was a request to allow Electrum to allow camera and media, I clicked on 'allow', but the same error occured after I allowed it. Which means it is not by default like I meant before, but I checked the media permission, and it was set on allowed, I allowed it before. When I first saw the error, I checked it and it was set on 'allow'.

For reference, the error will be different if you didn't grant it media storage permission, so the issue must be something else related to your device.
The error would be "Cannot save backup without STORAGE permission".

Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 07:17:58 AM

Third question
How can it be possible to successfully use file backup on mobile Electrum to recover your wallet on mobile phone? I remember I wanted to try it in the past, but I was unable to.

The backup file is a complete copy of your wallet file. It should be compatible with PC Electrum and protected with the password that you've set.
The issue is, there's no option to load it to mobile Electrum.

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Husires and dkbit are right, you need root privileges to be able to see and access the wallet file. You will have to root your device to be able to copy the wallet file and transfer it to another device. I don't recommend doing this for security reasons.

Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 12:45:43 PM

I just want to post about how pin on Electrum mobile wallet can be very useful, I have the topic already. If the file backup can still make the pin to be enabled, that will not defeat the purpose of the topic, but if the pin is not backup on the file, that will defeat the purpose of my topic. But everything about wallet are backup on its file, I guess the pin will be among the backup.

I got your point and I believe I understand what you are trying to achieve but I think it's pointless!
In order for the second wallet to know about existence of the pin code, that information needs to be already saved on the wallet file. If you have the password required to decrypt the wallet then you can easily retrieve it, which makes it pointless.

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Quote from: Husires on February 10, 2023, 09:38:58 AM

Open the files and make sure that you can access this folder. (you may need a rooted phone to navigate it) Anyway it is storage permission problem

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 10, 2023, 10:52:45 AM

This error is certainly related with your device app permission.

The file storage permission is enabled, just like I meant before. I used another device just of recent, there was a request to allow Electrum to allow camera and media, I clicked on 'allow', but the same error occured after I allowed it. Which means it is not by default like I meant before, but I checked the media permission, and it was set on allowed, I allowed it before. When I first saw the error, I checked it and it was set on 'allow'.

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 10, 2023, 10:52:45 AM

Don't you already have seed words as offline backup written on paper that was generated when you first started Electrum wallet?
Importing that should work just fine in desktop wallet or any other smartphone, unless you want to backup labels and other data from Electrum.

I just want to post about how pin on Electrum mobile wallet can be very useful, I have the topic already. If the file backup can still make the pin to be enabled, that will not defeat the purpose of the topic, but if the pin is not backup on the file, that will defeat the purpose of my topic. But everything about wallet are backup on its file, I guess the pin will be among the backup.

Quote from: dkbit98 on February 10, 2023, 10:52:45 AM

I am not a big fan of Electrum mobile wallet, their desktop wallet is much better product.

I too prefer desktop Electrum, but some people are using mobile Electrum, which is the reason I want too make the topic because pin is not set on mobile Electrum by default, you have to enable it. Desktop Electrum has more features, clear and undebatable how desktop Electrum is far better. With sincerity, I prefer to use Bluewallet on mobile phone than Electrum because it has more features.

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Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 07:17:58 AM

I wanted to do a file backup on mobile Electrum but I was unable to. This is the error

Don't you already have seed words as offline backup written on paper that was generated when you first started Electrum wallet?
Importing that should work just fine in desktop wallet or any other smartphone, unless you want to backup labels and other data from Electrum.
I am not a big fan of Electrum mobile wallet, their desktop wallet is much better product.

Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 07:17:58 AM

What is causing the error?

This error is certainly related with your device app permission.

Husires

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Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 09:11:01 AM

File storage permission is enabled by default on the app setting, I even checked this before I posted this topic. Only permission to camera is not enabled, but camera has nothing to do with storage. Although, I enabled the camera's permission also and still the same error. All permissions enabled and yet the same error.

Open the files and make sure that you can access this folder. (you may need a rooted phone to navigate it) Anyway it is storage permission problem

Code:

/data/data/org.electrum.electrum/files/data/wallets

If you can't then you probably deleted it by mistake
if you can access your 12 words, save them, delete your wallet and reinstall it.

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I know the function of the password and pin. Just want to know if the pin is backed up with file? To know if it will still be effective after you recover back your wallet from file backup.

Quote from: Husires on February 10, 2023, 08:51:12 AM

It is related to necessary permissions, The solution method will differ according to the version of Android you are using, but go to Settings, Electrum application and give the required permissions (access to phone data.)

File storage permission is enabled by default on the app setting, I even checked this before I posted this topic. Only permission to camera is not enabled, but camera has nothing to do with storage. Although, I enabled the camera's permission also and still the same error. All permissions enabled and yet the same error.

Quote from: Husires on February 10, 2023, 08:51:12 AM

PIN Code is the method that the wallet uses to sign transaction and therefore without it you may not be able to sign a transaction.

You mean after the wallet is recovered from file backup? I just want to be sure. I am also waiting to see the posts of other reputed BTT members to confirm this.

Quote from: Husires on February 10, 2023, 08:51:12 AM

you can cancel PIN Code from the Settings page but if you miss your wallet open, anyone can send from it.

The pin is off by default, you will have to enable it first.

Husires

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Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 07:17:58 AM

I wanted to do a file backup on mobile Electrum but I was unable to. This is the error:

Code:

Cannot save backup: PermissionError (13, 'permission denied')

First question
What is causing the error?

It is related to necessary permissions, The solution method will differ according to the version of Android you are using, but go to Settings, Electrum application and give the required permissions (access to phone data.)

Quote from: Charles-Tim on February 10, 2023, 07:17:58 AM

But what about the pin, if you have recovered you Electrum wallet, will the pin still be effective? Or the wallet won't no longer require pin if you want to check your seed phrase, private key and if you want to make transaction?

PIN Code is the method that the wallet uses to sign transaction and therefore without it you may not be able to sign a transaction. The password is the key to decrypting your wallet file without it you need to brute force it to find your private keys.

you can cancel PIN Code from the Settings page but if you miss your wallet open, anyone can send from it.

Topic: Backup on mobile Electrum (Read 248 times)