Downloaded media path not parsed to OS?

[ggdorman]

Checklist

• I am able to reproduce the bug with the latest version.
• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - which I could contribute my information to.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Affected version

0.24.0

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Go to downloads
2. Open any downloaded media file

Expected behavior

Media plays properly in all apps.

Actual behavior

Behaviour is different depending on the app.
Metro (music player) for example crashes.
Phonograph just opens as normal without playing the file.
Samsung Video Player plays the media but doesn't offer the "Delete" button, among others, in the playback options menu, though it does when playing the same file from the gallery.

It's hard for me to tell whether this is a single issue or not, as every app behaves differently.
Dialog Music Player (F-Droid) handles playback just fine for example.
My best guess is that media player apps are not properly receiving the path of the downloaded media.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

Logs

No response

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

Android 12 (OneUI 4)

Affected device model

No response

Additional information

No response

[opusforlife2]

Depends on what the path is. Paste it here after removing any personal info.

[ggdorman]

Not sure if this is what you meant but here's an example:
/storage/emulated/0/Movies/NewPipe/Big Buck Bunny.mp4

[opusforlife2]

Do all these apps you mentioned have access to that folder?

[ggdorman]

Thanks for bringing that up. I think they actually might not have access. I tried opening a downloaded video in Nova Video Player and interestingly it doesn't play, and displays a warning that it can't access the file. Opening files downloaded with NewPipe works fine when doing it from another app or the file manager, but when opening from NewPipe itself it seems access is limited or unavailable in some situations.
What are your thoughts?

[opusforlife2]

Have you disabled your default SAF provider? Try using Material Files from F-Droid.

[ggdorman]

Sorry, I don't really know what a SAF provider is. If you mean the downloads folder, I have it set to /storage/emulated/0/Movies/ for videos. I use Material Files and it opens everything fine. The issue is only when opening media from within NewPipe.

[opusforlife2]

All your files will play fine when opened from a file manager because that's what they're designed to do.

I tried opening a downloaded video in Nova Video Player and interestingly it doesn't play, and displays a warning that it can't access the file.

But for apps like Newpipe and Nova that aren't file managers, they need to request the OS for the path to the file, the "content URI" to be specific. The OS has a default file manager (usually DocumentsUI) that handles such requests. Your OS doesn't seem to have it, or has disabled it.