How to allow access to the Android OBB folder: a complete guide

With the release of the operating system Android 11 and subsequent versions, including Android 12, 13 and 14, Google has radically changed its file system security policy. Users accustomed to free access to root directories were faced with an unexpected limitation: folders Android/data and Android/obb became hidden from most third-party file managers. This change was dictated by the introduction of the Scoped Storage mechanism, which is designed to protect users' personal data from unscrupulous applications.

However, this created serious difficulties for gamers and advanced users. The inability to manually cache a heavy game or move mod files has become a common problem. The system now requires special permission for each individual application that tries to access system folders. Without this step, you will see an empty directory or receive an access error message.

In this article we will examine in detail all the legal ways to bypass this restriction. We'll look at methods for different file managers, explain why the system behaves this way, and provide step-by-step guide for gaining complete control over cache files. The key point is to understand that access should be given not to the system as a whole, but to a specific file manager through the system file selection window.

Why access to the OBB folder disappeared on new Android

The main reason for the changes was the concept Scoped Storage (limited storage). In earlier versions of Android, apps could request permission to access the entire storage at once, which was often used to harvest data or lead to accidental deletion of system files. Now each application is isolated and can only work in its own sandbox.

The folder obb (OBB - Opaque Binary Blob) is designed to store large amounts of data necessary for the operation of applications, such as textures, music and models in games. Because this data is critical to running apps, Google has limited direct access to it to prevent it from being damaged or modified by malware.

Now, when you try to open this directory through File Explorer, the system redirects you to a special permissions menu. This is not a bug, but a security feature. However, for users who are accustomed to managing files manually, this creates the need to perform additional steps every time they change the file manager or reinstall the system.

⚠️ Attention: Changes in the file access structure may vary depending on the manufacturer's shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS). Some brands may implement their own restrictions on top of Google's standard rules.

It is important to understand that bypassing these restrictions requires using standard system functions, not hacking. There are legal ways to obtain rights, which we will consider further. Using root access for this purpose is often unnecessary and can disrupt the operation of banking applications.

Preparing a file manager to work with OBB

Before you start obtaining access rights, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate tool installed. Standard explorers pre-installed on a smartphone often do not have functionality for requesting special permissions or hide this feature in deep menus.

The most reliable solution is to use specialized applications, such as Total Commander, Files by Google, Material Files or X-plore. These managers are able to correctly handle Android system requests and guide the user through the authorization procedure.

• 📂 Total Commander - a classic two-panel manager that works stably with system paths and allows you to create shortcuts.
• 🎨 Material Files - a lightweight, open explorer with a modern design that ideally follows Google guidelines.
• 🌐 X-plore - a powerful tool with LAN access, clouds and the root system, convenient for advanced users.
• 📁 Files by Google is an official application that sometimes requires additional manipulations, but has a high level of compatibility.

After installing the selected application, do not rush to open the folders. First, you need to grant the application basic permissions to work with files in the system settings. Without this initial step, further actions will not be possible.

Go to Settings → Applications → [Your file manager] → Permissions and make sure that access to “Photos and Videos”, “Audio” and “Files” is activated. Only after this can you proceed to the special access procedure.

Method 1: obtaining root access through ZArchiver (The most popular)

Application ZArchiver is the gold standard for working with archives and the file system on Android. Its interface is intuitive, and the mechanism for requesting access rights has been developed over the years. This is the method most often recommended on forums.

First, open ZArchiver and go to the root of the internal memory. Find the folder Android and try to enter it. The system will automatically redirect you to a system window with a message that access is restricted.

A “Use this folder” button will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click on it. In the window that opens, confirm the action by clicking “Allow”. After this, ZArchiver will have full access to the contents of the folder Android, including obb and data.

⚠️ Attention: If after clicking “Allow” access does not appear, try going to the folder Android, then click on the three dots in the menu and select “Change” or “Select” to force a confirmation window to appear.

Now you can copy files cache (.obb) directly to the desired directory. ZArchiver also knows how to unpack archives directly into the target folder, which is very convenient for installing heavy games.

Method 2: Setting up access in Files by Google and Total Commander

If you prefer standard Files by Google or classic Total Commander, the procedure may be slightly different visually, but the essence remains the same. In Files by Google, when you try to enter a folder Android a system window also pops up.

Unlike ZArchiver, here you sometimes need to manually navigate to the path Internal Storage → Android → obb and click on the “Allow access to folder” pop-up box. In Total Commander, the first time you access a path, you may need to create a desktop shortcut for quick access, but basic rights are requested in the same way.

Total Commander is characterized by the following feature: it can open access to databut block obb or vice versa, depending on the version of the plugin. Make sure that you are using the latest version of the application from Google Play.

In this case, the procedure will have to be repeated. This is normal security behavior.

Compatibility table of methods and versions of Android

Not all methods work equally effectively on different versions of the operating system. Below is a table that will help you navigate depending on the version of your Android.

Android version	Access through a standard explorer	The need for special. permissions	Working with root access
Android 10 and below	Full access	Not required	Not required
Android 11	Limited	Required	Required for full access
Android 12 / 13	Blocked	Required (through the system window)	Recommended
Android 14+	Strictly limited	Required + signature verification	Critical for system changes

As can be seen from the table, starting from the eleventh version, standard methods stop working without the user’s explicit consent. This makes knowledge of the methods described above relevant for most modern smartphones.

If you are the owner of a device with Android 14 or newer, be prepared for the fact that the system may more aggressively block access attempts, requiring confirmation several times for different subfolders.

Solution: errors and problems when copying

Even after obtaining permissions, users may encounter errors when copying files. Most often this is due to the fact that the file already exists in the folder, or the file name contains invalid characters.

Lack of space is also a common problem. Cache files can occupy tens of gigabytes, and if the memory is full, the copy operation will abort. Always check the free space before installing large games.

• 🚫 Error "Could not copy": Try to rename the file, removing special characters, or use an archiver to extract directly inside the destination folder.
• 📉 The file is not visible in the game: Make sure you put the file in the correct location Android/obb/game.package name, and not just to the obb root.
• 🔒 Access denied after reboot: some managers lose rights after rebooting the device, you will need to reopen the folder through the app.

Another important nuance is the naming structure. The folder inside obb must exactly match the application package name (for example, com.rockstargames.gtasa). One error in the symbol will result in the game not seeing the cache.

What to do if the obb folder is empty?

Sometimes the system hides the contents of the folder, even if permission is given. Try going up a level to the Android folder, and then entering obb again. If this does not help, restart the file manager completely, closing it from the list of running applications.

Using a computer to transfer files to OBB

If manipulations on the smartphone screen seem too complicated or inconvenient to you due to the small font size, you can use a computer. Connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable.

In file transfer mode (MTP), the computer sees the phone's file system as an external drive. However, Android 11+ restrictions also apply here: folders data and obb may be displayed as empty.

To bypass this limitation on a PC, you can use command line utilities ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method requires enabling USB debugging in the “For Developers” menu.

adb push file_path.obb /sdcard/Android/obb/package_name/

Using ADB allows you to bypass graphical restrictions and directly write the file to the desired directory if the user has the appropriate rights on the computer. This is the most reliable method for mass data transfer.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete the OBB folder and what will happen?

Deleting the contents of the folder obb manually is not recommended unless you want to reset game data. If you delete files from there, games will stop running or require you to download resources again. The folder itself is a system folder and is needed for applications to work.

Why did access to folders disappear after updating Android?

When the system is updated, temporary security permissions are reset. You need to go through the authorization procedure in the file manager again, since the new level of security requires confirmation of rights for each session of working with system files.

Are root access needed to access OBB on Android 13?

No, root access is not required. The methods described above using the system folder selection window work on devices without superuser rights. Root is only needed to access other protected system partitions.

Is it safe to give access to a file manager?

Yes, if you use a trusted application from the official store Google Play. You only give access to the file system, and not to your passwords or correspondence. However, you should not install unknown browsers from dubious sources.