[Google Pixel 4 XL Questions & Answers] rdragoni:
Just discovered the limits of scoped storage as well.

Actually, I have a Pixel 3A, then I'm a "dirty foreigner" here...

Anyway, a little anecdote about how I discovered that I should have listened to my inner voice, "don't change a winning team".

I was happy and rock-solid with an old, stable version of A10, still March 2020 update.

Rooted with Magisk, system-less hosts, pixel launcher editor and few other Magisk modules, Ad-away root.

Everything was working as a charm, including all my favourites "vintage" apps: OI notepad, ES file explorer 4022 system-less and triggered apk, Dolphin browser (old and "fine tuned" apk) used as a text viewer as well... it was the only text-viewer with "find in page" capability to search for a given word/string within a text.

Since Sept 2020, after months of silence (no update notifications since March 2020) I have been prompted daily, by android system , to update to A11. I resisted a few weeks, let's say a month... aware of the gold rule "don't change a winning team".

Few days ago, reassured by the successful feedback from several Magisk users, I decided to give it a try.

What a mess... The first attempt completely messed up my loved and stable configuration.

I had to flash-all (with "-w" removed) several times just to have a bootable phone. Of course, root was gone.

Then, I have been trying for days every Master/Beta/Canary versions, without success.

The only working solution was to flash back the stock boot image, forgetting root and customization capabilities (mainly pixel launcher).

Yesterday, not sure why, I was lucky enough to have a rooted bootable config.

For the record: MagiskManager 8.02 master branch, Magisk 21 beta branch. Screen lock removed, SIM lock removed.

I don't know if the screen/sim lock has an impact, but it worked for me after 2/3 consecutive "flash boot" of magisk_patched.

I was happy like a baby on Xmas eve, and spent again a few hours to set my phone to my preferred config.

I just had to find a new "best choice" file manager (ES doesn't work with the new root/file system policies).

Everything seemed to work fine, until today...

I was just trying to open a TXT file (c'mon, the basics!) from the file explorer, choosing "Dolphin" or "Oi notepad" as the viewer.

Both apps didn't handle the request. OI notepad by simply closing, Dolphin by showing a "not available page".

I have tried different file managers, re-enabled Files "by google" (disabled by default in my phones, as well as google app), gave any possible permissions to the apps. No way to get the file opened.

Then, by googling, I discovered this beautiful new feature of "Scoped storage"... and I think I found the culprit.

Well, that's were I am now, with limited access to MY file system.

What the f##k! Why did I struggle to be a "su" user?!

No control on file system policies, my "vintage" apps completely useless, and no open-source, ad-free, not-bloated app available.

I'm really thinking about going back to A10 for a while... and forever respect te rule "don't change a winning team".

Sorry for the long outburst :-/ just wanted to share with you my hassle.

I think I will copy and paste this to the proper section, Pixel 3a.

Never give up! We'll not allow Google to become the new Apple :D

Cheers,

Riccardo