.nomedia BIN files

QemuQat

I haven't used my phone with GrapheneOS for a while after a previous factory reset. I just started using it again maybe however many days ago - 3 or 4.

Despite this, I got a bunch of these strange 0 Byte .nomedia files from the 8th of November last year out of nowhere today... and whenever I delete them they reappear, but with the current date and time of deletion. :c

Any idea of common causes or what to troubleshoot?

Developer-Dude

QemuQat have you started downloading anything from Vanadium and then cancel it midway? This'll cause it. It could be the ghost file mystery!
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/2485-cant-delete-ghost-file-from-downloads-in-files-app/27
Here, @Novalissoide discovered a neat trick to get rid of them that works
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/28941-just-got-rid-of-empty-ghost-files-using-simple-trick

As per this comment:
https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/2329#issuecomment-2364571618

I just altered system time to ten days in the future, got into stock Files app downloads folder. Deleted the files, took three seconds then they disappeared. Re-enabled Automatic time & date.

Johnnyloans

QemuQat strange 0 Byte .nomedia files

QemuQat whenever I delete them they reappear, but with the current date and time of deletion. :c

Any idea of common causes or what to troubleshoot?

The operating system or apps can place this file inside of a folder.

It means: skip this folder if you're looking for pictures, videos, or audio files.

You can use this to have a hidden folder/album of pictures or videos. It won't show up in your gallery app or media player.

In any app that allows you to view folders, you can still go to it manually if you know it is there: pictures > secret_folder > open picture

It's harmless. In your file explorer app, you can hide the hidden files/folders if it bothers you.

QemuQat

Developer-Dude

I just tried the solution cited and unfortunately have had no success. I haven't canceled or attempted downloads from Vanadium, but have previously canceled apks from Obtainium. Thank you regardless.

Developer-Dude

QemuQat I haven't canceled or attempted downloads from Vanadium, but have previously canceled apks from Obtainium.

Interesting. I wonder if this is related? Wherever these ghost files come from, they are harmless. They seem to go away by themselves if left alone for a while (and yes, sometimes it is a while).

QemuQat

Johnnyloans are you suggesting it can be opened as an image file in viewing apps, and when does the Operating System build or place these files into any given folder - is it just routine? And how would I prevent applications from building these files? I haven't created any hidden files, unless this is a placeholder for the files in a different user space.

Johnnyloans

QemuQat are you suggesting it can be opened as an image file in viewing apps

No, .nomedia file cannot be opened as an image.

What I meant: You open your gallery. it shows your pictures. It won't show your hidden pictures.

You open VLC media player, click videos, it won't show the hidden videos. You next go to 'browse' and navigate to your secret videos and open the videos just fine.

QemuQat when does the Operating System build or place these files into any given folder - is it just routine?

routine or perhaps when it detects changes (new files, folders, or deletions)

QemuQat And how would I prevent applications from building these files?

Change the source code for the app, compile, install the app again.

QemuQat I haven't created any hidden files,

Almost all *nix systems like android treat a file or folder starting with a period as hidden.

.nodemia is a hidden file. If you can see it and don't like it, then have your file manager app not show hidden files.
https://imgur.com/BzzU50H

Constantly creating and deleting this file technically causes wear and wastes time.
Not having .nomedia files means your phone will waste time, battery, and SSD wear searching folders that it already knows won't have media files inside of it.

Developer-Dude They seem to go away by themselves if left alone for a while

.nomedia won't disappear. Some people want to hide pictures or videos so they put that file there.

Maybe a browser will delete an old, unsuccessful download but i doubt it.

Chromium incomplete downloads look like so: (I downloaded a GOS install)
"Unconfirmed 975494.crdownload"
firefox:
"blazer-install-2026030700.DYqaU5ue.zip.part"

On windows, maybe these are hidden.

QemuQat

Developer-Dude okay, perhaps it is possible there is documentation for this kind of feature in the AOSP or GrapheneOS' documentation - if not, I can always likely reflash the device again. I take it this has happened to other users.

Developer-Dude

QemuQat yeah I'm stumped on this one. :) Not quite sure. But @Johnnyloans seems to know what he's talking about - at least more than me! :)

QemuQat

Johnnyloans okay - I need to recompile apps then I guess. Can I do this locally even if it is slow, like using a Nix environment in Termux to reconfigure apks, or should I do this externally? Im okay with breaking things a few times, thats how you learn, and I can always use build rollback features, probably.

Johnnyloans

To clear up any confusion, this secret folder below would contain "hidden pictures" due to the ".nomedia" file being present.

https://imgur.com/J9uYfAg

QemuQat okay - I need to recompile apps then I guess.

GrapheneOS might also create these files as well.

QemuQat recompile apps then I guess. Can I do this locally even if it is slow

Yes, clone a repository for the app you want to work with and remove the code that creates the files.
Learning programming is probably more trouble than it's worth for this.

You'd have to pore over files similar to this:
https://github.com/blakeblackshear/frigate/blob/dev/frigate/api/auth.py

QemuQat

Johnnyloans I know it wouldnt be as straightforward as that, but I think it would be funny to do. Code just looks like different syntax across the same epistemic position, probably not hard in theory, just difficult to be interested into and a bit tedious, so it is a good exercise for initial interest. Anyway, thank you for the information.