Help Marshmallow: unable to share some file types by Bluetooth

[ofnuts]

For some file types (such as JPG, MP3 and MP4) the "Share" options in the built-in file manager or in Astro offer Bluetooth, but other files cannot be shared that way (some other options such as DropBox are available...). Renaming the file with a "proper" extension lets me send it over BT, but how can I do this more directly?

Running Marshmallow 6.01 on Moto G 3rd gen

 

[Dannydet]

Have you tried sharing over wifi instead?

 

[Bg260]

Use this instead. No pairing, no hassle, fast. Phone to phone. Phone to computer. Computer to phone. Computer to computer. Share anywhere in the world. I can't get enough of it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere&hl=en

 

[ofnuts]

Thanks for the suggestions, but my question is not about circumventing the problem, but about fixing it. Why is Bluetooth not available for all files?

 

[Bg260]

Android is all about circumnavigating.

 

[Bg260]

Just did a test with my Broken Nexus 7 JPG, MP3, MP4. All went through with no problem. I used Solid Explorer if that helps.

 

[ofnuts]

Just did a test with my Broken Nexus 7 JPG, MP3, MP4. All went through with no problem. I used Solid Explorer if that helps.

But these work fine for me... The problem is with other extensions... a bit of experimentation show that MS-office filetypes (.doc, .xls) can be transferred, but not the ones from Libre/OpenOffice (odt/ods). And if I transfer them to my phone from my PC there appears to be some "censorship" since the files from these types are silently ignored...

 

[Bg260]

Are there any sort of digital rights attached to these files?

Try the app I posted effortless. I send a lot of things to different devices. download an app once and share it to multiple.

What do you have, like an Ubuntu touch or something?

 

[ofnuts]

Are there any sort of digital rights attached to these files?

Try the app I posted effortless. I send a lot of things to different devices. download an app once and share it to multiple.

What do you have, like an Ubuntu touch or something?

No, a bog standard 3rd gen MotoG.

After some more digging, it appears to be some well-known Android restriction without apparent reason. Given that BT is already marginally usable, I'll be back to USB, at least that works, and works fast.

 

[Bg260]

You could also get a USB-OTG Flash Drive.

 

[ofnuts]

You could also get a USB-OTG Flash Drive.

This would mean two file transfers instead of one (and one of these using a clumsy Android interface).

 

[AZgl1500]

this app will send any file type, of any size, to any other device on the planet regardless of operating system.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere&hl=en

 

[ofnuts]

this app will send any file type, of any size, to any other device on the planet regardless of operating system.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere&hl=en

Is it device-to-device or does it require a working (and fast) Internet connection?

 

[Bg260]

Is it device-to-device or does it require a working (and fast) Internet connection?

I see where you are coming from now. You want to transfer files without an Internet connection. Then, your choices are severely limited.

this app will send any file type, of any size, to any other device on the planet regardless of operating system.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere&hl=en

You like it? Hmm I wonder who you got the idea from?

 

[Bg260]

This would mean two file transfers instead of one (and one of these using a clumsy Android interface).

Not quite sure what you mean there?

 

[mikedt]

I've found Oppos can send pretty much anything via Bluetooth from the stock file manager. It's just a file, doesn't care what it is, and there's certainly no DRM restrictions. Although if the receiving device can do anything with a particular file type, might depend on if it's got suitable software or app installed. Certainly videos, pics, audios, docs, zips, even APKs, should be problems at all.

Can compress the file to a zip, any device should be able to send and receive zip archives via BT, doesn't matter what they contain.

 

[ofnuts]

Not quite sure what you mean there?

* Plug OTG in Phone
* Use phone to transfer files to OTG
* Unplug OTG from phone, plug in PC
* Use PC file explorer to transfer files from OTG
* Unplug OTG from PC

versus:

* Plug USB cable in PC and phone
* Use PC file explorer to transfer files from phone
* Unplug USB cable form OTG and PC

 

[ofnuts]

I've found Oppos can send pretty much anything via Bluetooth from the stock file manager. It's just a file, doesn't care what it is, and there's certainly no DRM restrictions. Although if the receiving device can do anything with a particular file type, might depend on if it's got suitable software or app installed. Certainly videos, pics, audios, docs, zips, even APKs, should be problems at all.

Videos, pics, audio work with the standard BT app (for some limited set of filetypes). "Docs" don't. "MS-Office docs" do, but these aren't the ones I use.

Can compress the file to a zip, any device should be able to send and receive zip archives via BT, doesn't matter what they contain.

As far as I can tell, ZIPs aren't shareable with the standard Bluetooth app in Marshmallow, so this assumption looks incorrect.

 

[Bg260]

Just trying to help. That's what we do here. Not sure what the end result you're looking for is.
Someone with your apparent knowledge of operatings systems should be able to figure it out anyway.
Something seems weird.

Have good one.

 

[mikedt]

Videos, pics, audio work with the standard BT app (for some limited set of filetypes). "Docs" don't. "MS-Office docs" do, but these aren't the ones I use.

I don't know much about what you use. I use MS Office file types, because if I didn't my, work colleagues would very likely howl about it when we share lesson materials, such as PPTs. I'm a teacher. .. basically if it can't be opened with MS Office 2003 for Windows, it's no good.

As far as I can tell, ZIPs aren't shareable with the standard Bluetooth app in Marshmallow, so this assumption looks incorrect.

Now are we talking about Marshmallow in general, or just the Motorola(Lenovo) implementation of it on your particular device and their stock apps? Would for example a Google Nexus device with Marshmallow have the same limitations? Here in China, I just haven't seen much Marshmallow action yet at all for myself.

 

[ofnuts]

Just trying to help. That's what we do here. Not sure what the end result you're looking for is.
Someone with your apparent knowledge of operatings systems should be able to figure it out anyway.
Something smells fishy.

Yes, I've been working with computers since 1976, and that's the first time I see a file transfer application restrict the kind of files it can transfer (beyond DRM...). I like my computers to do what *I* want

 

[ofnuts]

I don't know much about what you use. I use MS Office file types, because if I didn't my, work colleagues would very likely howl about it when we share lesson materials, such as PPTs. I'm a teacher. .. basically if it can't be opened with MS Office 2003 for Windows, it's no good.

I also use MS-Office at work (when I can't avoid it) but then someone else pays for the license. For my own stuff I use open source software.

Now are we talking about Marshmallow in general, or just the Motorola(Lenovo) implementation of it on your particular device and their stock apps? Would for example a Google Nexus device with Marshmallow have the same limitations? Here in China, I just haven't seen much Marshmallow action yet at all for myself.

Now you tell me. If there is a Marshmallow phone where this restriction doesn't exist, then I may switch... But AFAIK the Moto G's run one of the less adulterated versions of Android.

 

[mikedt]

I also use MS-Office at work (when I can't avoid it) but then someone else pays for the license. For my own stuff I use open source software.

I like open source software myself, but at the same time I live and work within Chinese academia. Which usually means MS Office 2003 or WPS(Kingsoft) Office running on XP on Win 7. So if I do something that isn't PPT or DOC, can't open it with the classroom or office PCs. I know LibreOffice can save in MS formats, I've tried it, but it screws-up with mixed Chinese and English text Powerpoint formatting, and didn't support Mongolian script at all.

Now you tell me. If there is a Marshmallow phone where this restriction doesn't exist, then I may switch... But AFAIK the Moto G's run one of the less adulterated versions of Android.

So we need someone else with Marshmallow to confirm if it's general restriction or just certain manufacturers, like Moto, etc. I don't have Marshmallow myself, and frankly only Marshmallow devices I've seen so far is Samsung S7 in a showroom. There's a lot of phones available here, but Lollipop is still very much the order of the day.

 

[Bg260]

There is a restriction on file types that may do harm to your device. Instead of blacklisting certain file types, android has a white-list of acceptable types. Not on the list no go. There are workarounds, including the one you have already discovered. There are also several root options as well.

http://www.xda-developers.com/unlock-file-type-restrictions-for-bluetooth-transfers-with-xposed/

 

[nina scotly]

ApowerTrans works 100x faster than bluetooth. You can just try it.