Help Can't Delete Phone Files "Write Protected"

blksith0 · Mar 4, 2015

I'm unable to delete files or create new folders on my phone's internal storage. Getting a write-protected error.

What do I do to fix this?

ironass · Mar 4, 2015

You will need to root your phone and use a tool such as File Explorer to delete it.

blksith0 · Mar 4, 2015

My phone is rooted, however the contents of this clockworkmod folder don't even show up using ES File Manager or Root Explorer.

ironass · Mar 4, 2015

blksith0 said:
My phone is rooted, however the contents of this clockworkmod folder don't even show up using ES File Manager or Root Explorer.

Is Root Explorer programmed to show Hidden files in preferences?

EarlyMon · Mar 4, 2015

What storage path are you following on your phone?

Or can you delete it with CWM?

blksith0 · Mar 4, 2015

Using paths:
/storage/emulated/legacy/clockworkmod
/storage/emulated/0/clockworkmod
/storage/sdcard0/clockworkmod
/sdcard/clockworkmod
all to no avail.

CWM Recovery was able to find and delete the file, but the computer and phone OS cannot, so it would seem that the phone's OS is locking it down, right?

EarlyMon · Mar 4, 2015

Yep.

Your phone uses a Linux ext-type filesystem that Windows does not support, and emulates what's needed to connect to Windows using a sophisticated Linux FUSE (filesystem in user space).

It's very easy to protect a file or directory to prevent access or deletion.

Given the critical nature of nandroid backups and how easy it is for a lot of people to accidentally erase or move the wrong file, I can see how the choice was made to restrict it only to CWM.

blksith0 · Mar 4, 2015

That's understandable, but surely there's a way to get past this. Otherwise how can I put a file into there?

EarlyMon · Mar 4, 2015

blksith0 said:
I can see that, but surely there's a way to get past this. Otherwise how can I put a file into there?

I have no idea. CWM clearly does not want you putting files in there from the running system.

Get Terminal Emulator. Enter the following command.

su

In your mobile browser copy the following block of code. Paste into Terminal Emulator.

cd /storage/emulated/0
ls -l clockworkmod
cd clockworkmod
ls -l

Hit return.

Use the back key if necessary to hide the keyboard.

Put phone in LANDSCAPE.

Take a screen shot and post it here.

I make no promises. You may want this very much but I can't promise that you can have it.

Does CWM have its own file manager that you could do the final copy with?

blksith0 · Mar 5, 2015

Does CWM have its own file manager that you could do the final copy with?

The funny thing is: the main reason I needed to access this folder was to put the file manager addon files into the clockworkmod folder.

But the good news is that I was able to access and write to the folder using su terminal. Hooray. Hopefully wiping touchwiz off my phone fixes this problem.

EarlyMon · Mar 5, 2015

Glad you got it sorted.

Heyyeh · Jul 17, 2019

Having same issue on Samsung j3 orbit. When I press and hold it on the home screen, the menu to delete it or remove it from the home screen disappears when I try to select anything or slide it up. Long pressing and holding other apps on the home screen brings up a menu that stays even after I let go of the app. Within the apps folder, pressing and holding it to try to get the option to uninstall, simply sends another occurrence of it to the home screen. I'm just a regular Android user and would appreciate any help.

ocnbrze · Jul 17, 2019

are you just trying to delete the short cut or uninstall an app?

Heyyeh · Jul 18, 2019

ocnbrze said:
are you just trying to delete the short cut or uninstall an app?

Both and there are now three short cuts. But it's actually not an app. It's a file. I used an app to try to recover files on the phone, through a Windows 10 laptop and USB connection to the phone. It was really pretty useless so I just wanted to delete the whole file it created on the phone. I was able to delete its contents but I can't seem to delete that file either in the app drawer or the three occurring instances on the home screen.

ocnbrze · Jul 18, 2019

go into your app drawer and uninstall from there. or go into settings>apps>find the app and uninstall

Heyyeh · Jul 18, 2019

ocnbrze said:
go into your app drawer and uninstall from there. or go into settings>apps>find the app and uninstall

I apologize, I sent the message prematurely before explaining that it's not really an app.

ocnbrze · Jul 18, 2019

ok what is it then? a file? if so what kind of file is it?

Heyyeh · Jul 18, 2019

ocnbrze said:
ok what is it then? a file? if so what kind of file is it?

It's an emulated file, data recovery.

ocnbrze · Jul 18, 2019

what about a file explorer? you should be able to use it to delete it.

Heyyeh · Jul 18, 2019

ocnbrze said:
what about a file explorer? you should be able to use it to delete it.

File explorer tells me that it's a protected file. I have to take the protection off of it in order to do it.

bcrichster · Jul 18, 2019

Heyyeh said:
File explorer tells me that it's a protected file. I have to take the protection off of it in order to do it.

Just factory reset. If file persists, then you've likely got a bigger problem that will need reflashing of the factory firmware.. But most likely the issue is the implementation of Encryption to your data partition and everything has trouble dealing with those files. If you have TWRP, boot to the recovery and then move/copy as desired, should be easy. Of no TWRP available, then do the 1st suggestion

Help Can't Delete Phone Files "Write Protected"

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