Good day sir please can this also work for this error I posted above
for sure this method is not working for everyone it worked for me flawlessly at the time of writing
but as of today’s update: my game has crushed on every device after google new update.
The only way to make the game working - transfer it to a new engine version, the engine should be at least 5.4.4
It seems like the only way to deal with the problems is to wait until Epic releases a new engine update and hope that Google will not decide to destroy everything
You have to use these permissions depending on the android versions as the permissions has been changed drastically from android 10.
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Is it possible to explain this graph a bit?
Im targetting 34 which asssumably is android 13+
If I put manage_external_storage then google error saying Im not allowed it.
Quick setup to completely skip permissions :
Go to Android / Launch Image and uncheck Show Launch Image.
If it’s on, the game tries to load the image from storage and asks for permissions.
Then go to Android / APK Packaging and check Use ExternalFilesDir for UnrealGame files?
This way, everything is saved in the game’s own folder and you don’t need any storage permissions at all.
…
Android / Advanced APK Packaging / Extra Permissions (e.g. ‘android.permission.INTERNET’)
If you apply the settings above and build the game, it still won’t run and will ask for storage access—because, as far as I understand, to access shared storage you need to provide a strong justification to Google Play. Only once they approve it can the game actually access the storage. This means even for yourself, before publishing, you can’t grant full storage access.So, you should just stick to the Quick Setup from the beginning.
Different cases for accessing storage :
| Use case | Permission needed | Short explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Saving/loading game files in the app’s folder (Internal or ExternalFilesDir) |  None |
Easiest and safest approach |
| Game’s own data (APK, OBB, pak) | None |
Unreal handles this automatically |
| Saving screenshots to the Pictures folder |  Old: WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (up to Android 10) → New: use SAF / MediaStore |
Old permission doesn’t work on new Android versions |
| Importing images from gallery | Android ≤12: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE → Android 13+: READ_MEDIA_IMAGES |
User must allow it |
| Importing videos | Android ≤12: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE → Android 13+: READ_MEDIA_VIDEO |
Same as images |
| Importing music | Android ≤12: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE → Android 13+: READ_MEDIA_AUDIO |
Same as images |
| App like File Manager or Backup Tool | MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE |
But Google Play only approves it for specific app types |
…
Google Play rules :
Allowed if really needed:
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (Android ≤12)
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES / VIDEO / AUDIO (Android 13+)
You must explain why your app needs it in Play Console.
Risky / will get your app rejected:
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (deprecated, useless on Android 11+)
MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (super restricted, only for File Managers, Backup, or Security apps)
For saving, loading, caching, and your game’s own files → no permissions needed.
…
summary :
If your game only saves/loads its own data → no permissions needed at all.
If you want users to import images, videos, or music → you’ll need READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (for older Android) + READ_MEDIA_* (for newer Android).
Forget MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, Google Play will reject your app.
…
By the way, guys, this plugin below seems really useful for handling Android permissions through Blueprints and settings, based on the video :
and plugin :
https://www.fab.com/listings/009c8a8a-8260-4b40-8873-153cb70f5f80
…
This is what I understood.
Good luck!