nextcloud / nextcloud/ios

Error when creating folder with forward slash (`/`) in the folder name

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#3,902 2 comments 0 reactions 1 assignee View on GitHub

@mpivchev is already working on this.

Since Dec 3, 2025.

bug
Dominant language
Swift
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Description

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Steps to reproduce
  1. In the Nextcloud iOS app, select the Files tab
  2. Tap the ➕ button
  3. Tap "Create folder"
  4. Enter a folder name that has a slash in it (e.g. a/b)
  5. Tap "Save"
Expected behaviour

The app should either:

  1. Successfully create a folder with a slash in the folder name (by encoding the slash in the WebDAV request and in the storage backend), or
  2. Prevent creating a folder with characters that aren't allowed, and show a helpful message similar to https://github.com/nextcloud/ios/issues/2880#issuecomment-2607471593
Actual behaviour

The app repeatedly attempts to create the folder but fails and shows a red "Error: Parent node does not exist, code: 409" banner, and the Transfers view shows the folder with status "Waiting to create the folder".

Folder view Transfers view
Image Image
Logs
  • The MKCOL /remote.php/dav/files/…/a/b request fails with Sabre\DAV\Exception\Conflict: Parent node does not exist
Reasoning or why should it be changed/implemented?

As an experienced Unix user, I know that folder names may not contain forward slashes. But people without that specific domain knowledge should be able to use the Nextcloud iOS app, without running into cryptic error messages.

I favor Expected Behavior Option 1 above because, to someone who isn't an experienced Unix user, the prohibition on forward slashes seems arbitrary and unnecessary. Forward slashes can be useful in folder names, such as Results of A/B Test or Trip to US/Mexico border at Nogales.

Environment data

iOS version: iOS 26.1

Nextcloud iOS app version: 7.2.2.4

Server operating system: Debian 13

Web server: Apache HTTPD 2.4.65

Database: MariaDB 11.8.2

PHP version: 8.4.11

Nextcloud version: 32.0.2

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