signalapp / signalapp/Signal-Android
Backup generates and renames backup file but deletes it (Nextcloud)
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- Dominant language
- Kotlin
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Description
- I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
- I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
- I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
- This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic
Bug description
For external storage I chose a folder in Nextcloud. This results in the storage location being displayed like "-123456789/12345" and the backup failing with "Renaming temporary backup file failed!" according to the debug log. I have no SD cards.
See also:
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/7763
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/7692
It appears the file is successfully created and renamed, but Signal decides to delete it anyway, before Nextcloud can upload it:
Nextcloud app:

Nextcloud web interface:

Steps to reproduce
Turn on external backup. Select Nextcloud folder. Run backup.
Actual result: Backup takes a while and eventually it stops and says "Last Backup: Never".
Expected result: The backup completes successfully or gives me an informative error message.
Device info
Device: Xiaomi Mi 9T (davinci)
Android version: 10
Signal version: 5.0.0
No SD cards mounted.
All permissions for write access are granted.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
No source file, test, or entry point is named. Begin with the external-backup reproduction steps using a Nextcloud folder and inspect the backup behavior around file creation, renaming, and deletion. Done means the backup completes successfully or reports an informative error instead of ending with “Last Backup: Never”.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- android, kotlin
- Domain
- mobile
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 30/100