Nextcloud developers: Google is curtailing our Android app

Nextcloud has accused Google of deliberately restricting the functions of the Nextcloud app. The US company favors its own services and abuses its position as gatekeeper, the developers write in the Nextcloud forum. For several months now, around 800,000 users of the app have only been able to store photos and videos in the cloud. Other files could no longer be uploaded. They blame the US company, which revoked the rights for the necessary file access last year.

According to the forum post, the Nextcloud app has had comprehensive rights to access all file types since its first release in 2016. In September 2024, Google rejected an update for the Nextcloud app. Citing security concerns, the US company had demanded that file access be restricted, which significantly impaired the functionality of the application. Instead of comprehensive file access, Google referred to "more data protection-friendly alternatives".

Alternative interfaces are not enough for Nextcloud

Google does indeed offer other options for app developers that enable data handling, such as the Storage Access Framework (SAF) or the MediaStore API. However, this does not restore the functionality of the app, the developers explain. The SAF allows files to be shared with other apps, but not uploaded to the cloud. Although the MediaStore API allows a connection to the cloud, only media files can be uploaded via the interface.

According to Nextcloud, it has tried to change Google's mind several times. Despite additional data to prove that the rights were necessary for the Nextcloud app to function, the US company stuck to its decision. Instead, Google referred to the developer guide. According to this, "access to all files may affect the ability to publish and update an app on Google Play".

Nextcloud gives in to Google's demands

In the end, Nextcloud decided to give in to Google's demands and reduce access to media files in order to be able to provide further updates to the app on Google Play. However, other app stores such as F-Droid are not affected by the restrictions. However, because they are not as easy to use, they are not a real alternative to the Play Store.

Google's approach follows a pattern of taking action against the competition, the Nextcloud developers explain their accusations in the forum. Large companies are afraid that they could lose out to small players like Nextcloud. They would therefore exploit their market power without small companies being able to defend themselves. Google did not respond to an inquiry from the iX editorial team.

This is not the first time Nextcloud has made accusations against large software companies. Back in 2021, the German company complained to the German Federal Cartel Office about Microsoft's potentially dominant market position.

(sfe)