Signal-android: Cannot create backup due to java.io.IOException "Renaming temporary backup file failed!"

[Noir-]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

---

Bug description

When I start an encrypted backup it aborts without any notice on the GUI. In the debug logs I can read java.io.IOException: Renaming temporary backup file failed!.

Steps to reproduce

• Start the backup

Actual result: The process aborts without letting me know what it going on. The GUI looks like before the backup.
Expected result: The backup completes. When there's any error, I expect an error message.

Device info

Device: LG G3 D855
Android version: 7.1.2 (LinageOS 14.1-20180404-NIGHTLY-d855)
Signal version: 4.18.0

All permissions for write access are granted.

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/76c8a4cc871332efbd2b8b03fb1e9a4e8c2e8c05b520dd90b2db76f4937bc790

[moxie0]

Do you happen to have "removable external storage?"

[Noir-]

Yes I have a micro SD card mounted. But I can't tell whether the backup is created on it or on the internal storage. I could try the backup again without the card inserted.

[moxie0]

Should be fixed in 4.20

[Hellmark]

Attempted to eject the SD card to do the work around, but no luck. Hit the button and nothing happens.

[Snuupy]

You have to physically pull the SD card out of the phone, I had it "ejected" in the OS settings but it wouldn't work until I physically ejected the SD card from the phone (subsequently ejecting my SIM card as well because they're in the same tray)

[johanw666]

I applied https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/commit/6a2b76180ed8ac265fa5856e2830fc042dfeb5aa on 4.19.3 but I still get this error when I try to make a backup:

05-20 00:36:05.428 W/JobConsumer(13461): java.io.IOException: Renaming temporary backup file failed!
05-20 00:36:05.428 W/JobConsumer(13461):    at org.thoughtcrime.securesms.jobs.LocalBackupJob.onRun(LocalBackupJob.java:78)
05-20 00:36:05.428 W/JobConsumer(13461):    at org.whispersystems.jobqueue.JobConsumer.runJob(JobConsumer.java:76)
05-20 00:36:05.428 W/JobConsumer(13461):    at org.whispersystems.jobqueue.JobConsumer.run(JobConsumer.java:46)

[AlfonsoMuskedunder]

I'm on 4.20.2 now, but I still receive the same error. (I disabled and reenabled backups before attempting to create a backup.)
Here's a debug log: https://debuglogs.org/59903411fef7872b73b04313da2a5658d726e10848513b5cfda36dc24ee5389b

[riyapenn-signal]

Still an issue for

Device: HUAWEI STF-L09 (STF-L09)
Android version: 8.0.0
Signal Version: 4.20.2
Log: https://debuglogs.org/dc35e80b7b2048ac0435d34647b6f23344a8559524ff8f8e2044ff2d4b325966

  | 05-22 20:36:55.134  9589  9589 W ChatsPreferenceFragment: Queing backup...
  | 05-22 20:36:55.142  9589  9613 W LocalBackupJob: Executing backup job...
  | 05-22 20:36:56.562  9589  9594 I zygote  : Do full code cache collection, code=215KB, data=157KB
  | 05-22 20:36:56.564  9589  9594 I zygote  : After code cache collection, code=176KB, data=116KB
  | 05-22 20:36:57.471  9589  9599 I zygote  : Background concurrent copying GC freed 92314(6MB) AllocSpace objects, 0(0B) LOS objects, 50% free, 5MB/11MB, paused 762us total 108.318ms
  | 05-22 20:37:00.843  9589  9613 I zygote  : Deoptimizing void org.thoughtcrime.securesms.backup.FullBackupExporter$BackupFrameOutputStream.writeStream(java.io.InputStream) due to JIT inline cache
  | 05-22 20:37:00.862  9589  9613 W JobConsumer:
  | 05-22 20:37:00.862  9589  9613 W JobConsumer: java.io.IOException: Renaming temporary backup file failed!
  | 05-22 20:37:00.862  9589  9613 W JobConsumer:   at org.thoughtcrime.securesms.jobs.LocalBackupJob.onRun(LocalBackupJob.java:78)
  | 05-22 20:37:00.862  9589  9613 W JobConsumer:   at org.whispersystems.jobqueue.JobConsumer.runJob(JobConsumer.java:76)
  | 05-22 20:37:00.862  9589  9613 W JobConsumer:   at org.whispersystems.jobqueue.JobConsumer.run(JobConsumer.java:46)

[diemadedrei]

Can confirm, that backup is still not working on 4.20.2 on LineageOS 14.1, Xperia Z5 with sd card inserted.

[jeremymasters]

Verizon s8 stock 8.0
https://debuglogs.org/edd170d0b6d04f715e3cb13f9a746e74462608d85a2fd198efa611cc2c9265d0

[Trolldemorted]

Which file systems are your sdcards using?

[jeremymasters]

I opened the microsd card package, stuck it in my phone and here we are.

[Hellmark]

@moxie0 Yeah, running 4.20.4, and it still isn't fixed yet, so this was prematurely closed.

[kazzatso]

@moxie0 Not fixed as of Signal 4.20.4. HTC One M9, Android 7.0.

[kevinclevenger]

I don't understand why this is closed when the issue is still a problem.

https://debuglogs.org/4772af7f1178bcda1fbb7b4e4200887ea0c951b1f37691fdec6d47c168d599bd

[OTSim]

I've had the same problem on my Galaxy S5. Removing the SD card allowed me to create a proper backup (which I successfully moved to and imported into Signal on my new device). Clearly there is a difference in permissions when writing to SD card vs normal storage and this is not well handled.

[haffenloher]

@kevinclevenger @OTSim This is supposedly fixed in v4.20.5, see #7831.

[OTSim]

@kevinclevenger The current (standard?) version in the google app store is 4.19.3. A fix that is only available since version 4.20.5 does not help ordinary users. Few users will have found the work-around that I used; please push the fixed version to the google app store.

[johanw666]

It is fixed, backups are now stored in external_sd/Android/data/org.thoughtcrime.securesms/files/Signal on my device. BTW, the official apk has not yet showed up in the beta channel, I compiled myself.

[tp0]

Seems to be fixed in 4.20.9 (Play).
But why are the backups now going to the external SD card instead of internal storage?

[Noir-]

Can confirm that this is fixed for me with the 4.23 branch. A backup is now created on the SD card in the same folder as @johanw666 stated.