Nextcloud always makes a local copy of uploaded contents

[jjmacid]

⚠️ Before posting ⚠️

• This is a bug, not a question or an enhancement.
• I've searched for similar issues and didn't find a duplicate.
• I've written a clear and descriptive title for this issue, not just "Bug" or "Crash".
• I agree to follow Nextcloud's Code of Conduct.

Steps to reproduce

Whenever you choose to upload a folder or file, you can choose between 3 options:

• Move the file to the Nextcloud folder
• Keep the file in the original folder
• Delete the file from the original folder

It doesn't matter which option you choose, Nextcloud for Android will always make a copy of the uploaded file to the configured local folder, in: Settings > Data storage folder, which can point to internal storage / emulated or to the SDCard.

This will happen even when there isn't any "Automatic load" folder configured in settings.

Any suggestion will be welcome, since I have serious problems in order to upload my contents from the phone, because I need to free the same size that I want to upload in my phone SDCard or internal memory, because no matter what or how, Nextcloud forces the uploaded content to be copied on local storage.

Expected behaviour

Nextcloud should never copy the uploading files /folders anywhere, not even if they are synchronized folders, because they are supposed to be synchronized in the same original local folder. But in any case, they should never be copied if there is no "automatic load" or "sync" configuration enabled.

Actual behaviour

Nextcloud copies all the files, all the folders that you're going to upload to its "Data storage folder", even if you choose to "Move the file to nextcloud" or "Delete file from the original folder".

Android version

13 (One UI, Samsung)

Device brand and model

Samsung S20+ and Samsung S20 FE

Stock or custom OS?

Stock

Nextcloud android app version

3.29.2

Nextcloud server version

29.0.4

Using a reverse proxy?

No

Android logs

No response

Server error logs

No response

Additional information

No response

[szotsaki]

I can confirm the same behaviour (with the same client version). This is especially problematic since there's no way to remove these cached files (see #9128 for the details).

Basically, what happens today when Everyday User uploads multiple files:

1. File gets uploaded, everyone is happy
2. Nextcloud secretly creates a local copy (as in not visible or known to Everyday User)
3. Everyday User complains that the phone space ran out
4. Someone who is familiar with this and the other bug takes care of the issue by deleting all local Nextcloud data, including auth info
5. Everyday User is asked to log in again...
6. Rinse and repeat depending on how much space the phone has

Please, fix the root cause by removing the logic of an additional copy while uploading.

[joshtrichards]

Related: #5592