Game camera Android tablet photo viewing

[TreeTops]

I have a game camera that I want to view the photos from the sd card. On my android tablet, which I take out into the field, I put the game camera sd card in the tablet and view one picture at a time. The sd card has hundreds of photos so that takes too much effort. How about an Android app that lets me open the sd and will allow photo scrolling? So far I haven't found any apps that let me do that. Windows does it, android doesn't. Most android photo apps can't even access the sd card and if it does it just acts like a directory. No slide show. Google photos may do it but I don't want Google to have my photos.

[zing269]

The Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools does that. Not sure if it's available in the Play store, I got it via F-Droid

[Alwyn]

I put the game camera sd card in the tablet and view one picture at a time. The sd card has hundreds of photos so that takes too much effort. How about an Android app that lets me open the sd and will allow photo scrolling?

What do you mean, "scrolling", is that different to just "swiping" through a folder of images? Do you mean display multiple thumbnails?

Every Gallery app allows you to swipe/scroll through any folder/album, either displaying thumbnails or the full-sized images. Even CX File Explorer displays a list of thumbnails, after you've found the folder you want.

Out of interest, what Windows app allows you to scroll through a folder?

[GAhere]

You should be able to use your tablet/phone camera app to view the photos in a slide show format provided they are jpeg files.

May have to give the camera app permission to use the SD card as newer versions of Android have gone to extreme security measures blocking app access by default to memory cards.

Barring that, search for a slideshow app or photo gallery app in the google store

[flashandpan007]

What model is the game camera and what model is the tablet?

[TreeTops]

Alwyn..You asked: "What do you mean, "scrolling"?

Just like viewing a slide show, but by controlling slide to slide by using the arrow keys.

[TreeTops]

flash...007..You asked what camera and what tablet.

I have several different makes of cameras posted in the forest and sd cards from them have same issue.
Samsung S9 Ultra tablet.

Its a gallery app issue not hardware issue.

[TreeTops]

GAhere..you said: "You should be able to use your tablet/phone camera app to view the photos in a slide show format"

Haven't found one yet. Have you tried it using any gallery app?

[flashandpan007]

Can you post a sample picture? Probably some special format/codec

[TreeTops]

Zing269.."The Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools does that"

Not available for tablets.

[GAhere]

GAhere..you said: "You should be able to use your tablet/phone camera app to view the photos in a slide show format"

Haven't found one yet. Have you tried it using any gallery app?

I use my Samsung camera app all the time, have never used a "gallery" app.

Also have done this with camera app on multiple Android tablets.

You may need to point your camera app to the SD drive or use a file explorer to open the SD drive then open the location then select camera app to open the JPEG files.

Mine does it automatically since I set my camera app to default to storing photos from camera onto my SD drive.

But keep in mind, unless you set the Android permissions correctly, absolutely NOTHING will work or be able to access the SD drive.

Most Android versions above 4.4 by default BLOCK all read/write access to the SD drive, you must get all of the permissions set correctly and there are multiple permissions to deal with.

see this search..

https://www.dogpile.com/serp?q=how+to+grant+Android+permission+to+use+sd+card+storage&...JNNXGMp8WfV710

[GAhere]

Zing269.."The Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools does that"

Not available for tablets.

That makes no sense at all unless you are using a "I" product..

If you have a current enough Android version it should and will install on a Android phone OR tablet device, Android does not care if it is a phone or tablet as long as it is Android and it is within the supported versions.

I suspect, if it won't install on your tablet, your Android version is too old and you will need to check to see if there is a newer version of Android for your tablet.

Currently as of this date of my post Android 14 and up are in support, Android 13 and lower are out of support and most apps that support those versions have been pulled/removed. If your tablet has Android 13 or lower, you are pretty much out of luck. Finding apps for old out of support Android versions can be done via third party websites but you do run the risk of those apps being flaky or not working correctly and at worst, loaded with unwanted programs or malware.

See EOL of Android versions..

https://endoflife.date/android

To find your Android version..

Check your Android device’s version

Open your device's Settings app.
Tap About phone or About tablet and then Android version.
Find info about your:
Android version
Android security update
Google Play system update
Build number

[Alwyn]

"The Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools does that"

Not available for tablets.

No problem installing that here on my Sammy Tab A running Android 14.

The app info on Google Play says it needs Android 6 and up.

[TreeTops]

I am on Android 16. Today I found the Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools recommended by a poster. That app is one of the worst I have ever installed. I did app set permissions to everything. It had redirects to game spam ads which were impossible to close. I had to force shut down the app to get rid of them. It had constant ads. When I finally was able to find a way to look at photos after the ads, it still could not find the sd card that I had inserted.

My understanding about setting permissions is that it is a app thing not an os thing. In other words you set permissions in the app, not the Operating System. Am I wrong about that?

[flashandpan007]

The App asks for permission but it is set in settings of OS. Upload sample files, then I can check

[zing269]

I am on Android 16. Today I found the Gallery app from Simple Mobile Tools recommended by a poster. That app is one of the worst I have ever installed. I did app set permissions to everything. It had redirects to game spam ads which were impossible to close. I had to force shut down the app to get rid of them. It had constant ads. When I finally was able to find a way to look at photos after the ads, it still could not find the sd card that I had inserted.

Sorry you had that experience. I got it from F-Droid where they build the apps from source and remove advertising and other anti-privacy libraries.

My understanding about setting permissions is that it is a app thing not an os thing. In other words you set permissions in the app, not the Operating System. Am I wrong about that?

I don't have Android 16 so... In 13 the first time an app requests a resource or permission the os opens a dialog allowing you to approve or deny. You can get to the permissions via Settings > Apps > All Apps > app-in-question > Permissions. Gallery wants Files, Music and audio, Photos and videos, Notifications.

Honestly, I'm surprised your native photo viewer doesn't have this capability.

[TreeTops]

flash...07 You said to upload a file. It's not a file issue.

The gallery apps do not let me navigate to the sd. If it's a Android problem then how do I set Android permissions to let apps look at the sd that I insert.

For your info zing269, Samsung gallery used to do this. You can look it up using Google search. Lots of people are complaining.

[TreeTops]

Here's more info for those trying to help me. I found this tidbit today using a google search asking for a 'android gallery app that sees all drives'

"For 2026, finding a single Android gallery app that "sees all drives"—including local storage, SD cards, USB OTG, network drives (SMB/FTP), and cloud storage—requires choosing specialized power-user tools. Most standard gallery apps are limited to local storage."

So there you have it. It can't be resolved for the average dude.

[Alwyn]

Here's my gallery app looking at all my image folders:


[Attachment 92121 - Click to enlarge]

The folder with the black SD card icon is on the SD card. All the others are in/on the main storage. Most are random folders I have created myself in the main storage (not "DCIM").

On an unrooted/stock/bog-standard Samsung Tab A running Android 14.

You do have to give permissions the first time, which I can't recall exactly how, but it was self explanatory IIRC.

I use CX File Explorer to manage my folders on the tablet and SD card. Here's the CX home screen, showing main storage, the SD card and a plugged-in ExFAT USB stick. The USB stick has photos on it and CX has a slideshow function (or your can just swipe left/right to scroll thru your pics).


[Attachment 92122 - Click to enlarge]

[GAhere]

flash...07 You said to upload a file. It's not a file issue.

The gallery apps do not let me navigate to the sd. If it's a Android problem then how do I set Android permissions to let apps look at the sd that I insert.

For your info zing269, Samsung gallery used to do this. You can look it up using Google search. Lots of people are complaining.

It is a "Android" problem.

To tighten up the security (or at least that is what is claimed), the permissions default settings is to block access to any external drive location. IOW the SD card is hidden to most or all apps by default.

How permissions are set depends highly on your specific version of Android and even the manufacturer of your device may have customized menus (IE removed) from the Android OS.

I can't find anything specific for version 16 but did find a Ytube vid that should give you some ideas on how permissions can be done..

https://youtu.be/Bpu2DikZqBc?si=VeINVad4u3Im_xET

This is a very frustrating thing to deal with, have had to help wife multiple times over the years spending hrs and hrs of time each time she has gotten a new droid phone or tablet to get things that should work out of the box but don't anymore.

I personally do all of my stuff on a Windows PC for my sanity sake even though newer Win versions are less and less user friendly like Droid. Even so, much easier to navigate, access and do things on a PC with less restrictions.

Not a fan of tablets or phones for this kind of thing..

[TreeTops]

SOLVED! Alwyn's post #19 suggestion using CX File Explorer for Android worked. It solved all of my issues. It found the external sd card. Good slide show controls.

Thank you Alwyn. And all the other posters that gave suggestions.

[Alwyn]

Excellent news, Treetops! Glad to have helped.