[4.1.0.23] WhatsApp can't restore backup without manual permissions

REPRODUCIBILITY: always
BUILD ID = OS VERSION: 4.1.0.23
HARDWARE: XA2 Ultra
UI LANGUAGE: Finnish (Suomi)
REGRESSION: Yes

DESCRIPTION:

WhatsApp can restore the latest backup on first startup after app install. WhatsApp doesn’t ask for permissions before trying to read the backup file, which leads to failed backup restore.

PRECONDITIONS:

  • Have WhatsApp uninstalled
  • Have a WhatsApp backup database in correct location

STEPS TO REPRODUCE:

  1. Install WhatsApp
  2. Start the app
  3. Register the phone number
  4. Start restoring the backup

EXPECTED RESULT:

  1. The backup is detected
  2. The backup file info is shown correctly
  3. The backup is restored succesfully

ACTUAL RESULT:

  1. The backup is falsely detected
  2. The file date is 1.1.1970, size 0kb
  3. Restoring the backup fails

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

WhatsApp doesn’t ask - for whatever reason - the necessary permissions before actually trying to use them. Using these steps it works, however:

  1. Install WhatsApp
  2. Go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Android Settings
  3. Give the app (at least) storage permission (preferably others, too)
  4. Start WhatsApp
  5. Restoring backup works now
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