diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/domain/sync/SyncEngine.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/domain/sync/SyncEngine.kt
index 567d42a..d27b2cc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/domain/sync/SyncEngine.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/domain/sync/SyncEngine.kt
@@ -34,17 +34,6 @@ class SyncEngine @Inject constructor(
     @ApplicationContext private val context: Context,
 ) {
     suspend fun sync(pair: SyncPair, provider: CloudProvider): SyncResult {
-        if (!pair.localPath.startsWith("content://") &&
-            pair.syncDirection != SyncDirection.UPLOAD_ONLY) {
-            val canonical = runCatching { File(pair.localPath).canonicalPath }.getOrElse { pair.localPath }
-            if (canonical == "/storage/emulated/0") {
-                val msg = "Local folder is the storage root — Android blocks writes here. Use Upload Only direction, or select a subfolder."
-                syncPairDao.updateSyncResult(pair.id, Instant.now(), SyncStatus.FAILED, 0)
-                logEvent(pair.id, SyncEventType.SYNC_FAILED, null, msg, 0)
-                return SyncResult(failedFiles = 1, error = Exception(msg))
-            }
-        }
-
         syncPairDao.updateStatus(pair.id, SyncStatus.SYNCING)
         logEvent(pair.id, SyncEventType.SYNC_STARTED, null, null, 0)
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/ui/browser/LocalBrowserDialog.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/ui/browser/LocalBrowserDialog.kt
index 7dc21ef..01aa90b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/ui/browser/LocalBrowserDialog.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/syncflow/ui/browser/LocalBrowserDialog.kt
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.window.Dialog
 import androidx.compose.ui.window.DialogProperties
 import androidx.core.view.ViewCompat
 import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.net.Uri
+import android.os.Build
+import android.os.Environment
+import android.provider.Settings
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
@@ -131,6 +137,10 @@ fun LocalBrowserDialog(
     else entries.filter { it.file.name.contains(searchQuery, ignoreCase = true) }
 
     val currentFolderName = currentPath.name.ifBlank { "Internal Storage" }
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    val hasAllFilesAccess = remember {
+        Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.R || Environment.isExternalStorageManager()
+    }
 
     Dialog(
         onDismissRequest = onDismiss,
@@ -192,6 +202,35 @@ fun LocalBrowserDialog(
                     colors = TopAppBarDefaults.topAppBarColors(containerColor = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surface),
                 )
 
+                // ── All-files-access banner ──────────────────────────────────
+                if (!hasAllFilesAccess) {
+                    Surface(color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.errorContainer) {
+                        Row(
+                            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth().padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
+                            verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+                            horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp),
+                        ) {
+                            Icon(Icons.Default.Warning, null, Modifier.size(18.dp), tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer)
+                            Text(
+                                "Grant \"All files access\" to browse and sync all folders",
+                                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer,
+                                modifier = Modifier.weight(1f),
+                            )
+                            TextButton(
+                                onClick = {
+                                    val intent = if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R)
+                                        Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_APP_ALL_FILES_ACCESS_PERMISSION,
+                                            Uri.fromParts("package", context.packageName, null))
+                                    else Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_ALL_FILES_ACCESS_PERMISSION)
+                                    context.startActivity(intent)
+                                },
+                                contentPadding = PaddingValues(horizontal = 8.dp, vertical = 4.dp),
+                            ) { Text("Grant", style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall) }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // ── Breadcrumbs ──────────────────────────────────────────────
                 Surface(tonalElevation = 1.dp) {
                     LazyRow(
@@ -263,23 +302,13 @@ fun LocalBrowserDialog(
                 }
 
                 // ── Select button ────────────────────────────────────────────
-                val isStorageRoot = currentPath.absolutePath == STORAGE_ROOT.absolutePath
                 Surface(tonalElevation = 4.dp, modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
                     Column {
-                        if (isStorageRoot) {
-                            Text(
-                                "Android blocks writes to the storage root — please open a subfolder first",
-                                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
-                                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
-                                modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 20.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
-                            )
-                        }
                         Button(
                             onClick = { onSelect(currentPath.absolutePath) },
-                            enabled = !isStorageRoot,
                             modifier = Modifier
                                 .fillMaxWidth()
-                                .padding(start = 16.dp, top = 4.dp, end = 16.dp, bottom = 12.dp)
+                                .padding(start = 16.dp, top = 12.dp, end = 16.dp, bottom = 12.dp)
                                 .height(52.dp),
                             shape = RoundedCornerShape(14.dp),
                         ) {
diff --git a/version.properties b/version.properties
index 6030032..71da25c 100644
--- a/version.properties
+++ b/version.properties
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-VERSION_NAME=1.0.55
-VERSION_CODE=56
+VERSION_NAME=1.0.56
+VERSION_CODE=57