Auto upload loops without ever sending PUT ("SSL initialization failed"), manual upload works – 35.0.0

[nottheend]

⚠️ Before posting ⚠️

• This is a bug, not a question or an enhancement.
• I've searched for similar issues and didn't find a duplicate (related: Auto upload is not working - java.lang.IndexOutOfBoundsException #14856, [Bug] SSL initialization failed on login — regression in 33.1.0 (worked in 33.0.1) #16947).
• I've written a clear and descriptive title for this issue.
• I agree to follow Nextcloud's Code of Conduct.

Steps to reproduce

1. Configure auto upload for the camera folder into a remote target folder (sub-folders by year/month).
2. Take photos so they are queued for auto upload.
3. Open the upload list.

Expected behaviour

Queued photos are uploaded.

Actual behaviour

• The upload list shows "Current (1) uploading…". The file name next to "Uploading…" keeps changing, but no file ever completes; the "Failed / Pending restart" count stays the same.

• After retrying failed uploads, 48 notifications "Upload failed – SSL initialization failed" appeared, 47 of them within the same second.

• Server access log during the loop: the app only sends HEAD to the target folder, roughly every 1.5 s, always answered with 200. No PUT (or any upload request) ever reaches the server:

  [27/Sep/2026:13:57:21 +0000] "HEAD /remote.php/dav/files/<user>/<target>/2026/09/ HTTP/1.1" 200 - "Mozilla/5.0 (Android) Nextcloud-android/35.0.0"
  [27/Sep/2026:13:57:22 +0000] "HEAD /remote.php/dav/files/<user>/<target>/2026/09/ HTTP/1.1" 200 - "Mozilla/5.0 (Android) Nextcloud-android/35.0.0"
  … (repeats, all 200, no PUT)
  

What works / what I ruled out:

• Manual uploads work in the same app: a text file and a photo, both outside the auto-upload target and into the target folder itself. Uploads via the browser work too. So it is neither file size nor the target folder.
• Network path: same behaviour on Wi-Fi and mobile data, and it also happens with the VPN (WireGuard) disabled.
• Server is healthy (status.php: installed, not in maintenance, no DB upgrade needed; valid TLS certificate).
• Not battery related: the app is excluded from battery optimisation, so the new "Sync now" banner does not show even in power-saver mode.

Split out into separate reports:

• "Only upload on unmetered Wi-Fi" cannot be disabled (reverts): Auto upload: unchecking "Only upload on unmetered Wi-Fi" is reverted after leaving the folder settings #17718
• UI crash (IndexOutOfBoundsException, OCFileListAdapter) when navigating back from a folder: added to Crash when opening Device file list #16850

Android version

17 (build CP2A.260805.005)

Device brand and model

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Stock or custom OS?

Custom: GrapheneOS

Nextcloud android app version

35.0.0 (350000090)

Nextcloud server version

35.0.1

Using a reverse proxy?

Yes – Cloudron (nginx) in front of the Nextcloud container

Android logs

The app does not write the upload failure to logcat (the log only contains activity lifecycle events).

Additional information

I first noticed the problem around the time I changed my VPN setup (WireGuard), but it also reproduces with the VPN disabled. I can't tell whether it started with 35.0.0, which was released shortly before.