diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/ui/activity/SyncedFoldersActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/ui/activity/SyncedFoldersActivity.kt
index 98e11ff314..d18c26825c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/ui/activity/SyncedFoldersActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/ui/activity/SyncedFoldersActivity.kt
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ class SyncedFoldersActivity :
             setTheme(R.style.FallbackThemingTheme)
         }
         binding.emptyList.emptyListViewAction.setOnClickListener { showHiddenItems() }
+        PermissionUtil.requestExternalStoragePermission(this, viewThemeUtils, true)
     }
 
     override fun onCreateOptionsMenu(menu: Menu): Boolean {
@@ -808,9 +809,6 @@ class SyncedFoldersActivity :
                 if (grantResults.isNotEmpty() && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                     // permission was granted
                     load(getItemsDisplayedPerFolder(), true)
-                } else {
-                    // permission denied --> request again
-                    PermissionUtil.requestExternalStoragePermission(this, viewThemeUtils, true)
                 }
             }
             else -> super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/utils/PermissionUtil.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/utils/PermissionUtil.kt
index 1d85050e18..3f964cf7f2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/utils/PermissionUtil.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/owncloud/android/utils/PermissionUtil.kt
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ object PermissionUtil {
         ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, it) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
     }
 
+    // TODO rename function name to requestExternalStoragePermissionIfNeeded to prevent confusion
     /**
      * Request relevant external storage permission depending on SDK, if needed.
      *
@@ -132,10 +133,6 @@ object PermissionUtil {
         }
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Request a storage permission
-     */
-    // TODO inject this class to avoid passing ViewThemeUtils around
     private fun requestStoragePermission(
         activity: Activity,
         readOnly: Boolean,
@@ -145,10 +142,8 @@ object PermissionUtil {
         val preferences: AppPreferences = AppPreferencesImpl.fromContext(activity)
 
         if (permissionRequired || !preferences.isStoragePermissionRequested) {
-            // determine required permissions
             val permissions = if (readOnly && Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {
                 if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
-                    // use granular media permissions
                     arrayOf(
                         Manifest.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES,
                         Manifest.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO
@@ -160,29 +155,39 @@ object PermissionUtil {
                 arrayOf(Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
             }
 
-            fun doRequest() {
-                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(
-                    activity,
-                    permissions,
-                    PERMISSIONS_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
-                )
-                preferences.isStoragePermissionRequested = true
+            val grantedPermissions = permissions.all {
+                ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(activity, it) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
             }
 
-            // Check if we should show an explanation
-            if (permissions.any { shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(activity, it) }) {
-                // Show explanation to the user and then request permission
+            if (grantedPermissions) {
+                // Permissions already granted, proceed with functionality
+                return
+            }
+
+            val permanentlyDeniedPermissions = permissions.filter {
+                !ActivityCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(activity, it) &&
+                    ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(activity, it) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+            }
+
+            if (permissions.any { ActivityCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(activity, it) } ||
+                permanentlyDeniedPermissions.isNotEmpty()
+            ) {
                 Snackbar.make(
                     activity.findViewById(android.R.id.content),
                     R.string.permission_storage_access,
-                    Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE
-                ).setAction(R.string.common_ok) {
-                    doRequest()
+                    Snackbar.LENGTH_LONG
+                ).setAction(R.string.common_settings) {
+                    val intent = Intent(Settings.ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS).apply {
+                        data = Uri.fromParts("package", activity.packageName, null)
+                    }
+                    activity.startActivity(intent)
                 }.also { viewThemeUtils.material.themeSnackbar(it) }.show()
             } else {
-                // No explanation needed, request the permission.
-                doRequest()
+                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(activity, permissions, PERMISSIONS_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
             }
+
+            // Only mark as requested after actual request
+            preferences.isStoragePermissionRequested = true
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index e48003d717..8442c6f812 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     <string name="actionbar_see_details">Details</string>
     <string name="actionbar_send_file">Send</string>
     <string name="actionbar_sort">Sort</string>
+    <string name="common_settings">Settings</string>
     <string name="sort_by">Sort by</string>
     <string name="menu_item_sort_by_name_a_z">A - Z</string>
     <string name="menu_item_sort_by_name_z_a">Z - A</string>
@@ -500,7 +501,6 @@
     <string name="forbidden_permissions_create">to create this file</string>
     <string name="uploader_upload_forbidden_permissions">to upload to this folder</string>
     <string name="downloader_download_file_not_found">The file is no longer available on the server</string>
-
     <string name="file_migration_dialog_title">Updating data storage folder</string>
     <string name="file_migration_preparing">Preparing migration…</string>
     <string name="file_migration_checking_destination">Checking destination…</string>