diff --git a/android/res/values/donottranslate.xml b/android/res/values/donottranslate.xml
index 63ac36eadb..0f3fea42f9 100644
--- a/android/res/values/donottranslate.xml
+++ b/android/res/values/donottranslate.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   <string name="pref_show_zoom_buttons" translatable="false">ZoomButtonsEnabled</string>
   <string name="pref_play_services" translatable="false">PlayServicesEnabled</string>
   <string name="pref_enable_logging" translatable="false">EnableLogging</string>
+  <string name="pref_emulate_bad_external_storage" translatable="false">EmulateBadExternalStorage</string>
   <string name="pref_about" translatable="false">AboutMapsWithMe</string>
   <string name="pref_rate_app" translatable="false">RateApp</string>
   <string name="pref_help" translatable="false">Help</string>
diff --git a/android/res/xml/prefs_main.xml b/android/res/xml/prefs_main.xml
index 68aa670622..3fe765045e 100644
--- a/android/res/xml/prefs_main.xml
+++ b/android/res/xml/prefs_main.xml
@@ -91,13 +91,18 @@
       android:title="@string/enable_logging"
       android:defaultValue="false"
       android:order="12"/>
+    <SwitchPreferenceCompat
+      android:key="@string/pref_emulate_bad_external_storage"
+      android:title="@string/setting_emulate_bad_storage"
+      android:defaultValue="false"
+      android:order="13"/>
     <ListPreference
       android:key="@string/pref_use_mobile_data"
       android:title="@string/mobile_data"
       android:summary="@string/mobile_data_option_ask"
       android:entries="@array/mobile_data_options"
       android:entryValues="@array/mobile_data_options_values"
-      android:order="13"/>
+      android:order="14"/>
   </android.support.v7.preference.PreferenceCategory>
 
   <android.support.v7.preference.PreferenceCategory
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/MwmApplication.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/MwmApplication.java
index 4f9a1f2c74..499f8a9a40 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/MwmApplication.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/MwmApplication.java
@@ -177,9 +177,20 @@ public class MwmApplication extends Application
     initAppsFlyer();
   }
 
-  public void initPlatformAndCore(){
+  /**
+   * Initialize native part of application: platform and core. Caller must handle returned value
+   * and do nothing with native code if initialization is failed.
+   *
+   * @return boolean - indicator whether native initialization is successful or not.
+   */
+  public boolean initPlatformAndCore()
+  {
     initNativePlatform();
+    if (!mPlatformInitialized)
+      return false;
+
     initNativeCore();
+    return mFrameworkInitialized;
   }
 
   private void initNativePlatform()
@@ -195,7 +206,12 @@ public class MwmApplication extends Application
     mLogger.d(TAG, "onCreate(), setting path = " + settingsPath);
     String tempPath = getTempPath();
     mLogger.d(TAG, "onCreate(), temp path = " + tempPath);
-    createPlatformDirectories(settingsPath, tempPath);
+
+    // If platform directories are not created it means that native part of app will not be able
+    // to work at all. So, we just ignore native part initialization in this case, e.g. when the
+    // external storage is damaged or not available (read-only).
+    if (!createPlatformDirectories(settingsPath, tempPath))
+      return;
 
     // First we need initialize paths and platform to have access to settings and other components.
     nativePreparePlatform(settingsPath);
@@ -217,13 +233,15 @@ public class MwmApplication extends Application
     mPlatformInitialized = true;
   }
 
-  private void createPlatformDirectories(@NonNull String settingsPath, @NonNull String tempPath)
+  private boolean createPlatformDirectories(@NonNull String settingsPath, @NonNull String tempPath)
   {
-    createPlatformDirectory(settingsPath);
-    createPlatformDirectory(tempPath);
+    if (SharedPropertiesUtils.shouldEmulateBadExternalStorage())
+      return false;
+
+    return createPlatformDirectory(settingsPath) && createPlatformDirectory(tempPath);
   }
 
-  private void createPlatformDirectory(@NonNull String path)
+  private boolean createPlatformDirectory(@NonNull String path)
   {
     File directory = new File(path);
     if (!directory.exists() && !directory.mkdirs())
@@ -237,7 +255,9 @@ public class MwmApplication extends Application
                                     + " state = " + Environment.getExternalStorageState()
                                     + " isPermissionGranted = " + isPermissionGranted);
       CrashlyticsUtils.logException(error);
+      return false;
     }
+    return true;
   }
 
   private void initNativeCore()
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/SplashActivity.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/SplashActivity.java
index 7195818dba..05f462a225 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/SplashActivity.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/SplashActivity.java
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ package com.mapswithme.maps;
 
 import android.app.Activity;
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.DialogInterface;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
 import android.support.v4.app.DialogFragment;
 import android.support.v4.app.FragmentManager;
+import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
 import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
 import android.view.View;
 
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ public class SplashActivity extends AppCompatActivity
   private boolean mPermissionsGranted;
   private boolean mNeedStoragePermission;
   private boolean mCanceled;
+  private boolean mNativePartInitialized;
 
   @NonNull
   private final Runnable mPermissionsDelayedTask = new Runnable()
@@ -186,6 +189,12 @@ public class SplashActivity extends AppCompatActivity
     if (mCanceled)
       return;
 
+    if (!mNativePartInitialized)
+    {
+      showExternalStorageErrorDialog();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (Counters.isMigrationNeeded())
     {
       Config.migrateCountersToSharedPrefs();
@@ -228,6 +237,24 @@ public class SplashActivity extends AppCompatActivity
     }
   }
 
+  private void showExternalStorageErrorDialog()
+  {
+    AlertDialog dialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(this)
+        .setTitle(R.string.dialog_error_storage_title)
+        .setMessage(R.string.dialog_error_storage_message)
+        .setPositiveButton(R.string.ok, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener()
+        {
+          @Override
+          public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which)
+          {
+            SplashActivity.this.finish();
+          }
+        })
+        .setCancelable(false)
+        .create();
+    dialog.show();
+  }
+
   @Override
   public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions,
                                          @NonNull int[] grantResults)
@@ -257,7 +284,7 @@ public class SplashActivity extends AppCompatActivity
 
   private void init()
   {
-    MwmApplication.get().initPlatformAndCore();
+    mNativePartInitialized = MwmApplication.get().initPlatformAndCore();
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/ConnectivityChangedReceiver.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/ConnectivityChangedReceiver.java
index ea4725a0fb..c50b471a2f 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/ConnectivityChangedReceiver.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/ConnectivityChangedReceiver.java
@@ -35,7 +35,16 @@ public class ConnectivityChangedReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver
 
     MwmApplication application = MwmApplication.get();
     if (!application.arePlatformAndCoreInitialized())
-      application.initPlatformAndCore();
+    {
+      boolean success = application.initPlatformAndCore();
+      if (!success)
+      {
+        String message = "Native part couldn't be initialized successfully";
+        LOGGER.e(TAG, message);
+        CrashlyticsUtils.log(Log.ERROR, TAG, message);
+        return;
+      }
+    }
 
     if (!ConnectionState.isWifiConnected()
         || MapManager.nativeNeedMigrate())
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/WorkerService.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/WorkerService.java
index 756a0734cd..cde84ac3d3 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/WorkerService.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/background/WorkerService.java
@@ -153,7 +153,16 @@ public class WorkerService extends IntentService
 
     MwmApplication application = MwmApplication.get();
     if (!application.arePlatformAndCoreInitialized())
-      application.initPlatformAndCore();
+    {
+      boolean success = application.initPlatformAndCore();
+      if (!success)
+      {
+        String message = "Native part couldn't be initialized successfully";
+        LOGGER.e(TAG, message);
+        CrashlyticsUtils.log(Log.ERROR, TAG, message);
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
 
     Location l = LocationHelper.INSTANCE.getLastKnownLocation();
     if (l == null)
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/search/SearchFragment.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/search/SearchFragment.java
index d394a1ecca..2a3c286a82 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/search/SearchFragment.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/search/SearchFragment.java
@@ -517,13 +517,6 @@ public class SearchFragment extends BaseMwmFragment
     mInitialHotelsFilter = arguments.getParcelable(SearchActivity.EXTRA_HOTELS_FILTER);
   }
 
-  private void hideSearch()
-  {
-    mToolbarController.clear();
-    mToolbarController.deactivate();
-    Utils.navigateToParent(getActivity());
-  }
-
   private boolean tryRecognizeLoggingCommand(@NonNull String str)
   {
     if (str.equals("?enableLogging"))
@@ -539,6 +532,12 @@ public class SearchFragment extends BaseMwmFragment
       return true;
     }
 
+    if (str.equals("?emulateBadStorage"))
+    {
+      SharedPropertiesUtils.setShouldShowEmulateBadStorageSetting(true);
+      return true;
+    }
+
     return false;
   }
 
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/settings/SettingsPrefsFragment.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/settings/SettingsPrefsFragment.java
index 9660fd0aca..73ced9ef98 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/settings/SettingsPrefsFragment.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/maps/settings/SettingsPrefsFragment.java
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ public class SettingsPrefsFragment extends BaseXmlSettingsFragment
     initSimplifiedTrafficColorsPrefsCallbacks();
     initDisplayShowcasePrefs();
     initLoggingEnabledPrefsCallbacks();
+    initEmulationBadStorage();
     initUseMobileDataPrefsCallbacks();
 
     updateTts();
@@ -540,6 +541,16 @@ public class SettingsPrefsFragment extends BaseXmlSettingsFragment
     }
   }
 
+  private void initEmulationBadStorage()
+  {
+    Preference pref = findPreference(getString(R.string.pref_emulate_bad_external_storage));
+    if (pref == null)
+      return;
+
+    if (!SharedPropertiesUtils.shouldShowEmulateBadStorageSetting())
+      removePreference(getString(R.string.pref_settings_general), pref);
+  }
+
   private void initAutoZoomPrefsCallbacks()
   {
     final TwoStatePreference pref = (TwoStatePreference)findPreference(getString(R.string.pref_auto_zoom));
diff --git a/android/src/com/mapswithme/util/SharedPropertiesUtils.java b/android/src/com/mapswithme/util/SharedPropertiesUtils.java
index 55761cd4d2..f7f2289697 100644
--- a/android/src/com/mapswithme/util/SharedPropertiesUtils.java
+++ b/android/src/com/mapswithme/util/SharedPropertiesUtils.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.mapswithme.util;
 
+import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
 
 import com.mapswithme.maps.MwmApplication;
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@ import static com.mapswithme.util.Config.KEY_PREF_STATISTICS;
 
 public final class SharedPropertiesUtils
 {
+  private static final String PREFS_SHOW_EMULATE_BAD_STORAGE_SETTING = "ShowEmulateBadStorageSetting";
+
   public static boolean isShowcaseSwitchedOnLocal()
   {
     return PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(MwmApplication.get())
@@ -25,6 +28,26 @@ public final class SharedPropertiesUtils
     MwmApplication.prefs().edit().putBoolean(KEY_PREF_STATISTICS, enabled).apply();
   }
 
+  public static void setShouldShowEmulateBadStorageSetting(boolean show)
+  {
+    SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(MwmApplication.get());
+    sp.edit().putBoolean(PREFS_SHOW_EMULATE_BAD_STORAGE_SETTING, show).apply();
+  }
+
+  public static boolean shouldShowEmulateBadStorageSetting()
+  {
+    SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(MwmApplication.get());
+    return sp.getBoolean(PREFS_SHOW_EMULATE_BAD_STORAGE_SETTING, false);
+  }
+
+  public static boolean shouldEmulateBadExternalStorage()
+  {
+    String key = MwmApplication.get()
+                               .getString(R.string.pref_emulate_bad_external_storage);
+    return PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(MwmApplication.get())
+                            .getBoolean(key, false);
+  }
+
   //Utils class
   private SharedPropertiesUtils()
   {