diff --git a/.ci.yaml b/.ci.yaml
index 868d82d387d..293c934fa96 100644
--- a/.ci.yaml
+++ b/.ci.yaml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ platform_properties:
       device_type: none
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_sdk", "version": "version:33v6"},
+          {"dependency": "android_sdk", "version": "version:34v1"},
           {"dependency": "open_jdk", "version": "version:17"},
           {"dependency": "curl", "version": "version:7.64.0"}
         ]
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ targets:
       # web_benchmarks needs Chrome.
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"},
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"},
           {"dependency": "clang", "version": "git_revision:5d5aba78dbbee75508f01bcaa69aedb2ab79065a"},
           {"dependency": "chrome_and_driver", "version": "version:114.0"}
         ]
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ targets:
       # See comments on 'master' version above.
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"},
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"},
           {"dependency": "clang", "version": "git_revision:5d5aba78dbbee75508f01bcaa69aedb2ab79065a"},
           {"dependency": "chrome_and_driver", "version": "version:114.0"}
         ]
@@ -302,6 +302,8 @@ targets:
           {"dependency": "open_jdk", "version": "version:11"}
         ]
 
+  # All of the Linux_android android_platform_tests shards have the same
+  # dependency list, despite some running on Android 33 AVDs versus 34.
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_1 master
     recipe: packages/packages
     timeout: 60
@@ -309,10 +311,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 0 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_2 master
@@ -322,10 +325,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 1 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_3 master
@@ -335,10 +339,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 2 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_4 master
@@ -348,10 +353,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 3 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_5 master
@@ -361,10 +367,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 4 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_6 master
@@ -374,10 +381,11 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 34
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 5 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_api_33_shard_1 master
@@ -388,6 +396,7 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests_api_33.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 33
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 0 --shardCount 2"
       dependencies: >-
         [
@@ -402,6 +411,7 @@ targets:
       target_file: android_platform_tests_api_33.yaml
       channel: master
       version_file: flutter_master.version
+      # set up for 33
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 1 --shardCount 2"
       dependencies: >-
         [
@@ -419,7 +429,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 0 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_2 stable
@@ -433,7 +443,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 1 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_3 stable
@@ -447,7 +457,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 2 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_4 stable
@@ -461,7 +471,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 3 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_5 stable
@@ -475,7 +485,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 4 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_shard_6 stable
@@ -489,7 +499,7 @@ targets:
       package_sharding: "--shardIndex 5 --shardCount 6"
       dependencies: >-
         [
-          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "33"}
+          {"dependency": "android_virtual_device", "version": "34"}
         ]
 
   - name: Linux_android android_platform_tests_api_33_shard_1 stable
diff --git a/.ci/targets/android_platform_tests.yaml b/.ci/targets/android_platform_tests.yaml
index eea5063cb71..7e27f17d581 100644
--- a/.ci/targets/android_platform_tests.yaml
+++ b/.ci/targets/android_platform_tests.yaml
@@ -5,23 +5,23 @@ tasks:
   - name: download Dart and Android deps
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
     infra_step: true
-    args: ["fetch-deps", "--android", "--supporting-target-platforms-only"]
+    args: ["fetch-deps", "--android", "--supporting-target-platforms-only", "--exclude=script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
   - name: build examples
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
-    args: ["build-examples", "--apk"]
+    args: ["build-examples", "--apk", "--exclude=script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
   - name: lint
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
-    args: ["lint-android"]
+    args: ["lint-android", "--exclude=script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
   # Native unit and native integration are split into two steps to allow for
   # different exclusions.
   # TODO(stuartmorgan): Eliminate the native unit test exclusion, and combine
   # these steps.
   - name: native unit tests
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
-    args: ["native-test", "--android", "--no-integration", "--exclude=script/configs/exclude_native_unit_android.yaml"]
+    args: ["native-test", "--android", "--no-integration", "--exclude=script/configs/exclude_native_unit_android.yaml,script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
   - name: native integration tests
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
-    args: ["native-test", "--android", "--no-unit"]
+    args: ["native-test", "--android", "--no-unit", "--exclude=script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
   - name: drive examples
     script: script/tool_runner.sh
-    args: ["drive-examples", "--android", "--exclude=script/configs/exclude_integration_android.yaml,script/configs/exclude_integration_android_emulator.yaml"]
+    args: ["drive-examples", "--android", "--exclude=script/configs/exclude_integration_android.yaml,script/configs/exclude_integration_android_emulator.yaml,script/configs/still_requires_api_33_avd.yaml"]
diff --git a/packages/path_provider/path_provider/example/integration_test/path_provider_test.dart b/packages/path_provider/path_provider/example/integration_test/path_provider_test.dart
index f26f88b4652..d540f0e65de 100644
--- a/packages/path_provider/path_provider/example/integration_test/path_provider_test.dart
+++ b/packages/path_provider/path_provider/example/integration_test/path_provider_test.dart
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ void main() {
       _verifySampleFile(result, 'library');
     } else if (Platform.isAndroid) {
       final Future<Directory?> result = getLibraryDirectory();
-      await expectLater(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
+      expect(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
     }
   });
 
   testWidgets('getExternalStorageDirectory', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     if (Platform.isIOS) {
       final Future<Directory?> result = getExternalStorageDirectory();
-      await expectLater(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
+      expect(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
     } else if (Platform.isAndroid) {
       final Directory? result = await getExternalStorageDirectory();
       _verifySampleFile(result, 'externalStorage');
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void main() {
   testWidgets('getExternalCacheDirectories', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     if (Platform.isIOS) {
       final Future<List<Directory>?> result = getExternalCacheDirectories();
-      await expectLater(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
+      expect(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
     } else if (Platform.isAndroid) {
       final List<Directory>? directories = await getExternalCacheDirectories();
       expect(directories, isNotNull);
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ void main() {
         (WidgetTester tester) async {
       if (Platform.isIOS) {
         final Future<List<Directory>?> result = getExternalStorageDirectories();
-        await expectLater(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
+        expect(result, throwsA(isInstanceOf<UnsupportedError>()));
       } else if (Platform.isAndroid) {
         final List<Directory>? directories =
             await getExternalStorageDirectories(type: type);
diff --git a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/CHANGELOG.md
index 407f1504d69..ef8b082d4c0 100644
--- a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+## 2.2.1
+
+* Adds permissions to read images, video, and audio files to ensure external
+  directories exist in testing.
+
 ## 2.2.0
 
 * Adds implementation of `getDownloadsDirectory()`.
diff --git a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index df8cee7bc3b..0c497742732 100644
--- a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
     package="io.flutter.plugins.pathproviderexample">
 
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO" /> !
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_AUDIO" />
 
     <application android:label="path_provider_example" android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher">
         <activity android:name="io.flutter.embedding.android.FlutterActivity"
diff --git a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/pubspec.yaml b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/pubspec.yaml
index 1e8a8491989..4308c30c1d4 100644
--- a/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android/pubspec.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: path_provider_android
 description: Android implementation of the path_provider plugin.
 repository: https://github.com/flutter/packages/tree/main/packages/path_provider/path_provider_android
 issue_tracker: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22p%3A+path_provider%22
-version: 2.2.0
+version: 2.2.1
 
 environment:
   sdk: ">=2.19.0 <4.0.0"