ACTION_VIEW intent for a file with unknown MimeType

Question

My app has a feature that browse files on your phone and SD card and open them using other apps. I want a solution where I don't have to specify the MimeType and can work with any type of file.

Here is my code:

Intent myIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
myIntent.setData(Uri.fromFile(item));
startActivity(myIntent);

However, I'm getting the following error:

android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent { act=android.intent.action.PICK dat=file:///sdcard/dropbox/test.pdf }

score 125 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 05 '16 at 18:01

This should detect the mimetype and open with default:

MimeTypeMap myMime = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton();
Intent newIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
String mimeType = myMime.getMimeTypeFromExtension(fileExt(getFile()).substring(1));
newIntent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(getFile()),mimeType);
newIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
try {
    context.startActivity(newIntent);
} catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
    Toast.makeText(context, "No handler for this type of file.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}

Using this function:

private String fileExt(String url) {
    if (url.indexOf("?") > -1) {
        url = url.substring(0, url.indexOf("?"));
    }
    if (url.lastIndexOf(".") == -1) {
        return null;
    } else {
        String ext = url.substring(url.lastIndexOf(".") + 1);
        if (ext.indexOf("%") > -1) {
            ext = ext.substring(0, ext.indexOf("%"));
        }
        if (ext.indexOf("/") > -1) {
            ext = ext.substring(0, ext.indexOf("/"));
        }
        return ext.toLowerCase();

    }
}

How about [URLConnection.guessContentTypeFromName(url)](http://developer.android.com/reference/java/net/URLConnection.html#guessContentTypeFromName(java.lang.String))? — Robert Siemer, May 09 '13 at 15:19
There is a problem with this code: in third line of code you shouldn't use substring(1). use this line: `String mimeType = myMime.getMimeTypeFromExtension(fileExt(getFile()));`. (fileExt will only return the extension without dot.) — Moradnejad, Jul 18 '16 at 10:25
User FileProvider instead of URI.fromFile() on target >= 24 androids — nAkhmedov, May 02 '18 at 12:46

score 18 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 07 '11 at 13:17

18

createChooser should do the trick:

Intent myIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
myIntent.setData(Uri.fromFile(item));
Intent j = Intent.createChooser(myIntent, "Choose an application to open with:");
startActivity(j);

answered Jun 07 '11 at 13:17

BadSkillz

1,993
19
37

score 16 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 29 '16 at 04:23

try this one almost covers all file extensions

  public void openFile(File url) {

    Uri uri = Uri.fromFile(url);

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    if (url.toString().contains(".doc") || url.toString().contains(".docx")) {
        // Word document
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/msword");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".pdf")) {
        // PDF file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/pdf");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".ppt") || url.toString().contains(".pptx")) {
        // Powerpoint file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".xls") || url.toString().contains(".xlsx")) {
        // Excel file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/vnd.ms-excel");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".zip") || url.toString().contains(".rar")) {
        // WAV audio file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/x-wav");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".rtf")) {
        // RTF file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "application/rtf");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".wav") || url.toString().contains(".mp3")) {
        // WAV audio file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "audio/x-wav");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".gif")) {
        // GIF file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "image/gif");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".jpg") || url.toString().contains(".jpeg") || url.toString().contains(".png")) {
        // JPG file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "image/jpeg");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".txt")) {
        // Text file
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "text/plain");
    } else if (url.toString().contains(".3gp") || url.toString().contains(".mpg") || url.toString().contains(".mpeg") || url.toString().contains(".mpe") || url.toString().contains(".mp4") || url.toString().contains(".avi")) {
        // Video files
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "video/*");
    } else {
        //if you want you can also define the intent type for any other file
        //additionally use else clause below, to manage other unknown extensions
        //in this case, Android will show all applications installed on the device
        //so you can choose which application to use
        intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
    }

    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
    context.startActivity(intent);

}

what will happen if extension is in capital letter, e.g. sample.DOCX? — Kian Larb Daniel Wai, Oct 10 '18 at 04:47
i used url.toString().contains(".zip") || url.toString().contains(".rar") and application/x-wav but i am gettting error android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent any solution — Ram, Jun 04 '19 at 09:44
if you are getting ActivityNotFoundException for (.zip) (.rar) then use : application/zip — Kratos, Jul 25 '20 at 12:30

score 8 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 03 '13 at 14:39

8

Intent myIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
String mime=URLConnection.guessContentTypeFromStream(new FileInputStream(item));
if(mime==null) mime=URLConnection.guessContentTypeFromName(item.getName());
myIntent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(item), mime);
startActivity(myIntent);

At first I try to guess with the file content, but as i see it always returns null.

answered Sep 03 '13 at 14:39

sercxjo

328
2
12

1

[Doesn't work when targeting Android N](http://stackoverflow.com/q/38200282/4583267) – Thomas Vos Jul 08 '16 at 11:31
1

Thomas Vos's point is crucial. This code is useful but if you're going to use it then you need to set your targetSdkVersion to 23 or under. If an Android 7.0 device runs this code it will crash. – CKP78 Nov 22 '17 at 17:54

Tamal Samui · Answer 5 · 2013-05-13T13:08:20.930

You can find out the mime type of a file and make your own intent to open the file.

Use the following code to open any file...

File temp_file=new File("YOUR FILE PATH");
Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.setAction(android.content.Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(temp_file),getMimeType(temp_file.getAbsolutePath()));
startActivity(intent);

Where getMimeType() is....(this method will return desired mime type or null if the file does not have any proper mime type)...

private String getMimeType(String url)
    {
        String parts[]=url.split("\\.");
        String extension=parts[parts.length-1];
        String type = null;
        if (extension != null) {
            MimeTypeMap mime = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton();
            type = mime.getMimeTypeFromExtension(extension);
        }
        return type;
    }

score 5 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 07 '11 at 13:10

Android does not start activities based on file extensions, unless there's an app that specifies a particular intent filter for it. You will need the mime type to the Intent to tell android enough information to start the right Activity.

You have the option to automate this task by using the MimeTypeMap class. Check the method String getMimeTypeFromExtension(String extension).

BTW, do you have a pdf reader installed in your device?

You should also handle this exception, probably by showing a nice popup saying that there is no app for that particular type of file.

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 13 '14 at 00:57

2

Simple share file ("multipart/")

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, Uri.fromFile(file));
intent.setType("multipart/");
startActivity(intent);

answered Mar 13 '14 at 00:57

ChangUZ

5,380
10
46
64

FileUriExposedException – halxinate Nov 06 '21 at 08:17

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 29 '18 at 11:49

This will work surely..

 private void showFile(File file, String filetype) 
{
                MimeTypeMap myMime = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton();
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                String mimeType = 
                myMime.getMimeTypeFromExtension(filetype);
                if(android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >=24) {
                 Uri fileURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(getContext(),
                            BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID + ".provider",
                            file);
                    intent.setDataAndType(fileURI, mimeType);

                }else {
                    intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), mimeType);
                }
                intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK|Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
                try {
                    context.startActivity(intent);
                }catch (ActivityNotFoundException e){
                    Toast.makeText(context, "No Application found to open this type of file.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                }
            }

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jun 08 '19 at 14:42

1

I wrote these few lines in kotlin and and it works like a charm.Enjoy it.

val file = File(path)              
val mimeType = URLConnection.guessContentTypeFromName(file.absolutePath)
                Intent().apply {
                    setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), mimeType)
                    flags = Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
                }.let {
                    try {
                        itemView.context.startActivity(it)
                    } catch (e: ActivityNotFoundException) {
                        Toast.makeText(itemView.context, "There's no program to open this file", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show()
                    }
                }

answered Jun 08 '19 at 14:42

Steve Moretz

2,758
1
17
31

I think you forgot to add action to the intent – Kannan_SJD Apr 14 '22 at 05:19
@Kannan_SJD feel free to edit, it's been years I don't even work with Kotlin or Java anymore. – Steve Moretz Apr 14 '22 at 07:23
Thanks, I just added it so that whoever is referring to this answer can add that piece of code too. – Kannan_SJD Apr 14 '22 at 15:49

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Oct 23 '12 at 12:17

0

There is a problem with NoBugs's answer. This is directly out of the eclipse function information window:

String android.webkit.MimeTypeMap.getMimeTypeFromExtension(String extension)

public String getMimeTypeFromExtension (String extension)

Since: API Level 1

Return the MIME type for the given extension.

Parameters

extension A file extension without the leading '.'

Returns The MIME type for the given extension or null iff there is none.

answered Oct 23 '12 at 12:17

Timberwolf

426
4
13

Can you give an example? What should be done if it's null type? – NoBugs Dec 18 '12 at 04:30
I was looking for a solution for it returning null, still have not found one. – Timberwolf Jan 11 '13 at 00:21
Can you give an example of a filetype that returns null? – NoBugs Jan 11 '13 at 02:04
I had a custom one. I don't even remember what it was. I long abandoned that project. – Timberwolf Jan 11 '13 at 04:41
Oh, ok. In the case of a custom file extension I guess you'd check before, and open your activity directly, if you can't make an intent-filter work. – NoBugs Jan 11 '13 at 07:26
Huh. I was unaware of that abbreviation. You learn something new everyday, so thanks for contributing to my day ;-) – Timberwolf Jun 07 '15 at 23:22

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Feb 19 '16 at 22:54

Use this method to get the MIME type from the uri of the file :

public static String getMimeType(String url) {

    String type = null;
    String extension = url.substring(url.lastIndexOf(".") + 1);
    if (extension != null) {
        type = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton().getMimeTypeFromExtension(extension);
    }
    return type;
}

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Jan 16 '18 at 10:42

You should always check the same with

PackageManager packageManager = getActivity().getPackageManager();
if (intent.resolveActivity(packageManager) != null) {
    startActivity(intent);
} else {
    Log.d(TAG, "No Intent available to handle action");

}

and to get MimeTpye of file you can use :-

 public String getMimeType(Uri uri, Context context) {
        String mimeType = null;
        if (uri.getScheme().equals(ContentResolver.SCHEME_CONTENT)) {
            ContentResolver cr = context.getContentResolver();
            mimeType = cr.getType(uri);
        } else {
            String fileExtension = MimeTypeMap.getFileExtensionFromUrl(uri
                    .toString());
            mimeType = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton().getMimeTypeFromExtension(
                    fileExtension.toLowerCase());
        }
        return mimeType;
    }

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered May 27 '20 at 14:34

You have to use the MimeTypeMap and get the type using the file extension. Then pass it to intent to open any type of file.

Kotlin

fun getIntentForFile(filePath: String, context: Context): Intent {
    val intent = Intent()

    val uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(
        context,
        context.applicationContext.packageName + ".fileprovider",
        File(filePath)
    )
    intent.action = Intent.ACTION_VIEW
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri)
    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION)
    intent.setDataAndType(uri, getFileContentType(filePath))
    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
    return intent
}

fun getFileContentType(filePath: String): String? {
    val file = File(filePath)
    val map = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton()
    val ext = MimeTypeMap.getFileExtensionFromUrl(file.name)
    var type = map.getMimeTypeFromExtension(ext)
    if (type == null) type = "*/*"
    return type
}

ACTION_VIEW intent for a file with unknown MimeType

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