Android 4.4.2 - read external SD Card directory?

Question

How can I read files from my SD card on Xperia Z1?

Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() points to internal memory!

I solved that problem with [this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9340332/how-can-i-get-the-list-of-mounted-external-storage-of-android-device/19982338#19982338) answer. — WonderCsabo, Jun 18 '14 at 16:43
@WonderCsabo yup, sorry, that's why I have deleted my comment. — Pratik Dasa, Jun 18 '14 at 16:44
Really? File Explorer does this routine? That seems to suck. — Flash Thunder, Jun 18 '14 at 16:54

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:17

According to the Environment documentation, the external storage directory is "traditionally [...] an SD card, but it may also be implemented as built-in storage in a device that is distinct from the protected internal storage and can be mounted as a filesystem on a computer."

Also, "this directory may not currently be accessible if it has been mounted by the user on their computer, has been removed from the device, or some other problem has happened".

To check the state of the external storage directory, use the following function:

Environment.getExternalStorageState();

The documentation for the above function is available here.

You can also check if the external storage is removable (and thus an SD card) via the following function:

Environment.isExternalStorageRemovable();

It will return true if the external storage is an SD card.

EDIT:

To find the SD card path for your device, you can use the adb shell with the following command:

adb shell 'echo ${SECONDARY_STORAGE%%:*}'

(Source)

This thread may hint at an actual answer, which many are conflicted about.

But.... File Explorer can detect it even when it is connected to USB, so how does it know?? — Flash Thunder, Jun 18 '14 at 16:48
This does not answer the question. The problem is the external storage @FlashThunder trying to access is an enulated internal storage, but that returned from `getExternalStorageDirectory()`. The *real* external storage cannot be accessed this way. — WonderCsabo, Jun 18 '14 at 16:52
That's true, @WonderCsabo. It seems that it is up to manufacturers to specify what is returned when the external storage is requested. — BVB, Jun 18 '14 at 17:02

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 18 '14 at 20:05

0

Try

File dirs [] = getExternalFileDirs();

If there are more the last one will be on a removable card. You can only write in the external files dir. But read the whole card. Just take from the path the part before .../Android/....

answered Jun 18 '14 at 20:05

greenapps

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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 16 '15 at 09:13

0

you can get the External Memory Card path by using the following code

String path4 = System.getenv("SECONDARY_STORAGE");

You got the path ::: /storage/ExtSdCard(your External SDCard name)

edited Oct 16 '15 at 09:13

Aleksandr M

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answered Oct 16 '15 at 08:46

score -1 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 18 '14 at 16:44

-1

I guess to use the external sdcard you need to use this:

new File("/mnt/external_sd/")

OR

new File("/mnt/extSdCard/")

in your case...

in replace of Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()

Works for me. You should check whats in the directory mnt first and work from there..

You should use some type of selection method to choose which sdcard to use:

File storageDir = new File("/mnt/");
if(storageDir.isDirectory()){
    String[] dirList = storageDir.list();
    //TODO some type of selecton method?
}

answered Jun 18 '14 at 16:44

Pratik Dasa

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@FlashThunder ya just use the same, you can access it by giving name. – Pratik Dasa Jun 18 '14 at 16:48
it's not in /mnt/ dir... checked it... the right directory is /storage/sdcard1 but how do I know that??? – Flash Thunder Jun 18 '14 at 16:49
just give /mnt/YOUR SD CARD NAME, its nt necessary to give same name as above – Pratik Dasa Jun 18 '14 at 16:49
but I need it to work on every device not only mine! – Flash Thunder Jun 18 '14 at 16:50
I think you should try the link in my other comment. It can generally find all external storages mounted in the device. – WonderCsabo Jun 18 '14 at 16:50
@FlashThunder okay, then use below code, you can check in mnt that is there any directory inside it and you can check it. – Pratik Dasa Jun 18 '14 at 16:51
but its by default in /mnt dear, mnt is there always I think – Pratik Dasa Jun 18 '14 at 16:54
File dir = new File('/mnt'); File[] files = dir.listFiles(); – Flash Thunder Jun 18 '14 at 16:57
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/55858/discussion-between-pratik-and-flash-thunder). – Pratik Dasa Jun 18 '14 at 16:58
-1 Don't use an absolute file path. That might have worked back in 2010 but nowadays it will certainly break on many of the >4000 Android devices. Since Android 4.4 you have to use the Storage Access Framework to access the sdcard (speak secondary external storage): https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/document-provider.html – Emanuel Moecklin Jun 18 '14 at 17:26

Android 4.4.2 - read external SD Card directory?

4 Answers4

EDIT: