Can't delete File with the File class

Question

Im trying to delete a music file through my App but can't achieve that. Ive checked with

boolean exists = temp.exists();
boolean isFile = temp.isFile();

if there true and yes they are. These methods returns me true. But when I come to the delete method :

boolean deleted = temp.delete();

It returns me False and the file is not getting deleted. There are no Exception throws just a false return to my deleted variable.

Im also using these permissons :

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MEDIA_CONTENT_CONTROL" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG"/>

Someone got an Idea for a solution ? (Or other classes I can use ?)

Edit: Thats my full code

File temp = new File(str_path);

boolean exists = temp.exists();
boolean isFile = temp.isFile();

if (exists)) {
    boolean deleted = temp.delete();
    if (deleted) {
        Toast.makeText(context, "Successful deleted " + Title_Artist, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            } else {
                Toast.makeText(context, "Not able to delete file " + Title_Artist, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            }
        }

(And I checked while debuging if the object has his path in it and it have it)

What, exactly, is `temp` pointing to? What is the path? How did you create the `File` object? — CommonsWare, Jan 15 '16 at 13:27
I updated my post. You can see now the whole code of my delete process in the Edit: section — Ahmet K, Jan 15 '16 at 13:35
try creating your file by `File image = File.createTempFile( name, ".jpg", str_path );`. thus you should be able to delete it — injecteer, Jan 17 '16 at 15:00
Have you used this file for anything else in your application? Maybe some thread is opened this file and OS block your delete operation? Have you tried to delete this file manually (using file manager), or use deleteOnExit() method? — , Jan 21 '16 at 14:38
If you're device is running marshmallow and your target sdk is 23 you will need to either use target sdk 22 or do that stupid permission request for this. — Xjasz, Jan 22 '16 at 18:28

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 21 '16 at 08:59

Delete file music you must do two task:

Delete file in Storage.

public static boolean delete(File path) {
    boolean result = true;
    if (path.exists()) {
        if (path.isDirectory()) {
            for (File child : path.listFiles()) {
                result &= delete(child);
            }
            result &= path.delete(); // Delete empty directory.
        }
        if (path.isFile()) {
        result &= path.delete();
        }
        if (!result) {
            Log.e("Delete", "Delete failed;");
        }
        return result;
    } else {
        Log.e("Delete", "File does not exist.");
        return false;
    }
}

Delete file from MediaStore:

public static void deleteFileFromMediaStore(final ContentResolver contentResolver, final File file) {
    int sdk = android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;
    if (sdk >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB) {
       String canonicalPath;
       try {
           canonicalPath = file.getCanonicalPath();
       } catch (IOException e) {
           canonicalPath = file.getAbsolutePath();
       }
       final Uri uri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external");
       final int result = contentResolver.delete(uri,
                MediaStore.Files.FileColumns.DATA + "=?", new String[]{canonicalPath});
       if (result == 0) {
           final String absolutePath = file.getAbsolutePath();
           if (!absolutePath.equals(canonicalPath)) {
            contentResolver.delete(uri,
                    MediaStore.Files.FileColumns.DATA + "=?", new String[]{absolutePath});
            }
        }
    }
}

You can reset/rescan MediaStore instead of do some code above.

Note: If you delete from SD card and android 4.4 +

Change for Android 4.4+ : Apps are not allowed to write (delete, modify ...) to external storage except to their package-specific directories.

But the problem I dont understand is how other apps do it ? Ive tried it out I cant delete a specific file from extern but the app Shuffler for example can delete it. — Ahmet K, Jan 24 '16 at 14:10

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:31

2

The path from your comment looks like the file is on a removable SD card. You need special permissions on Android 4.4+ to manage or delete files on an SD card. You will need to use DocumentFile#delete().

For help accessing files on a removable SD card using DocumentFile see the following StackOverflow post:

How to use the new SD card access API presented for Android 5.0 (Lollipop)?

There is also a hack that might work without using DocumentFile as explained by the developer of FX file manager here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52151865

edited May 23 '17 at 12:31

Community

1
1

answered Jan 17 '16 at 21:37

Jared Rummler

37,824
19
133
148

What is "ContentUriUtil" in the hack ? – Ahmet K Jan 24 '16 at 22:47

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 15 '16 at 13:40

0

Since you are checking that the file exists, there can only be one reason you can not delete the file: you don't have permissions to do it.

An app can not delete system files, or files of other apps.

answered Jan 15 '16 at 13:40

Daniel Zolnai

16,487
7
59
71

But how are other Music Player apps doing it ? All the permissons I need I used in my manifest right ? – Ahmet K Jan 15 '16 at 13:43
Can you give me an example of what you are trying to delete? Just the paths of a few files. – Daniel Zolnai Jan 15 '16 at 13:47
/storage/extSdCard/Musik/neverlie_look.mp3 – Ahmet K Jan 15 '16 at 13:48
You can't edit files there, see this website: http://support.powerampapp.com/knowledgebase/articles/326024-can-t-edit-delete-files-on-sd-card-android-4-4 – Daniel Zolnai Jan 15 '16 at 13:51
1

I just tried it with the app Shuffle (Which is sth like poweramp) and it does work ? So they are able to delete it – Ahmet K Jan 15 '16 at 13:55
Am I supposed to move the file to my Phone storage and then delete it ? Or is it also not allowed to move files from extern Card – Ahmet K Jan 15 '16 at 18:13

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 19 '16 at 05:15

Suppose your file path is

Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getPath()
                        + "/Music"
                        + "/"
                        + "song.mp3"

delete it like this

File dir = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
                        .getPath()
                        + "/Music");

if (dir.isDirectory()) {new File(dir, song.mp3).delete();}

if you want to delete all the files in music folder do this

if (dir.isDirectory()) {
                    String[] children = dir.list();
                    for (int i = 0; i < children.length; i++) {
                        new File(dir, children[i]).delete();
                    }
                }

Can't delete File with the File class

4 Answers4

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