Android 7 Nougat: FileProvider IllegalArgumentException on getUriForFile for sdcard file

Question

My app is providing the functionality to share files between users. For image files there is a custom gallery, and by long clicking, it opens images in local Image Viewer via ACTION_VIEW intent. Here is the code:

public static boolean openFile(Context context, File file)
{
    MimeTypeMap mimeTypeMap = MimeTypeMap.getSingleton();
    String extension = FilenameUtils.getExtension(file.getPath());
    String mimeType = mimeTypeMap.getMimeTypeFromExtension(extension.toLowerCase());

    Intent openFile = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    openFile.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
                    |Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY
                    |Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);

    Uri fileUri;
    if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N)
    {
        String authority = context.getApplicationContext().getPackageName() + ".provider";
        try {
            fileUri =  FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, authority, file);
        } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
            if (Fabric.isInitialized()) Crashlytics.logException(e);
            else e.printStackTrace();
            return false;
        }
    }
    else fileUri = Uri.fromFile(file);

    openFile.setDataAndType(fileUri, mimeType != null ? mimeType : "*/*");

    if (openFile.resolveActivity(context.getPackageManager()) != null)
    {
        context.startActivity(openFile);
        return true;
    }
    return false;
}

All works fine on API < 24, but on 24+ I've faced an issue trying to open image on sdcard. The exception is:

java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Failed to find configured root that contains /storage/89F3-1B06/Pictures/DSC_0004.JPG
W/System.err:     at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider$SimplePathStrategy.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:719)
W/System.err:     at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:404)

Apparently, this is due to the fact that <external-path name="other" path="."/> doesn't provide access on the level of sdcard in the file tree. So I've added this path: <external-path name="external_files" path="../../"/> . That helped, but something tells me, that it's not the best solution.

I've found another solution, which works too:

StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder builder = new   StrictMode.VmPolicy.Builder();
StrictMode.setVmPolicy(builder.build());
fileUri = Uri.fromFile(file);

But disabling StrictMode restrictions looks even worse. So it's not on option.

Any suggestion on how to solve this issue the right way?

See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40386491/android-geturiforfile-illegalargumentexception — ADM, Mar 13 '18 at 15:20
`. So I've added this path: . That helped, ` ?? Are you stating that that would let you serve from sd card? From the mentioned path? — greenapps, Mar 13 '18 at 15:37
I tried this approach without any hope of success, but yes, it does work on Samsung S6 Edge and Nexus 6P. — Nickolay M., Mar 14 '18 at 06:21

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 13 '18 at 15:45

1

FileProvider cannot serve files from removable SD card.

Only from getFilesDir(), getExternalFilesDir() and getExternalStorageDirectory().

You should make your own file provider if you wanna serve files from sd card.

answered Mar 13 '18 at 15:45

greenapps

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Can you provide any example or hints on how to extend the default FileProvider class with this functionality? – Nickolay M. Mar 15 '18 at 05:38

Android 7 Nougat: FileProvider IllegalArgumentException on getUriForFile for sdcard file

1 Answers1