How can I create a new directory on the SD card programmatically?

Question

I want to create a new directory inside the SD card programmatically and I want to delete that directory also. How can I do this?

score 52 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

To create a directory you can use the following code:

File dir = new File("path/to/your/directory");
try{
  if(dir.mkdir()) {
     System.out.println("Directory created");
  } else {
     System.out.println("Directory is not created");
  }
}catch(Exception e){
  e.printStackTrace();
}

To delete an empty directory, you can use this code:

boolean success = (new File("your/directory/name")).delete();
if (!success) {
   System.out.println("Deletion failed!");
}

To delete a non-empty directory, you can use this code:

public static boolean deleteDir(File dir) {
    if (dir.isDirectory()) {
        String[] children = dir.list();
        for (int i=0; i<children.length; i++) {
            boolean success = deleteDir(new File(dir, children[i]));
            if (!success) {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }

    return dir.delete();
}

Maybe you also need this permission:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

This answer is also a good resource:

How to create directory automatically on SD card

it didn't necessary to contain mkdir() method in try catch, because if folder exist, it's return false and didn't throw exception — Amir Hossein Ghasemi, Apr 12 '15 at 12:09

score 24 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 17 '13 at 05:15

24

to create a directory, you could use

File myDirectory = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), "dirName");

if(!myDirectory.exists()) {                                 
  myDirectory.mkdirs();
}

to delete it,

 myDirectory.delete();

dont forget to add permission:

uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"

edited Jan 17 '13 at 05:15

edwin

7,985
10
51
82

answered Dec 13 '12 at 11:29

Nakul Sudhakar

1,574
1
24
24

2

No need to check for directory existence. `mkdirs()` will return true if the directory was created, false on failure or if the directory already existed. – Derek W May 21 '14 at 20:33

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 23 '15 at 12:58

4

mkdir() for

File directory = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath()+"/abcabcabc"); 
directory.mkdir();


mkdirs() for
File directory = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath()+"/Mani/abcxyz");
    directory.mkdirs();

edited Apr 23 '15 at 12:58

MichaelS

5,941
6
31
46

answered Apr 23 '15 at 12:22

Ratan Maniyar

41
1

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 15 '15 at 08:38

2

new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), "DirName").mkdirs();

answered Aug 15 '15 at 08:38

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Nov 15 '16 at 13:22

0

if you want to create root directory and subfolder under it

String root = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString();

File myDir = new File(root + "/rootfoldername"+"/your sub folder name");

File dir=new File(root + "/rootfoldername"+"/your sub folder name");

myDir.mkdirs();

dir.mkdirs();

edited Nov 15 '16 at 13:22

Smittey

2,475
10
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35

answered Nov 15 '16 at 12:55

vivek pagar

45
1
8

score -1 · Answer 6 · answered May 12 '14 at 07:09

I have created directory and sub directory for my project like this..

        File root = android.os.Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(); 

        File dir = new File (root.getAbsolutePath() + "/MP3 Music/"); //it is my root directory

        File favourite = new File (root.getAbsolutePath() + "/MP3 Music/" + "Favourites"); // it is my sub folder directory .. it can vary..

        try
        {
             if(dir.exists()==false) 
             {
                     dir.mkdirs();
             }
            /* else
             {
                // Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Root Directory is already exists", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
             }*/

             if(favourite.exists()==false) 
             {
                 favourite.mkdirs();
             }

        }
        catch(Exception e){
          e.printStackTrace();

        }

How can I create a new directory on the SD card programmatically?

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