How to delete music files with their path android 11 - java

Question

So I have a music player app. In which I want the user should be able to delete the music files which are not created by my app. I have the file path and I tried Using File.delete() but it always returns false. How can I delete the music files using their path. Please can someone help. Path I am getting using File.getPath - /storage/emulated/0/Samsung/Music/Over_the_horizon.mp3

My AndroidManifest.xml

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.naman.musicplayer">

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

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/Theme.MusicPlayer">
        <activity
            android:name=".PlaySong"
            android:exported="true" />
        <activity
            android:name=".MainActivity"
            android:exported="true">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

**Code I am using to delete the music**

     ``` @Override
    public boolean onItemLongClick(AdapterView<?> adapterView, View view, int i, long l) {
              File file = files.get(i);
    //files = new ArrayList<File>();
               boolean deleted = file.delete();
               return deleted;
                        }```

How are you getting the path? And can you put the route of the file you want to remove please? — Skizo-ozᴉʞS ツ, Oct 06 '21 at 07:03
Is this file a directory? Could you edit your question and paste what you getting with File.getPath()? — Skizo-ozᴉʞS ツ, Oct 06 '21 at 07:06
Edit again the question please, with your Manifest and your piece of code of deleting the file . — Skizo-ozᴉʞS ツ, Oct 06 '21 at 07:25
have you check file path exist or not..? if (file.exists()) { result = file.delete(); } — S_i_l_e_n_t C_o_d_e_r, Oct 06 '21 at 07:34
There's no if condition checking if this file exist @namanop, have you debugged it to know it? — Skizo-ozᴉʞS ツ, Oct 06 '21 at 07:35
Did it appear a pop up to accept the write access to storage permission? have you accepted it? — Skizo-ozᴉʞS ツ, Oct 06 '21 at 07:36
It asked permission when I opened the app for the first time. I accepted it. — namanop, Oct 06 '21 at 07:37
follow this Link : https://stackoverflow.com/a/24659789/11138845 — S_i_l_e_n_t C_o_d_e_r, Oct 06 '21 at 07:37
Android version of used device? Can you create a file there? You are not usinf file.exists() and file.canWrite in your code. — blackapps, Oct 06 '21 at 08:14
try this File dir = getFilesDir(); File file = new File(dir, "my_filename"); boolean deleted = file.delete(); i have guild for this link : https://stackoverflow.com/a/68080701/11138845 — S_i_l_e_n_t C_o_d_e_r, Oct 06 '21 at 10:21

blackapps · Answer 1 · 2021-10-06T10:53:41.027

1

/storage/emulated/0/Samsung/Music/Over_the_horizon.mp3

That is a file not created by your app.

On an Android 11 device you cannot read/write/delete such a file with classic file system tools as your app is not the owner.

File.canRead() and File.canWrite() would tell you that.

To delete the file use ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT to let the user pick the file first.

Another possibility is to get the mediastore uri for that file and then use MediaStore.createDeleteRequest() for the delete.

edited Oct 06 '21 at 10:53

answered Oct 06 '21 at 10:47

blackapps

8,011
2
11
25

Can you tell me a little more about MediaStore.createDeleteRequest – namanop Oct 06 '21 at 13:15

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 09 '21 at 14:04

try this :

File file = new File(path);

if (!file.exists()) return;

if (file.isFile()) {
file.delete();
return;
}

File[] fileArr = file.listFiles();

if (fileArr != null) {
for (File subFile : fileArr) {
if (subFile.isDirectory()) {
deleteFile(subFile.getAbsolutePath());
}

if (subFile.isFile()) {
subFile.delete();
}
}
}

file.delete();

path is a String

How to delete music files with their path android 11 - java

2 Answers2