MediaRecorder prepare() failed /storage/emulated/0/: open failed: EPERM (Operation not permitted)

Question

I am trying to record audio on my Android 12 Device with File and Media Permission granted but recorder.prepare(); throws

prepare() failed /storage/emulated/0/Music/Exotel/Media/Exotel Audio/Voice Messages/Exotel Temp/Exotel_Voice1658709937668.3gpp: open failed: EPERM (Operation not permitted)

I am using official documentation but they are saving recording into app specific storage(getExternalCacheDir().getAbsolutePath();) and i am saving on external public storage String TempPath = Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_MUSIC).getAbsolutePath()+ "/" + subfolder; . No matter what i try i still get the same error whenever i tried to save into external shared storage.

Here is my code:

String subfolder = "Exotel/Media/Exotel Audio/Voice Messages/Exotel Temp";
String time = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMddhhmmss", Locale.US).format(new Date());
String filename = Session.getUserFname()+"_Voice"+time+".3gp";
String TempPath = Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_MUSIC).getAbsolutePath()+ "/" + subfolder;
File dir = new File(TempPath);

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

TempPath = TempPath+"/"+filename;
Log.d(TAG, "onTouch: Temp Path "+TempPath);

recorder = new MediaRecorder();
recorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
recorder.setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.THREE_GPP);
recorder.setOutputFile(TempPath);
recorder.setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.AMR_NB);

try {
    recorder.prepare();
    recorder.start();
} catch (IOException | IllegalStateException e) {
    Log.e(TAG, "prepare() failed "+e.getMessage());
}

Yes you cannot create your own subfolders on external storage on Android 11+ devices. Use an existing public folder. — blackapps, Jul 26 '22 at 03:36
@blackapps I'm creating app directory inside existing music directory like others app do. For ex in picture folder you can see different app subfolder like Twitter, Instagram etc. — Ritu, Jul 26 '22 at 09:07
@blackapps i can see directory created by file.mkdirs but the file is not created. Any idea? — Ritu, Jul 26 '22 at 09:32
Not all extensions are permitted in public Music directory. Try .mp3. — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 05:40
@blackapps Is there any documentation for extension permitted ? Directory is created everytime but not the recorded file — Ritu, Jul 27 '22 at 12:58
`Try .mp3.` You are not reacting on this suggestion. Nor on the mkdirs advise. Any reason? — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 15:02
@blackapps mp3 works but creating .mp3 is not suitable in our case for recording and i mentioned in my comment that i can see directory but not file. Is there any way to save recordings in music folder? — Ritu, Jul 27 '22 at 16:11
If .mp3 works than in Music folder isnt it? So you would see it. There would be a file then. You are unclear. — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 16:37
@blackapps I can see mp3 file in music folder but i need to create 3gp for recording through MediaRecorder — Ritu, Jul 27 '22 at 17:27
Well, as said before, and as you saw, not all extensions are permitted in Music folder. — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 17:30
@blackapps is there any documentation where i can see allowed extensions in music folder and where else i can store recordings then — Ritu, Jul 27 '22 at 17:56
A .3gp file is a video file extension. Not a music file extension. You could try public Movies or Videos directory. — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 18:13
@blackapps The offical documentation of Android using 3gp you can check i mentioned link in my question — Ritu, Jul 27 '22 at 20:16
It is unclear what you wanna say. Or what should i check? Repeat: not all file extensions are permitted in Music folder. — blackapps, Jul 27 '22 at 20:20
@Ritu, unfortunately, getExternalStoragePublicDirectory() method is deprecated, you should use [MediaStore API](https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/shared/media) to work with public shared directories on Android 11+. — Vadik Sirekanyan, Aug 03 '22 at 11:40

Vadik Sirekanyan · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-03T09:34:56.683

The getExternalStoragePublicDirectory() method is deprecated in API level 29 (Android 10).

If you want to save a file into a public shareable directory you have to use MediaStore API. I also recommend taking a look at all options for storing files on Android.

If you have no problems with saving your recordings into a cache directory (by using the code from the official docs). Then you can copy the file from the cache to the public directory using MediaStore API:

private void copyToPublicDirectory(String filename) throws IOException {
    InputStream inputStream = createInputStream(filename);
    OutputStream outputStream = createOutputStream(filename);
    copy(inputStream, outputStream);
}

private InputStream createInputStream(String filename) throws IOException {
    File cacheDirectory = getExternalCacheDir();
    if (cacheDirectory == null)
        throw new RuntimeException("Cache is not currently available");
    return new FileInputStream(new File(cacheDirectory, filename));
}

private OutputStream createOutputStream(String filename) throws IOException {
    ContentValues contentValues = new ContentValues();
    contentValues.put(MediaStore.MediaColumns.DISPLAY_NAME, filename);
    Uri contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
    Uri uri = getContentResolver().insert(contentUri, contentValues);
    if (uri == null)
        throw new RuntimeException("Cannot insert file: " + filename);
    OutputStream outputStream = getContentResolver().openOutputStream(uri);
    if (outputStream == null)
        throw new RuntimeException("Cannot open uri: " + uri);
    return outputStream;
}

private void copy(InputStream source, OutputStream target) throws IOException {
    byte[] buffer = new byte[8192];
    int length;
    while ((length = source.read(buffer)) != -1) {
        target.write(buffer, 0, length);
    }
}

Note: 3gp recordings have video/3gpp mime type. And it will be saved into the Movies directory (as @blackapps already said). If you want to record a file in audio format and save it into the Music directory, then do the following:

Change content uri from MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI to MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI in the code above.
Use OGG format in your MediaRecorder setup (OGG format is available only for Android API 29 and higher):
```
setOutputFormat(MediaRecorder.OutputFormat.OGG)
setAudioEncoder(MediaRecorder.AudioEncoder.OPUS)
```

PS: don't forget to add all necessary permissions to make things work.

MediaRecorder prepare() failed /storage/emulated/0/: open failed: EPERM (Operation not permitted)

1 Answers1