How to programmatically move, copy and delete files and directories on SD?

Question

I want to programmatically move, copy and delete files and directories on SD card. I've done a Google search but couldn't find anything useful.

Railing

Answer 1

Use standard Java I/O. Use Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() to get to the root of external storage (which, on some devices, is an SD card).

Dovelike

These copy the contents of files but don't really copy the file - i.e. filing system metadata not copied... I want a way to do this (like shell cp) to make a backup before I overwrite a file. Is it possible? – Quasar

Actually the most relevant part of the standard Java I/O, java.nio.file, is unfortunately not available on Android (API level 21). – Usherette

@CommonsWare: Can we access private files from SD pragmatically? or delete any private file? – Happygolucky

@SaadBilal: An SD card is usually removable storage, and you do not have arbitrary access to files on removable storage via the filesystem. – Dovelike

with the release of android 10 scoped storage became the new norm and all Methods of doing operations with files has also changed, the java.io ways of doing will no longer work unless you add "RequestLagacyStorage" with the value "true" in your Manifest the Method Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() is also depricated – Reclinate

This answer is not usable anymore in 2021. – Trumpery

Answer 2

set the correct permissions in the manifest

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

below is a function that will programmatically move your file

private void moveFile(String inputPath, String inputFile, String outputPath) {

    InputStream in = null;
    OutputStream out = null;
    try {

        //create output directory if it doesn't exist
        File dir = new File (outputPath); 
        if (!dir.exists())
        {
            dir.mkdirs();
        }


        in = new FileInputStream(inputPath + inputFile);        
        out = new FileOutputStream(outputPath + inputFile);

        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        int read;
        while ((read = in.read(buffer)) != -1) {
            out.write(buffer, 0, read);
        }
        in.close();
        in = null;

            // write the output file
            out.flush();
        out.close();
        out = null;

        // delete the original file
        new File(inputPath + inputFile).delete();  


    } 

         catch (FileNotFoundException fnfe1) {
        Log.e("tag", fnfe1.getMessage());
    }
          catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e("tag", e.getMessage());
    }

}

To Delete the file use

private void deleteFile(String inputPath, String inputFile) {
    try {
        // delete the original file
        new File(inputPath + inputFile).delete();  
    }
    catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e("tag", e.getMessage());
    }
}

To copy

private void copyFile(String inputPath, String inputFile, String outputPath) {

    InputStream in = null;
    OutputStream out = null;
    try {

        //create output directory if it doesn't exist
        File dir = new File (outputPath); 
        if (!dir.exists())
        {
            dir.mkdirs();
        }


        in = new FileInputStream(inputPath + inputFile);        
        out = new FileOutputStream(outputPath + inputFile);

        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        int read;
        while ((read = in.read(buffer)) != -1) {
            out.write(buffer, 0, read);
        }
        in.close();
        in = null;

            // write the output file (You have now copied the file)
            out.flush();
        out.close();
        out = null;        

    }  catch (FileNotFoundException fnfe1) {
        Log.e("tag", fnfe1.getMessage());
    }
            catch (Exception e) {
        Log.e("tag", e.getMessage());
    }

}

Rasure

Don't forget to set the permissions in the manifest <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> – Rasure

Also, don't forget to add a slash at the end of inputPath and outputPath, Ex: /sdcard/ NOT /sdcard – Jarvisjary

i tried to move but i cant.this is my code moveFile(file.getAbsolutePath(),myfile, Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()+ "/CopyEcoTab/" ); – Turmeric

Depending on how you use this method, you may not require <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> so make sure you don't add this permission unnecessarily. – Revel

Very helpful, I suggest just dropping this code into a static FileHelper class and making your life easier. Thanks – Warner

File is moved but not its metadata, especially lastmodified date is changed – Socio

This below permission is also required from android M <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> – Conall

Also, don't forget to execute these on a background thread via AsyncTask or a Handler, etc. – Urethra

Good contribution user469020. Made some edits. Must be weary of Pokemon exception handling ;) See number 2 of blog.codinghorror.com/new-programming-jargon – Imponderabilia

@DanielLeahy How to make sure that the file has been copied successfully and then only delete the original file? – Prehension

@DanielLeahy What should we pass inside inputFile while using moveFile because i am giving fileName at that point and it's always giving me FileNotFoundException. Can you please guide through that ? – Fein

Don't forget to prompt the user for WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission – Pyelonephritis

[input / output]Path + File.separator + inputFile if you don't want to use new File([input / output]Path, inputFile) or you end up with some amalgamation of the directory and file name in the folder above where it should be moved. – Zygospore

Answer 3

Move file:

File from = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath()+"/kaic1/imagem.jpg");
File to = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath()+"/kaic2/imagem.jpg");
from.renameTo(to);

Gwenni

A heads up; "Both paths be on the same mount point. On Android, applications are most likely to hit this restriction when attempting to copy between internal storage and an SD card." – Bowens

renameTo fails without any explanation – Consumerism

Strangely, this creates a directory with the desired name, instead of a file. Any ideas about it? The File 'from' is readable, and both of them are in the SD card. – Eyespot

Answer 4

Function for moving files:

private void moveFile(File file, File dir) throws IOException {
    File newFile = new File(dir, file.getName());
    FileChannel outputChannel = null;
    FileChannel inputChannel = null;
    try {
        outputChannel = new FileOutputStream(newFile).getChannel();
        inputChannel = new FileInputStream(file).getChannel();
        inputChannel.transferTo(0, inputChannel.size(), outputChannel);
        inputChannel.close();
        file.delete();
    } finally {
        if (inputChannel != null) inputChannel.close();
        if (outputChannel != null) outputChannel.close();
    }

}

Megaera

What modifications this needs to COPY the file? – Bullroarer

@BlueMango Remove line 10 file.delete() – Upshot

This code won't work for big file like 1 gb or 2 gb file. – Torrance

@Vishal Why not? – Tetroxide

I guess @Vishal means that copying-and-deleting a large file requires a lot more disk space and time than moving that file. – Tetroxide

Answer 5

Delete

public static void deleteRecursive(File fileOrDirectory) {

 if (fileOrDirectory.isDirectory())
    for (File child : fileOrDirectory.listFiles())
        deleteRecursive(child);

    fileOrDirectory.delete();

    }

check this link for above function.

Copy

public static void copyDirectoryOneLocationToAnotherLocation(File sourceLocation, File targetLocation)
    throws IOException {

if (sourceLocation.isDirectory()) {
    if (!targetLocation.exists()) {
        targetLocation.mkdir();
    }

    String[] children = sourceLocation.list();
    for (int i = 0; i < sourceLocation.listFiles().length; i++) {

        copyDirectoryOneLocationToAnotherLocation(new File(sourceLocation, children[i]),
                new File(targetLocation, children[i]));
    }
} else {

    InputStream in = new FileInputStream(sourceLocation);

    OutputStream out = new FileOutputStream(targetLocation);

    // Copy the bits from instream to outstream
    byte[] buf = new byte[1024];
    int len;
    while ((len = in.read(buf)) > 0) {
        out.write(buf, 0, len);
    }
    in.close();
    out.close();
}

}

Move

move is nothing just copy the folder one location to another then delete the folder thats it

manifest

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

Botvinnik

This worked like a charm. Tried in API 25 to 29. Used for migrating my files from top level storage to app directory to implement scoped storage. – Trumpery

Answer 6

1. Permissions:

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

2. Get SD card root folder:

   Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()
   

3. Delete file: this is an example on how to delete all empty folders in a root folder:

   public static void deleteEmptyFolder(File rootFolder){
       if (!rootFolder.isDirectory()) return;
   
       File[] childFiles = rootFolder.listFiles();
       if (childFiles==null) return;
       if (childFiles.length == 0){
           rootFolder.delete();
       } else {
           for (File childFile : childFiles){
               deleteEmptyFolder(childFile);
           }
       }
   }
   

4. Copy file:

   public static void copyFile(File src, File dst) throws IOException {
       FileInputStream var2 = new FileInputStream(src);
       FileOutputStream var3 = new FileOutputStream(dst);
       byte[] var4 = new byte[1024];
   
       int var5;
       while((var5 = var2.read(var4)) > 0) {
           var3.write(var4, 0, var5);
       }
   
       var2.close();
       var3.close();
   }
   

5. Move file = copy + delete source file

Conall

Answer 7

In Kotlin you can use copyTo() extension function,

sourceFile.copyTo(destFile, true)

Hexane

Answer 8

Copy file using Square's Okio:

BufferedSink bufferedSink = Okio.buffer(Okio.sink(destinationFile));
bufferedSink.writeAll(Okio.source(sourceFile));
bufferedSink.close();

Galactopoietic

Answer 9

File from = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath().getAbsolutePath()+"/kaic1/imagem.jpg");
File to = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath()+"/kaic2/imagem.jpg");
from.renameTo(to);

Wisecrack

File.renameTo works only on the same file system volume. Also you should check result of renameTo. – Gesso

Answer 10

If you are using Guava, you can use Files.move(from, to)

Gesso

The link is broken. – Tetroxide

@Tetroxide I fixed the link to Guava JavaDoc. – Gesso

Answer 11

/**
     * Copy the local DB file of an application to the root of external storage directory
     * @param context the Context of application
     * @param dbName The name of the DB
     */
    private void copyDbToExternalStorage(Context context , String dbName){

        try {
            File name = context.getDatabasePath(dbName);
            File sdcardFile = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() , "test.db");//The name of output file
            sdcardFile.createNewFile();
            InputStream inputStream = null;
            OutputStream outputStream = null;
            inputStream = new FileInputStream(name);
            outputStream = new FileOutputStream(sdcardFile);
            byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
            int read;
            while ((read = inputStream.read(buffer)) != -1) {
                outputStream.write(buffer, 0, read);
            }
            inputStream.close();
            outputStream.flush();
            outputStream.close();
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            Log.e("Exception" , e.toString());
        }
    }

Impeachment

Answer 12

Moving file using kotlin. App has to have permission to write a file in destination directory.

@Throws(FileNotFoundException::class, IOError::class)
private fun moveTo(source: File, dest: File, destDirectory: File? = null) {

    if (destDirectory?.exists() == false) {
        destDirectory.mkdir()
    }

    val fis = FileInputStream(source)
    val bufferLength = 1024
    val buffer = ByteArray(bufferLength)
    val fos = FileOutputStream(dest)
    val bos = BufferedOutputStream(fos, bufferLength)
    var read = fis.read(buffer, 0, read)
    while (read != -1) {
        bos.write(buffer, 0, read)
        read = fis.read(buffer) // if read value is -1, it escapes loop.
    }
    fis.close()
    bos.flush()
    bos.close()

    if (!source.delete()) {
        HLog.w(TAG, klass, "failed to delete ${source.name}")
    }
}

Alishiaalisia

Answer 13

Move File or Folder:

public static void moveFile(File srcFileOrDirectory, File desFileOrDirectory) throws IOException {
    File newFile = new File(desFileOrDirectory, srcFileOrDirectory.getName());
    try (FileChannel outputChannel = new FileOutputStream(newFile).getChannel(); FileChannel inputChannel = new FileInputStream(srcFileOrDirectory).getChannel()) {
        inputChannel.transferTo(0, inputChannel.size(), outputChannel);
        inputChannel.close();
        deleteRecursive(srcFileOrDirectory);
    }
}

private static void deleteRecursive(File fileOrDirectory) {
    if (fileOrDirectory.isDirectory())
        for (File child : Objects.requireNonNull(fileOrDirectory.listFiles()))
            deleteRecursive(child);
    fileOrDirectory.delete();
}

Hematuria

Answer 14

Xamarin Android

public static bool MoveFile(string CurrentFilePath, string NewFilePath)
{
    try
    {
        using (var f = new File(CurrentFilePath))
        using (var i = new FileInputStream(f))
        using (var o = new FileOutputStream(NewFilePath))
        {
            i.Channel.TransferTo(0, i.Channel.Size(), o.Channel);
            f.Delete();
        }

        return true;
    }
    catch { return false; }
}

public static bool CopyFile(string CurrentFilePath, string NewFilePath)
{
    try
    {
        using (var i = new FileInputStream(CurrentFilePath))
        using (var o = new FileOutputStream(NewFilePath))
            i.Channel.TransferTo(0, i.Channel.Size(), o.Channel);

        return true;
    }
    catch { return false; }
}

public static bool DeleteFile(string FilePath)
{
    try
    {
        using (var file = new File(FilePath))
            file.Delete();

        return true;
    }
    catch { return false; }
}

Infra

Answer 15

To move a file this api can be used but you need atleat 26 as api level -

move file

But if you want to move directory no support is there so this native code can be used

    import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;

    import java.io.IOException;
    import java.io.File;

    public class FileModule {

    public void moveDirectory(String src, String des) {
    File srcDir = new File(src);
    File destDir = new File(des);
     try {
        FileUtils.moveDirectory(srcDir,destDir);
    } catch (Exception e) {
      Log.e("Exception" , e.toString());
      }
    }

    public void deleteDirectory(String dir) {
      File delDir = new File(dir);
      try {
        FileUtils.deleteDirectory(delDir);
       } catch (IOException e) {
      Log.e("Exception" , e.toString());
      }
     }
    }

Subhead

Answer 16

You can use this folder with file path & destination path

public void copyFile(String sourcePath, String destinationPath) throws IOException {
    FileInputStream inStream = new FileInputStream(sourcePath);
    FileOutputStream outStream = new FileOutputStream(destinationPath);
    FileChannel inChannel = inStream.getChannel();
    FileChannel outChannel = outStream.getChannel();
    inChannel.transferTo(0, inChannel.size(), outChannel);
    inStream.close();
    outStream.close();
}

Pronunciation