Real Path Utility class for Android, works for all API

RealPathUtil.java

public class RealPathUtil {

    public static String getRealPath(Context context, Uri fileUri) {
        String realPath;
        // SDK < API11
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < 11) {
            realPath = RealPathUtil.getRealPathFromURI_BelowAPI11(context, fileUri);
        }
        // SDK >= 11 && SDK < 19
        else if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < 19) {
            realPath = RealPathUtil.getRealPathFromURI_API11to18(context, fileUri);
        }
        // SDK > 19 (Android 4.4) and up
        else {
            realPath = RealPathUtil.getRealPathFromURI_API19(context, fileUri);
        }
        return realPath;
    }


    @SuppressLint("NewApi")
    public static String getRealPathFromURI_API11to18(Context context, Uri contentUri) {
        String[] proj = {MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA};
        String result = null;

        CursorLoader cursorLoader = new CursorLoader(context, contentUri, proj, null, null, null);
        Cursor cursor = cursorLoader.loadInBackground();

        if (cursor != null) {
            int column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA);
            cursor.moveToFirst();
            result = cursor.getString(column_index);
            cursor.close();
        }
        return result;
    }

    public static String getRealPathFromURI_BelowAPI11(Context context, Uri contentUri) {
        String[] proj = {MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA};
        Cursor cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(contentUri, proj, null, null, null);
        int column_index = 0;
        String result = "";
        if (cursor != null) {
            column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA);
            cursor.moveToFirst();
            result = cursor.getString(column_index);
            cursor.close();
            return result;
        }
        return result;
    }

    /**
     * Get a file path from a Uri. This will get the the path for Storage Access
     * Framework Documents, as well as the _data field for the MediaStore and
     * other file-based ContentProviders.
     *
     * @param context The context.
     * @param uri     The Uri to query.
     * @author paulburke
     */
    @SuppressLint("NewApi")
    public static String getRealPathFromURI_API19(final Context context, final Uri uri) {

        final boolean isKitKat = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT;

        // DocumentProvider
        if (isKitKat && DocumentsContract.isDocumentUri(context, uri)) {
            // ExternalStorageProvider
            if (isExternalStorageDocument(uri)) {
                final String docId = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
                final String[] split = docId.split(":");
                final String type = split[0];

                if ("primary".equalsIgnoreCase(type)) {
                    return Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + split[1];
                }

                // TODO handle non-primary volumes
            }
            // DownloadsProvider
            else if (isDownloadsDocument(uri)) {

                final String id = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
                final Uri contentUri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(
                        Uri.parse("content://downloads/public_downloads"), Long.valueOf(id));

                return getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);
            }
            // MediaProvider
            else if (isMediaDocument(uri)) {
                final String docId = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
                final String[] split = docId.split(":");
                final String type = split[0];

                Uri contentUri = null;
                if ("image".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("video".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("audio".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                }

                final String selection = "_id=?";
                final String[] selectionArgs = new String[]{
                        split[1]
                };

                return getDataColumn(context, contentUri, selection, selectionArgs);
            }
        }
        // MediaStore (and general)
        else if ("content".equalsIgnoreCase(uri.getScheme())) {

            // Return the remote address
            if (isGooglePhotosUri(uri))
                return uri.getLastPathSegment();

            return getDataColumn(context, uri, null, null);
        }
        // File
        else if ("file".equalsIgnoreCase(uri.getScheme())) {
            return uri.getPath();
        }

        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Get the value of the data column for this Uri. This is useful for
     * MediaStore Uris, and other file-based ContentProviders.
     *
     * @param context       The context.
     * @param uri           The Uri to query.
     * @param selection     (Optional) Filter used in the query.
     * @param selectionArgs (Optional) Selection arguments used in the query.
     * @return The value of the _data column, which is typically a file path.
     */
    public static String getDataColumn(Context context, Uri uri, String selection,
                                       String[] selectionArgs) {

        Cursor cursor = null;
        final String column = "_data";
        final String[] projection = {
                column
        };

        try {
            cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, selection, selectionArgs,
                    null);
            if (cursor != null && cursor.moveToFirst()) {
                final int index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(column);
                return cursor.getString(index);
            }
        } finally {
            if (cursor != null)
                cursor.close();
        }
        return null;
    }


    /**
     * @param uri The Uri to check.
     * @return Whether the Uri authority is ExternalStorageProvider.
     */
    public static boolean isExternalStorageDocument(Uri uri) {
        return "com.android.externalstorage.documents".equals(uri.getAuthority());
    }

    /**
     * @param uri The Uri to check.
     * @return Whether the Uri authority is DownloadsProvider.
     */
    public static boolean isDownloadsDocument(Uri uri) {
        return "com.android.providers.downloads.documents".equals(uri.getAuthority());
    }

    /**
     * @param uri The Uri to check.
     * @return Whether the Uri authority is MediaProvider.
     */
    public static boolean isMediaDocument(Uri uri) {
        return "com.android.providers.media.documents".equals(uri.getAuthority());
    }

    /**
     * @param uri The Uri to check.
     * @return Whether the Uri authority is Google Photos.
     */
    public static boolean isGooglePhotosUri(Uri uri) {
        return "com.google.android.apps.photos.content".equals(uri.getAuthority());
    }

}

Also stucked trying to get path from "document" type URI on API 30:
content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document%3A11821

Any ideas?

@joshuatantonflynn

this fails to work with the uri content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document:i232
It hits the media uri code path. but there is no case for "document". I've tried adding this case, but can't find the appropriate path for the cursor. Does anybody know it?

I solved this by adding the else statement at the end of this else if block

       if ("image".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("video".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("audio".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external");
        }

This catches the case for pdfs and other "document" files.

this works for me , thanks alot, you saved my time

Fail to get path with code in API 30. Got Exception: Failure delivering result Result Info with URI Path : content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document:32

It's not working for me. Getting path "null" for API 30 with URI - content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/image%432
Above issue happen only choosing image file from the default file manager.
If chosen from Google Photos or System Gallary app then it works fine. And also selecting multiple photos from Gallary return path for only one image.

Also stucked trying to get path from "document" type URI on API 30:
content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document%3A11821

Any ideas?

Answering my own issue which the same as in previous comments. I forgot to add MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE access for Api 30.
Now this line works perfect
contentUri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external")

But I found better solution fro my purpose which don't needed RealPathUntil anymore. Maybe it helps somebody. I just copy any possible file picked with Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT to cache dir. Its only needs READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission for Api <=28. I turned in this side because of new google policy, which required to explain why your app needs "All File Access" if you going to publish your app at store.
Can read more here: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10467955
and here: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9214102

fun handleUri(context: Context, uri: Uri): String? {
            context.apply {
                val type = when (contentResolver.getType(uri)) {
                    "image/jpeg" -> ".jpeg"
                    //another types
                    else -> return null
                }
                val dir = File(cacheDir, "dir_name").apply { mkdir() }
                var path = copyStreamToFile(contentResolver.openInputStream(uri)!!,
                        File(dir, "${System.currentTimeMillis()}$type").absolutePath
                return path
            }

        }

private fun copyStreamToFile(inputStream: InputStream, outputFile: File) {
            inputStream.use { input ->
                val outputStream = FileOutputStream(outputFile)
                outputStream.use { output ->
                    val buffer = ByteArray(4 * 1024) // buffer size
                    while (true) {
                        val byteCount = input.read(buffer)
                        if (byteCount < 0) break
                        output.write(buffer, 0, byteCount)
                    }
                    output.flush()
                }
            }
        }

Works like a charm, thank you very much!

Add this line.........

final String id = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(id)) {
if (id.startsWith("raw:")) {
return id.replaceFirst("raw:", "");
}
try {
final Uri contentUri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(Uri.parse("content://downloads/public_downloads"), Long.valueOf(id));
return getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);
} catch (NumberFormatException e) {
return null;
}
}
return path;

If you are having the following issue's.

• Can't select a file from SDCard
• Can't select a file from the downloads directory
• Or if you want to be able to select Google Drive, Dropbox and One Drive files.

Have a look at this library I've created, it's easy to implement and handles everything for you-

https://github.com/HBiSoft/PickiT

it will not return a path of pdfs and docs file i have tested them

you can check this pic
it only gives zip file path i have not tested other doc types

public String getPath(Uri uri){
String result = null;
Cursor vidCursor = null;
try {
vidCursor = getApplicationContext().getContentResolver().query(uri, null, null,
null, null);
if (vidCursor.moveToFirst()) {

            int column_index =
                    vidCursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Files.FileColumns.DOCUMENT_ID);
            Uri filePathUri = Uri.parse(vidCursor.getString(column_index));
            result = filePathUri.getPath();

        }
    }

    finally {
        if (vidCursor != null)
            vidCursor.close();
    }

    return result;

}

/// this code work fine in emulator but not in real device, im confuse why cant work in real device,
i want to get realpath from uri to open file pdf,
please give solution thanks.

Thank you so much. This piece of code is life savior.

Cursor cursor = null;
final String column = "_data";
final String[] projection = {
column
};

    try {
        cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, selection, selectionArgs,
                null);
        if (cursor != null && cursor.moveToFirst()) {
            final int index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(column);
            return cursor.getString(index);
        }
    } finally {
        if (cursor != null)
            cursor.close();
    }
    return null;

cursor.moveToFirst() most be false.
That's why the return value is mostly null.
In the resulting error:
5368
java.lang.RuntimeException: Failure delivering result ResultInfo{who=null, request=0, result=-1, data=Intent { dat=content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/image:106498 flg=0x43 }}
What is the problem.

this fails to work with the uri content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document:i232
It hits the media uri code path. but there is no case for "document". I've tried adding this case, but can't find the appropriate path for the cursor. Does anybody know it?

I solved this by adding the else statement at the end of this else if block

       if ("image".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("video".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("audio".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external");
        }

This catches the case for pdfs and other "document" files.

This worked for me for uploading pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xslx, etc.

This worked for me for uploading pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xslx, etc.

Did you try in Android 11? In our case this is not working using Cursor returns null instead on Android 11 @abdulrahmankazi

It does not work on Android 11 because of permission denied

For Android 11

It copies selected file to app specific internal storage (com.packagename)

    public static String copyFileToInternal(Context context, Uri fileUri) {
    if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        Cursor cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(fileUri, new String[]{OpenableColumns.DISPLAY_NAME, OpenableColumns.SIZE}, null, null);
        cursor.moveToFirst();

        String displayName = cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(OpenableColumns.DISPLAY_NAME));
        long size = cursor.getLong(cursor.getColumnIndex(OpenableColumns.SIZE));

        File file = new File(context.getFilesDir() + "/" + displayName);
        try {
            FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(file);
            InputStream inputStream = context.getContentResolver().openInputStream(fileUri);
            byte buffers[] = new byte[1024];
            int read;
            while ((read = inputStream.read(buffers)) != -1) {
                fileOutputStream.write(buffers, 0, read);
            }
            inputStream.close();
            fileOutputStream.close();
            return file.getPath();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
    return null;
}

Tested on Android 10.
For the "Documents" folder, the type is "home". Therefore, the "Documents" folder should be handled separately.

public static String getRealPathFromURI_API19(final Context context, final Uri uri) {

        final boolean isKitKat = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT;

        // DocumentProvider
        if (isKitKat && DocumentsContract.isDocumentUri(context, uri)) {
            // ExternalStorageProvider
            if (isExternalStorageDocument(uri)) {
                final String docId = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
                final String[] split = docId.split(":");
                final String type = split[0];

                if ("primary".equalsIgnoreCase(type)) {
                    return Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + (split.length > 1 ? split[1] : ""); //split[1];
                } else if ("home".equalsIgnoreCase(type)) {
                    // Documents folder's type is home
                    return Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/Documents/" + (split.length > 1 ? split[1] : ""); //split[1];
                }

...

If you are having the following issue's.

• Can't select a file from SDCard
• Can't select a file from the downloads directory
• Or if you want to be able to select Google Drive, Dropbox and One Drive files.

Have a look at this library I've created, it's easy to implement and handles everything for you-
https://github.com/HBiSoft/PickiT

it will not return a path of pdfs and docs file i have tested them you can check this pic it only gives zip file path i have not tested other doc types

I checked this library working fine and thank you so much

https://github.com/HBiSoft/PickiT

 ```

// DownloadsProvider
else if (isDownloadsDocument(uri)) {

            final String id = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
            final Uri contentUri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(
                    Uri.parse("content://downloads/public_downloads"), Long.valueOf(id));

            return getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);
        }

First, the code above may cause exception as id sometimes is "raw:..."(on android 8) or "msf:..."(on android 11), not a long integer. So, Long.valueOf(id) may result in errors.
   I change the code as below.

                final String[] split = id.split(":");
                final String type = split[0];
                if ("raw".equalsIgnoreCase(type)) {
                    path = split[1];
                }
                else if ("msf".equalsIgnoreCase(type)) { //like msf:7755
                     String strRealId = split[1];
                    final Uri contentUri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(Uri.parse("content://downloads/public_downloads"),
                            Long.valueOf(strRealId));
                    //Uri myUri = ContentResolver
                    path = getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);
                }
                return path;

The current issue is the code for DownloadsDocument is not working on Android 11 because Cursor returns null.

uri = “content://com.android.providers.downloads.documents/document/msf%3A7755”
String id = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);
            //= msf:7755
String strRealId = split[1];

 final Uri contentUri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(Uri.parse("content://downloads/public_downloads"),
                            Long.valueOf(strRealId));

//now, contentUri is "content://downloads/public_downloads/7755"
path = getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);

But in getDataColumn(), after
cursor = context.getContentResolver().query...

cursor is null. Why?

Is the contentUri format error on Android 11, "content://downloads/public_downloads/7755"?

Thank you all.

But I found it doesn't work on Android 11 devices.

Here are the code snippets as below.

code snippet a-

......
//now, uri = "content://com.android.providers.downloads.documents/document/msf%3A7755"

final String id = DocumentsContract.getDocumentId(uri);  //now, id = msf:7755
final String[] split = id.split(":");
final String type = split[0];   //now, type="msf"
String strRealId = split[1];    //now, strRealId = 7755

final Uri contentUri;

contentUri =ContentUris.withAppendedId(MediaStore.Downloads.getContentUri(MediaStore.VOLUME_EXTERNAL),
                                    Long.valueOf(strRealId));
//contentUri =ContentUris.withAppendedId(MediaStore.Downloads.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI,
                                    //Long.valueOf(strRealId));

//now, contentUri = "content://media/external/downloads/7755"

path = getDataColumn(context, contentUri, null, null);

code snippet b -

......
private static String getDataColumn(Context context, Uri uri, String selection, String[] selectionArgs) {
        Cursor cursor = null;
        final String column = "_data";
        final String column2 = "_id";
        final String[] projection = {column,column2};
        try {
            cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, selection, selectionArgs, null);

            //**The row as below. step debug to here. I found cursor != null while cursor.moveToFirst() == false! What's wrong?**
            if (cursor != null && cursor.moveToFirst()) {

                final int column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(column);

                String strTest = "";
                int nTest = 0;

                 strTest = cursor.getString(column_index);
                 nTest = cursor.getInt(1);

                 return strTest;
            }
        } catch(Exception e)
        {
            String strError = e.getMessage();
        }
            finally {
            if (cursor != null)
                cursor.close();
        }
        return null;
    }

Check my repository, that may solve your issues

https://github.com/braver-tool/Android11FilePicker

@diwubz
You will not be able to "get" the file path from a Uri that was returned from a /msf provider.

The only way is to make use of the /proc protocol. Have a look at how I implemented it here.

Do not try and use it with all Uri's, it will not work! Only use it when the Uri is from the content://com.android.providers.downloads.documents/document/ provider.

This worked for me for uploading pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xslx, etc.

Did you try in Android 11? In our case this is not working using Cursor returns null instead on Android 11 @abdulrahmankazi

It doesn't work on my Android 11 device for a pdf file, too.

@diwubz You will not be able to "get" the file path from a Uri that was returned from a /msf provider.

The only way is to make use of the /proc protocol. Have a look at how I implemented it here.

Do not try and use it with all Uri's, it will not work! Only use it when the Uri is from the content://com.android.providers.downloads.documents/document/ provider.

Thank you, sir. Do you mean that querying of Content uri will not work for both DownloadsDocument and MediaDocument on Android 11?

If you are having the following issue's.

• Can't select a file from SDCard
• Can't select a file from the downloads directory
• Or if you want to be able to select Google Drive, Dropbox and One Drive files.

Have a look at this library I've created, it's easy to implement and handles everything for you-
https://github.com/HBiSoft/PickiT

it will not return a path of pdfs and docs file i have tested them you can check this pic it only gives zip file path i have not tested other doc types

I checked this library working fine and thank you so much

https://github.com/HBiSoft/PickiT

Ok Will check.
Thank you so much.

any solution path is null..

For Android 11

It copies selected file to app specific internal storage (com.packagename)

    public static String copyFileToInternal(Context context, Uri fileUri) {
    if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        Cursor cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(fileUri, new String[]{OpenableColumns.DISPLAY_NAME, OpenableColumns.SIZE}, null, null);
        cursor.moveToFirst();

        String displayName = cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(OpenableColumns.DISPLAY_NAME));
        long size = cursor.getLong(cursor.getColumnIndex(OpenableColumns.SIZE));

        File file = new File(context.getFilesDir() + "/" + displayName);
        try {
            FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(file);
            InputStream inputStream = context.getContentResolver().openInputStream(fileUri);
            byte buffers[] = new byte[1024];
            int read;
            while ((read = inputStream.read(buffers)) != -1) {
                fileOutputStream.write(buffers, 0, read);
            }
            inputStream.close();
            fileOutputStream.close();
            return file.getPath();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
    return null;
}

@abdulrahmankazi Thanks this worked for me.

this fails to work with the uri content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document:i232
It hits the media uri code path. but there is no case for "document". I've tried adding this case, but can't find the appropriate path for the cursor. Does anybody know it?

I solved this by adding the else statement at the end of this else if block

       if ("image".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("video".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("audio".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external");
        }

This catches the case for pdfs and other "document" files.

@joshuatantonflynn Your else part working fine my friend thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot 😁. After 9-10 hour of search I found this code saved my whole time. This is totally working for PDF File without any crash or now I can select pdf or docs file from RECENTS without any crash. In Android 12 ..

@learnwithdeepak Thanks.... Happy to help.

@dhyanvenmarath Most Welcome

thanks, work for me

this fails to work with the uri content://com.android.providers.media.documents/document/document:i232
It hits the media uri code path. but there is no case for "document". I've tried adding this case, but can't find the appropriate path for the cursor. Does anybody know it?

I solved this by adding the else statement at the end of this else if block

       if ("image".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("video".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Video.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else if ("audio".equals(type)) {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Audio.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI;
                } else {
                    contentUri = MediaStore.Files.getContentUri("external");
        }

This catches the case for pdfs and other "document" files.

@joshuatantonflynn Your else part working fine my friend thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot 😁. After 9-10 hour of search I found this code saved my whole time. This is totally working for PDF File without any crash or now I can select pdf or docs file from RECENTS without any crash. In Android 12 ..

Not working with Android 13, tried this but returns empty and not getting any path, wich permissions do you have declared?