[android] FileProvider - IllegalArgumentException: Failed to find configured root

I'm trying to take a picture with camera, but I'm getting the following error:

FATAL EXCEPTION: main
Process: com.example.marek.myapplication, PID: 6747
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Failed to find configured root that contains /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.example.marek.myapplication/files/Pictures/JPEG_20170228_175633_470124220.jpg
    at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider$SimplePathStrategy.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:711)
    at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:400)
    at com.example.marek.myapplication.MainActivity.dispatchTakePictureIntent(MainActivity.java:56)
    at com.example.marek.myapplication.MainActivity.access$100(MainActivity.java:22)
    at com.example.marek.myapplication.MainActivity$1.onClick(MainActivity.java:35)

AndroidManifest.xml:

<provider
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="com.example.marek.myapplication.fileprovider"
        android:enabled="true"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/file_paths" />
</provider>

Java:

Intent takePictureIntent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
    // Ensure that there's a camera activity to handle the intent
    if (takePictureIntent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null) {
        // Create the File where the photo should go
        File photoFile = null;
        try {
            photoFile = createImageFile();
        } catch (IOException ex) {
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Error while saving picture.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        }
        // Continue only if the File was successfully created
        if (photoFile != null) {
            Uri photoURI = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,
                    "com.example.marek.myapplication.fileprovider",
                    photoFile);
            takePictureIntent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, photoURI);
            startActivityForResult(takePictureIntent, REQUEST_TAKE_PHOTO);
        }
    }

file_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <files-path name="my_images" path="images/"/>
</paths>

I was searching whole day about this error and trying to understand FileProvider, but I have no idea what this error message tries to tell me. If you want more info/code, write me in the comment.

This question is related to android android-fileprovider

The answer is


Android official document says file_paths.xml should have:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">   
    <external-path name="my_images"    
        path="Android/data/com.example.package.name/files/Pictures" />
</paths>

But to make it work in the latest android there should be a "/" at the end of the path, like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">   
    <external-path name="my_images"    
        path="Android/data/com.example.package.name/files/Pictures/" />
</paths>

I had the same problem, I tried the below code for its working.

1.Create Xmlfile : provider_paths

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <files-path name="my_images" path="myfile/"/>
</paths>

2. Mainfest file

 <provider
            android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="com.ril.learnet.provider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/provider_paths"/>
 </provider>

3.In your Java file.

      File file =  new File(getActivity().getFilesDir(), "myfile");
        if (!file.exists()) {
            file.mkdirs();
        }
        String  destPath = file.getPath() + File.separator + attachmentsListBean.getFileName();

               file mfile = new File(destPath);
                Uri path;
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N)
                {
                    path = FileProvider.getUriForFile(AppController.getInstance().getApplicationContext(), AppController.getInstance().getApplicationContext().getPackageName() + ".provider", mfile );
                    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
                } else {
                    path = Uri.fromFile(mfile);
                }
   intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
                    intent.setDataAndType(path, "image/*");
                    getActivity().startActivity(intent);

None of this worked for me. The only approach that works is not to declare an explicit path in xml. So do this and be happy:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path name="my_images" path="." />
</paths>

Here too has a excelent tutorial about this question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxRTKvtfnY&t=613s


I see that at least you're not providing the same path as others in file_paths.xml. So please make sure you provide the exact the same package name or path in 3 places including:

  • android:authorities attribute in manifest
  • path attribute in file_paths.xml
  • authority argument when calling FileProvider.getUriForFile().

I would be late but I found a solution for it.Working fine for me, I just changed the paths XML file to:

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <root-path name="root" path="." />
</paths>

If you are using internal cache then use.

<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <cache-path name="cache" path="/" />
</paths>

This Worked for me as well.Instead of giving full path i gave path="Pictures" and it worked fine.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <paths>
  <external-files-path
    name="images"
    path="Pictures">
  </external-files-path>
 </paths>

I was getting this error Failed to find configured root that contains...

The following work around resolves my issue

res/xml/file_paths.xml

<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
        <external-path name="media" path="." />
</paths>

AndroidManifest.xml

<provider
      android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
      android:authorities="[PACKAGE_NAME]"
      android:exported="false"
      android:grantUriPermissions="true">
         <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/file_paths">
         </meta-data>
</provider>

ActivityClass.java

void shareImage() {
        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        intent.setType("image/*");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,"com.slappstudio.pencilsketchphotomaker", selectedFilePath));
        startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent,getString(R.string.string_share_with)));
    }

  • For Xamarin.Android users

This could also be the result of not updating your support packages when targeting Android 7.1, 8.0+. Update them to v25.4.0.2+ and this particular error might go away(giving you´ve configured your file_path file correctly as others stated).


Giving context: I switched to targeting Oreo from Nougat in a Xamarin.Forms app and taking a picture with the Xam.Plugin.Media started failing with the above error message, so updating the packages did the trick for me ok.


Check how many storages your device offers - sharing files from secondary storage is not supported. Look at FileProvider.java source (from support-core-utils 25.3.1):

            } else if (TAG_EXTERNAL_FILES.equals(tag)) {
                File[] externalFilesDirs = ContextCompat.getExternalFilesDirs(context, null);
                if (externalFilesDirs.length > 0) {
                    target = externalFilesDirs[0];
                }
            } else if (TAG_EXTERNAL_CACHE.equals(tag)) {
                File[] externalCacheDirs = ContextCompat.getExternalCacheDirs(context);
                if (externalCacheDirs.length > 0) {
                    target = externalCacheDirs[0];
                }
            }

So, they take only the first storage.

Also, you can see that getExternalCacheDirs() is used to obtain list of storages through the ContextCompat interface. See documentation for its limits (it's told to not recognize USB Flashes for example). Best is to make some debug output of list of storages from this API on your own, so that you can check that path to storage matches the path passed to getUriForFile().

There's already a ticket assigned (as for 06-2017) in Google's issue tracker, asking to support more than one storage. Eventually, I found SO question on this as well.


If nothing helps and you are getting the error

failed to find configured root that contains /data/data/...

then try changing some line like:

File directory = thisActivity.getDir("images", Context.MODE_PRIVATE);

to:

File directory = new File(thisActivity.getFilesDir(), "images");

and in the xml file:

<files-path name="files" path="." />

which is weird, since the folder I access is /images.


I am sure I am late to the party but below worked for me.

<paths>
    <root-path name="root" path="." />
</paths>

The Answer from @CommonsWare is great.

But in my case, I had to add multiple paths.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <external-path name="external_files" path="." />
    <files-path name="external_files" path="." />
</paths>

The following change in xml file_paths file worked for me.

 <external-files-path name="my_images" path="Pictures"/>
 <external-files-path name="my_movies" path="Movies"/>

try this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path
        name="my_images"
        path="" />
</paths>

You need to change the xml file file_paths.xml from

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <files-path name="my_images" path="images/"/>
</paths>

to

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <fexeternal-path name="my_images" path="Android/data/com.example.marek.myapplication/files/Pictures"/>
</paths>

none of the above worked for me, after a few hours debugging I found out that the problem is in createImageFile(), specifically absolute path vs relative path

I assume that you guys are using the official Android guide for taking photo. https://developer.android.com/training/camera/photobasics

    private static File createImageFile(Context context) throws IOException {
        // Create an image file name
        String timeStamp = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd_HHmmss").format(new Date());
        String imageFileName = "JPEG_" + timeStamp + "_";
        File storageDir = context.getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
        File image = File.createTempFile(
                imageFileName,  /* prefix */
                ".jpg",         /* suffix */
                storageDir      /* directory */
        );

        // Save a file: path for use with ACTION_VIEW intents
        mCurrentPhotoPath = image.getAbsolutePath();
        return image;
    }

Take note of the storageDir, this is the location where the file will be created. So in order to get the absolute path of this file, I simply use image.getAbsolutePath(), this path will be used in onActivityResult if you need the Bitmap image after taking photo

below is the file_path.xml, simply use . so that it uses the absolute path

<paths>
    <external-path
        name="my_images"
        path="." />
</paths>

and if you need the bitmap after taking photo

protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        Bitmap bmp = null;
        try {
            bmp = BitmapFactory.decodeFile(mCurrentPhotoPath);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

It depends what kind of storage you want to do, INTERNAL or EXTERNAL

for EXTERNAL STORAGE

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <external-files-path name="my_images" path="my_images" />
</paths>

but for INTERNAL STORAGE, be careful with the path, because it uses getFilesDir() method which mean that your file will be located in the root directory for the app ("/")

  File storeDir = getFilesDir(); // path "/"

So your provider file must be like this:

<paths>
    <files-path name="my_images" path="/" />
</paths>

Hello Friends Try This

In this Code

1) How to Declare 2 File Provider in Manifest.

2) First Provider for file Download

3) second Provider used for camera and gallary

STEP 1

     <provider
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/provider_paths" />
    </provider>

Provider_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<files-path name="apks" path="." />
</paths>

Second Provider

     <provider
        android:name=".Utils.MyFileProvider"
        android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true"
        tools:replace="android:authorities"
        tools:ignore="InnerclassSeparator">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/file_path" />
    </provider>

file_path.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
<external-path name="storage/emulated/0" path="."/>
</paths>

.Utils.MyFileProvider

Create Class MyFileProvider (only Create class no any method declare)

When you used File Provider used (.fileprovider) this name and you used for image (.provider) used this.

IF any one Problem to understand this code You can Contact on [email protected] i will help you.


This confusing me a bit too.

The problem is on "path" attribute in your xml file.

From this document FileProvider 'path' is a subdirectory, but in another document (camera/photobasics) shown 'path' is full path.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path name="my_images" path="Android/data/com.example.package.name/files/Pictures" />
</paths>

I just change this 'path' to full path and it just work.


My Problem Was Wrong File Name: I Create file_paths.xml under res/xml while resource was set to provider_paths.xml in Manifest:

<provider
        android:authorities="ir.aghigh.radio.fileprovider"
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/provider_paths"/>
    </provider>

I changed provider_paths to file_paths and problem Solved.


I noticed that the policy or behaviour regarding the path.xml file changed between Support Library 26 and 27. For capturing a picture from the camera, I saw the following changes:

  • With 26, I had to use <external-path> and the full path given in the path argument.

  • With 27, I had to use <external-files-path> and only the subfolder in the path argument.

So what specifically worked for me with Support Library 27 as the path.xml file was

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <external-files-path name="camera_image" path="Pictures/"/>
</paths>

What I did to solve this -

AndroidManifest.xml

<provider
            android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="com.mydomain.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/filepaths"/>
        </provider>

filepaths.xml (Allowing the FileProvider to share all the files that are inside the app's external files directory)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-files-path name="files"
        path="/" />
</paths>

and in java class -

Uri fileProvider = FileProvider.getUriForFile(getContext(),"com.mydomain.fileprovider",newFile);

My issue was that I had overlapping names in the file paths for different types, like this:

<cache-path
    name="cached_files"
    path="." />
<external-cache-path
    name="cached_files"
    path="." />

After I changed the names ("cached_files") to be unique, I got rid of the error. My guess is that those paths are stored in some HashMap or something which does not allow duplicates.


I have spent 5 hours for this..

I have tried all the methods above but it depends on the what storeage your app currently using.

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/support/v4/content/FileProvider#GetUri

Check the documentation before trying the codes.

In my case since files-path sub directory will be Context.getFilesDir(). The funky thing is it Context.getFilesDir() notes one another subdirectory.

what I am looking for is

data/user/0/com.psh.mTest/app_imageDir/20181202101432629.png

Context.getFilesDir()

returns /data/user/0/com.psh.mTest/files

so the tag should be

....files-path name="app_imageDir" path="../app_imageDir/" ......

Then it works!!


This may resolve everyones problem: All tags are added so you don't need to worry about folders path. Replace res/xml/file_paths.xml with:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
  <external-path
    name="external"
    path="." />
  <external-files-path
    name="external_files"
    path="." />
  <cache-path
    name="cache"
    path="." />
  <external-cache-path
    name="external_cache"
    path="." />
<files-path
    name="files"
    path="." />
</paths>

Be aware that external-path is not pointing to your secondary storage, aka "removable storage" (despite the name "external"). If you're getting "Failed to find configured root" you may add this line to your XML file.

<root-path name="root" path="." />

See more details here FileProvider and secondary external storage


You need to ensure that the contents of your file_paths.xml file contains this string => "/Android/data/com.example.marek.myapplication/files/Pictures/"

From the error message, that is path where your pictures are stored. See sample of expected

files_path.xml below:

<external-path name="qit_images" path="Android/data/com.example.marek.myapplication/files/Pictures/" />


Got similar problem after enabled flavors (dev, stage).

Before flavors my path resource looked like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <external-path
    name="my_images"
    path="Android/data/pl.myapp/files/Pictures" />
</paths>

After added android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider" in Manifest appId was pl.myapp.dev or pl.myapp.stage depends on flavor and app started crashing. I removed full path and replaced it with dot and everything started working.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <external-path
        name="my_images"
        path="." />
</paths>

If your file path is like /storage/emulated/0/"yourfile"

you just need modify your FileProvider xml

<paths>
    <external-path name="external" path="." />
</paths>

then call this function when you need share file

Intent sharingIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
                    Uri fileUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(getContext(),
                            "com.example.myapp.fileprovider",
                            file);
                    sharingIntent.setType("*/*"); // any flie type
                    sharingIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, fileUri);
                    startActivity(Intent.createChooser(sharingIntent, "Share file"));

it works on android M ~ Pie


Lost 2 weeks trying to find some solution... If you arrive here after try everthing above:

1 - Verify if your tag provider are inside tag application

<application>

    <provider android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider" android:authorities="com.companyname.Pocidadao.fileprovider" android:exported="false" android:grantUriPermissions="true">
      <meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS" android:resource="@xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
    </provider>

</application>

2 - If you try a lot paths way without success, then test with this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
  <cache-path name="cache" path="." />
  <external-path name="external" path="." />

  <root-path name="root" path="." />
  <files-path name="my_images" path="/" />
  <files-path name="my_images" path="myfile/"/>
  <files-path name="files" path="." />

  <external-path name="external_files" path="." />
  <external-path name="images" path="Pictures" />
  <external-path name="my_images" path="." />
  <external-path name="my_images" path="Android/data/com.companyname.yourproject/files/Pictures" />
  <external-path name="my_images" path="Android/data/com.companyname.yourproject/files/Pictures/" />

  <external-files-path name="images" path="Pictures"/>
  <external-files-path name="camera_image" path="Pictures/"/>
  <external-files-path name="external_files" path="." />
  <external-files-path name="my_images" path="my_images" />

  <external-cache-path name="external_cache" path="." />

</paths>

Test this, if camera works, then start eliminate some lines and continue testing...

3 - No forget verify if camera are actived in your emulator.


The problem might not just be the path xml.

Following is my fix:

Looking into the root course in android.support.v4.content.FileProvider$SimplePathStrategy.getUriForFile():

    public File getFileForUri(Uri uri) {
        String path = uri.getEncodedPath();

        final int splitIndex = path.indexOf('/', 1);
        final String tag = Uri.decode(path.substring(1, splitIndex));
        path = Uri.decode(path.substring(splitIndex + 1));

        final File root = mRoots.get(tag); // mRoots is parsed from path xml
        if (root == null) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unable to find configured root for " + uri);
        }

        // ...
    }

This means mRoots should contains the tag of requested uri. So I write some code to print mRoots and tag of uri, and then easily find the tags do not match.

It comes out that setting provider authority as ${applicationID}.provider is a stupid idea! This authority is so common that might be used by other providers, which will mess up the path config!