Flutter: Deleting a File and Updating MediaStore Without MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE Permission

Are you tired of dealing with the dreaded MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in your Flutter app? Do you want to provide a seamless user experience while still being able to delete files and update the MediaStore? Well, you’re in luck because in this article, we’ll show you exactly how to do just that!

Why Do We Need to Delete Files and Update MediaStore?

Before we dive into the implementation details, let’s take a step back and understand why deleting files and updating the MediaStore is essential in many Android apps. There are several scenarios where your app might need to delete files, such as:

• Removing temporary files created during app usage
• Deleting files that are no longer needed or outdated
• Cleaning up cached data to free up storage space

Similarly, updating the MediaStore is crucial when your app interacts with media files, such as:

• Deleting a photo or video from the gallery
• Updating the metadata of a media file
• Scanning for new media files

The Problem with MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE Permission

In Android 11 and later, the MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission is required to access and manage files on external storage. However, this permission has some significant drawbacks:

• It’s a sensitive permission that can be a hurdle during app review and approval
• Users may be hesitant to grant this permission, potentially affecting app adoption
• It requires additional setup and configuration, adding complexity to your app’s codebase

The Solution: Using the Storage Access Framework (SAF)

Fortunately, there’s a better way to delete files and update the MediaStore without requiring the MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission. Enter the Storage Access Framework (SAF), a secure and efficient way to interact with files on external storage.

What is the Storage Access Framework (SAF)?

The SAF provides a set of APIs that allow your app to access and manage files on external storage, without requiring the MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission. Instead, users are prompted to grant access to specific files or folders, ensuring a more fine-grained control over data access.

How to Use the Storage Access Framework (SAF) in Flutter

To use the SAF in Flutter, you’ll need to add the android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions to your app’s AndroidManifest.xml file:

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

Next, you’ll need to add the path_provider and provider packages to your Flutter project:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  path_provider: ^2.0.2
  provider: ^4.3.2+2

Now, let’s create a simple example that demonstrates how to delete a file and update the MediaStore using the SAF:

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';
import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
import 'dart:io';
import 'dart:typed_data';

class FileDeleter with ChangeNotifier {
  Future<void> deleteFile(String filePath) async {
    final dir = await getExternalStorageDirectory();
    final file = File('$dir/$filePath');
    if (await file.exists()) {
      await file.delete();
      notifyListeners();
    }
  }

  Future<void> updateMediaStore() async {
    final gallerySaver = GallerySaver();
    await gallerySaver.deleteMediaItem(filePath);
  }
}

class GallerySaver {
  Future<void> deleteMediaItem(String filePath) async {
    final db = await getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Directory.storage);
    final file = db.childFile(filePath);
    if (await file.exists()) {
      await file.delete();
    }
  }
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MultiProvider(
      providers: [
        ChangeNotifierProvider(create: (_) => FileDeleter()),
      ],
      child: MaterialApp(
        title: 'Flutter Demo',
        home: MyHomePage(),
      ),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Flutter Demo'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          onPressed: () async {
            final filePath = 'path/to/your/file.txt';
            final fileDeleter = Provider.of<FileDeleter>(context, listen: false);
            await fileDeleter.deleteFile(filePath);
            await fileDeleter.updateMediaStore();
          },
          child: Text('Delete File and Update MediaStore'),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

In this example, we create a FileDeleter class that uses the path_provider package to get the external storage directory and delete a file. We then use the provider package to notify the UI that the file has been deleted. Finally, we update the MediaStore using the GallerySaver class.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve demonstrated how to delete a file and update the MediaStore without requiring the MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in Flutter. By using the Storage Access Framework (SAF) and the path_provider and provider packages, we can provide a seamless user experience while still ensuring data security and efficiency.

Best Practices

When working with files and the MediaStore, it’s essential to follow best practices to ensure data integrity and security:

• Always handle file operations asynchronously to prevent blocking the UI thread
• Use the SAF to access and manage files on external storage
• Cache files locally to reduce network requests and improve performance
• Implement error handling and logging to detect and debug file-related issues

Permission	Description
MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE	Required to access and manage files on external storage
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE	Required to read files on external storage
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE	Required to write files on external storage

By following these best practices and using the techniques outlined in this article, you can create a robust and efficient file management system in your Flutter app that respects user data and doesn’t require the MANGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.

Additional Resources

For more information on the Storage Access Framework (SAF) and file management in Android, check out these additional resources:

• Android Developer Documentation: Storage Access Framework
• path_provider package on pub.dev
• provider package on pub.dev

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to dive into the world of Flutter and MediaStore!