Flutter Android - Write files to external storage

Question

I am unable to write a file to the external storage (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Example).

My current configuration looks as follows:

• targetSdk: 33
• WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE added
• "storage" permission request at runtime (Permission.storage.request())

With this configuration, I always get a "permanently denied" when checking the storage permission on runtime. Therefore I added the following to AndroidManifest:

• android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true"

With this change, I get a permission request window at runtime and I can confirm that my app can use this permission.

Now the permission check returns "granted", but if I try to write a file e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Example/test.txt I get an error:

[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(41)] Unhandled Exception: FileSystemException: Cannot open file, path = '/storage/emulated/0/Example/test.txt' (OS Error: Operation not permitted, errno = 1)

Then I tried it with the Granular Media Permissions for Android 13:

• READ_MEDIA_IMAGES, READ_MEDIA_AUDIO, READ_MEDIA_VIDEO

This also did not work for me.

The only way I got this working is by defining the MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission. But if I upload my appbundle Google rejects it because of this permission.

What other options do I have for this requirements:

• Flutter
• targetSdk > 33
• allow user to save files to any folder he wants
• do not use MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Thank you!

Answer 1

You cannot create files or directories in root of external storage anymore.

Use one of the public directories like Documents, Download, DCIM, Pictures, ...