How to check whether a file exists in (Internal/External storage) by using file name?

Question

I have been working on a project where I will get a filename from API and have to check whether the file is present in the device and play it.

I am getting Screenshot.jpg as filename from API and under the same name a file is present in my storage.

But when I used the piece of code, I have been returned false. I have checked with other codes also.

public boolean isFilePresent(String fileName) {
    String path = this.getFilesDir().getAbsolutePath() + "/" + fileName;
    File file = new File(path);
    return file.exists();
}

where am I going wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Possible duplicate of [How do I check if a file exists in Java?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1816673/how-do-i-check-if-a-file-exists-in-java) — Northern Poet, Dec 18 '17 at 08:31
Try printing the path and then verify it exists (by ssh or manually opening it in a file browser). Your check is correct, the only suspect is a wrong path — GuyKhmel, Dec 18 '17 at 08:32
Well its not duplicate! I don't know the path to the file by any means. In the said link, pathtothefile has to be passed on — Kanagalingam, Dec 18 '17 at 08:32
Can you log the path of the file and then the value in `path` variable and check, if they are same? — Saran Sankaran, Dec 18 '17 at 08:41
File dir = new File(android.os.Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/mycalender/download"); if (dir.exists() == false) { dir.mkdirs(); } URL url = new URL(DownloadUrl + fileName); File file = new File(dir, fileName); — Kanagalingam, Dec 18 '17 at 08:45
Extremely sorry for that @greenapps. After comparing the paths, i solved it. Thanks a lot for your time. — Kanagalingam, Dec 18 '17 at 08:56

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 18 '17 at 08:34

1

Probably, what you do wrong is using this.getFilesDir().

Instead, use Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString() for example, it's all dependant on where your file is.

Like I said before, debug it yourself, print (or present a toast) with the 'expected' file path, then verify it doesn't exist

answered Dec 18 '17 at 08:34

GuyKhmel

505
5
15

3

Need not do `toString()`. Instead it can be done like this `File file = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), "Screenshot.jpg");` – Saran Sankaran Dec 18 '17 at 08:38
Path is the culprit ! Thanks all ! – Kanagalingam Dec 18 '17 at 08:54

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 18 '17 at 08:33

0

Try something like that :

public boolean isFilePresent(Context context, String fileName) {
    File dirFiles = context.getFilesDir();

    File[] filesArray = dirFiles.listFiles();

    for (File file : filesArray) {
        if (file.getName().equals(fileName)) {
            return true;
        }
    }

    return false;
}

answered Dec 18 '17 at 08:33

Thomas Mary

1,535
1
13
24

This didn't helped me @Thomas Mary. I have been returned false again – Kanagalingam Dec 18 '17 at 08:38

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 18 '17 at 08:40

Use Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() this is how you get the files directory

then you will add your files path after it, so you should do something like this

if(!new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString()+"/myFolder/"+"myFile").exist())
{
// file is not exist
}

remember to check the runtime permission because it's a special permission

How to check whether a file exists in (Internal/External storage) by using file name?

3 Answers3