How to Open a Specific Folder Via Intent in Android?

Last Updated : 06 Jun, 2021

In this article, we are going to open a specific folder from our App. This feature is useful in many cases. Most of the time when we want to upload any file then the app simply opens the file manager. But we can implement this feature for effective use like whenever any user wants to upload any file then the user will simply choose the folder name like WhatsApp, downloads, etc. Then the user will be directed to that folder only. Let's see the implementation of this feature.

Reference Articles: Intent in Android

Step by Step Implementation

Step 1: Create a New Project

To create a new project in Android Studio please refer to How to Create/Start a New Project in Android Studio. Note that select Java as the programming language.

Step 2: Working with the activity_main.xml file

Navigate to the app > res > layout > activity_main.xml and add the below code to that file. Below is the code for the activity_main.xml file.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:padding="16dp"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/download"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Download Folder" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/movies"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Movies Folder" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/pic"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Pictures Folder" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/whtsapp"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Whatsapp Content" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/music"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Music Folder" />
    
</LinearLayout>

Step 3: Working with the MainActivity.java file

Go to the MainActivity.java file and refer to the following code. Below is the code for the MainActivity.java file. Comments are added inside the code to understand the code in more detail.

Java

import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Environment;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    Button movie, download, pic, music, whatsapp;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        movie = findViewById(R.id.movies);
        download = findViewById(R.id.download);
        whatsapp = findViewById(R.id.whtsapp);
        pic = findViewById(R.id.pic);
        music = findViewById(R.id.music);
        movie.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + "Movies" + "/";
                Uri uri = Uri.parse(path);
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK);
                intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });
        whatsapp.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + "WhatsApp" + "/";
                Uri uri = Uri.parse(path);
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK);
                intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });
        download.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + "Downloads" + "/";
                Uri uri = Uri.parse(path);
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK);
                intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });
        music.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + "Music" + "/";
                Uri uri = Uri.parse(path);
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK);
                intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });
        pic.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + "Pictures" + "/";
                Uri uri = Uri.parse(path);
                Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_PICK);
                intent.setDataAndType(uri, "*/*");
                startActivity(intent);
            }
        });
    }
}