Why does iOS Files not show an app's file folder?

Question

Why does iOS Files not show an app's file folder?

Hong 1,546

I followed the instructions to configure Info.plist:

The window "On My iPhone" of Files is still empty. The paths of files created by the app are like the following:
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/2C5B6D11-41CF-4836-9F2D-CAE73F252CD2/Library/Data/My App/Pictures/Snapshot 2021-04-06 170708.jpg
Could anyone offer a tip on this?

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Answer accepted by question author

JarvanZhang 23,976

Hello,

Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform!

Why does iOS Files not show an app's file folder

To make the file be available for browsing in the Files app, please make sure the file is saved in the app's Documents directory. You could refer to the official smaple code and remember to set LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace to true in the Info.plist file.

It works fine on my side, here is the work screenshot:

Best Regards,

Jarvan Zhang

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Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-07T13:59:44.687+00:00

Thank you for the help. Could you offer a tip about why File System does not show when I tap "On My iPhone"? It is empty.

The created image file's path is: "/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/8674E156-4CD1-4C6F-A7AE-B9C5BAE8C2D0/Documents/Test.jpg"

JarvanZhang 23,976

Sorry for my mistake. To save file to the 'MyDocuments' folder, we also need to set the Supports Document Browser key to true. Please enable the key in the Info.plist file, then test again.

Related code:

   button.TouchUpInside += (sender, e) => {  
       var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);  
     
       var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "MyTestImage.jpg");  
       var img = UIImage.FromBundle("MyImage");//the MyImage file is placed in the asset folder  
       NSData image = img.AsJPEG();  
       NSError err = null;  
       image.Save(filename, false, out err);  
   };

Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-08T18:25:44.77+00:00

Thank you for your persistent help.
I copied your code to test it. I added TestImage:

Unfortunately, both UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage.jpg") and UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage") return null. Could you offer a tip on this?

This is the barebone app for debugging.

JarvanZhang 23,976

I just use the code to store the file. Here are the related code and configuration.

   button.TouchUpInside += (sender, e) => {  
       var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);  
       var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "MyTestImage.jpg");  
       var img = UIImage.FromBundle("MyImage");//the MyImage file is placed in the asset folder  
       NSData image = img.AsJPEG();  
       NSError err = null;  
       image.Save(filename, false, out err);  
   };

Info.plist

   <key>LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace</key>  
   <true/>  
   <key>UISupportsDocumentBrowser</key>  
   <true/>

JarvanZhang 23,976 Reputation points

2021-04-09T06:51:30.907+00:00
both UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage.jpg") and UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage") return null. Could you offer a tip on this

If the value is null, try to store a txt file to test the function. Please makr sure the Supports Document Browser key is set to true.

var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "Write.txt"); File.WriteAllText(filename, "Write this text into a file!");
Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-09T18:49:52.977+00:00

Thank you for your persistent help. It is appreciated.
I copied your code and ran the app in debug code to make sure the code was executed. Unfortunately, On My iPhone folder was still empty.
I rebooted the iPhone, then all the expected folders from the testing app and the original app showed in On My iPhone folder. I do not know why rebooting the iPhone was required and wonder if there is a better way to force the iPhone to refresh the folder.
Aravind RM 0 Reputation points

2024-04-30T12:31:30.2633333+00:00

Supports Document Browser after adding this key it workied thanks a lot

1 additional answer

Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-07T13:59:44.687+00:00

Thank you for the help. Could you offer a tip about why File System does not show when I tap "On My iPhone"? It is empty.

The created image file's path is: "/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/8674E156-4CD1-4C6F-A7AE-B9C5BAE8C2D0/Documents/Test.jpg"
JarvanZhang 23,976 Reputation points

2021-04-08T07:39:32.393+00:00

Sorry for my mistake. To save file to the 'MyDocuments' folder, we also need to set the Supports Document Browser key to true. Please enable the key in the Info.plist file, then test again.

Related code:

button.TouchUpInside += (sender, e) => { var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "MyTestImage.jpg"); var img = UIImage.FromBundle("MyImage");//the MyImage file is placed in the asset folder NSData image = img.AsJPEG(); NSError err = null; image.Save(filename, false, out err); };
Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-08T18:25:44.77+00:00

Thank you for your persistent help.
I copied your code to test it. I added TestImage:

Unfortunately, both UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage.jpg") and UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage") return null. Could you offer a tip on this?

This is the barebone app for debugging.
JarvanZhang 23,976 Reputation points

2021-04-09T06:48:10.293+00:00

I just use the code to store the file. Here are the related code and configuration.

button.TouchUpInside += (sender, e) => { var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "MyTestImage.jpg"); var img = UIImage.FromBundle("MyImage");//the MyImage file is placed in the asset folder NSData image = img.AsJPEG(); NSError err = null; image.Save(filename, false, out err); };

Info.plist

<key>LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace</key> <true/> <key>UISupportsDocumentBrowser</key> <true/>
JarvanZhang 23,976 Reputation points

2021-04-09T06:51:30.907+00:00

both UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage.jpg") and UIImage.FromBundle("TestImage") return null. Could you offer a tip on this

If the value is null, try to store a txt file to test the function. Please makr sure the Supports Document Browser key is set to true.

var documents = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); var filename = Path.Combine(documents, "Write.txt"); File.WriteAllText(filename, "Write this text into a file!");
Hong 1,546 Reputation points

2021-04-09T18:49:52.977+00:00

Thank you for your persistent help. It is appreciated.
I copied your code and ran the app in debug code to make sure the code was executed. Unfortunately, On My iPhone folder was still empty.
I rebooted the iPhone, then all the expected folders from the testing app and the original app showed in On My iPhone folder. I do not know why rebooting the iPhone was required and wonder if there is a better way to force the iPhone to refresh the folder.
Aravind RM 0 Reputation points

2024-04-30T12:31:30.2633333+00:00

Supports Document Browser after adding this key it workied thanks a lot

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