How to launch browser to open local file

Question

I\'m trying to send intent to browser to open local file. I wish to use default browser to open this file.

if(file.exists()){
  Log.d(TAG, \"file.exists\");         


        

Answer 1

You need to add browsable category in the intent.

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.fromFile(file));
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_BROWSABLE);
startActivity(intent);

Answer 2

Here's a slighly more robust approach:

private void openInBrowser(File file) {
    final Uri uri = Uri.fromFile(file);
    try {
        final Intent browserIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        browserIntent.setClassName("com.android.browser", "com.android.browser.BrowserActivity");
        browserIntent.setData(uri);
        startActivity(browserIntent);
    } catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
        final Intent browserIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        browserIntent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "text/html");
        startActivity(browserIntent);
    }
}

I've tested this on a Nexus One (API 16, 4.1.2), where the try works, and a Nexus 5 (API 22, 5.1.1), where only the catch works.

Answer 3

Maybe this works:

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "text/html");
startActivity(intent);

Answer 4

This is what's working for me. I took the mime type directly from the Manifest.xml of the Android's default browser. Apparently the text/html mime is only for http(s) and inline schemes.

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_BROWSABLE);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(filePath), "application/x-webarchive-xml");
startActivity(intent);

Not sure if it works in every android/phone/browser combination but it's the only way I could get it to work.

Edit: Tested with chrome and doesn't work. Also doesn't work with my 2.3.3 device. Seems to work with the default browser in Android 4.0.

Answer 5

The browser is started only for HTML and other compatible files. this should work:

Intent intent = new Intent(ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "text/html");

Answer 6

The problem is that the new activity has no access to the html page inside your app since it is a different app and it has no permissions to do so.