android.database.sqlite.SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException: unknown error (code 14): Could not open database

Question

I have read various on site about this issue but I am not able to figure this out. I am using pre-build database for this app. I am using jellybean for this app.

AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        package="com.example.quotes"
        android:versionCode="1"
        android:versionName="1.0" >

        <uses-sdk
            android:minSdkVersion="8"
            android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

        <application
            android:allowBackup="true"
            android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
            android:label="@string/app_name"
            android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
            <activity
                android:name="com.example.quotes.MainActivity"
                android:label="@string/app_name" >
                <intent-filter>
                    <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                    <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
                </intent-filter>
            </activity>
        </application>

    </manifest>

Logcat Output

according to logcat it's caused by SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException

06-10 23:07:01.831: E/Trace(4419): error opening trace file: No such file or directory (2)
06-10 23:07:03.611: E/SQLiteLog(4419): (14) cannot open file at line 30176 of [00bb9c9ce4]
06-10 23:07:03.621: E/SQLiteLog(4419): (14) os_unix.c:30176: (2) open(/data/data/com.example.quotes/databasesQuotesdb) - 
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419): Failed to open database '/data/data/com.example.quotes/databasesQuotesdb'.
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419): android.database.sqlite.SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException: unknown error (code 14): Could not open database
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.nativeOpen(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:209)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:193)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.openConnectionLocked(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:463)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:185)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:177)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openInner(SQLiteDatabase.java:804)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.open(SQLiteDatabase.java:789)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:694)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:669)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.example.quotes.DataBaseHelper.checkDataBase(DataBaseHelper.java:94)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.example.quotes.DataBaseHelper.createDataBase(DataBaseHelper.java:58)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.example.quotes.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.java:34)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5104)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1080)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2144)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2230)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:141)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1234)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5041)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:793)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:560)
06-10 23:07:03.641: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.731: E/SQLiteLog(4419): (14) cannot open file at line 30176 of [00bb9c9ce4]
06-10 23:07:03.731: E/SQLiteLog(4419): (14) os_unix.c:30176: (2) open(/data/data/com.example.quotes/databasesQuotesdb) - 
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419): Failed to open database '/data/data/com.example.quotes/databasesQuotesdb'.
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419): android.database.sqlite.SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException: unknown error (code 14): Could not open database
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.nativeOpen(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:209)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:193)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.openConnectionLocked(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:463)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:185)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:177)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openInner(SQLiteDatabase.java:804)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.open(SQLiteDatabase.java:789)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:694)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:669)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.example.quotes.DataBaseHelper.openDataBase(DataBaseHelper.java:145)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.example.quotes.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.java:44)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5104)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1080)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2144)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2230)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:141)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1234)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5041)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:793)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:560)
06-10 23:07:03.781: E/SQLiteDatabase(4419):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.791: D/AndroidRuntime(4419): Shutting down VM
06-10 23:07:03.791: W/dalvikvm(4419): threadid=1: thread exiting with uncaught exception (group=0x40a71930)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419): java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.example.quotes/com.example.quotes.MainActivity}: android.database.sqlite.SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException: unknown error (code 14): Could not open database
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2180)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2230)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:141)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1234)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5041)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:793)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:560)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419): Caused by: android.database.sqlite.SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException: unknown error (code 14): Could not open database
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.nativeOpen(Native Method)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:209)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnection.open(SQLiteConnection.java:193)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.openConnectionLocked(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:463)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:185)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteConnectionPool.open(SQLiteConnectionPool.java:177)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openInner(SQLiteDatabase.java:804)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.open(SQLiteDatabase.java:789)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:694)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:669)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at com.example.quotes.DataBaseHelper.openDataBase(DataBaseHelper.java:145)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at com.example.quotes.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.java:44)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5104)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1080)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2144)
06-10 23:07:03.831: E/AndroidRuntime(4419):     ... 11 more
06-10 23:07:04.083: D/dalvikvm(4419): GC_CONCURRENT freed 203K, 11% free 2676K/3000K, paused 25ms+18ms, total 306ms
06-10 23:07:07.811: I/Process(4419): Sending signal. PID: 4419 SIG: 9

DataBaseHelper.java

public class DataBaseHelper extends SQLiteOpenHelper{

    //The Android's default system path of your application database.
    private static String DB_PATH = "/data/data/com.example.quotes/databases";

    private static String DB_NAME = "Quotesdb";

    // Table Names of Data Base.
    static final String TABLE_Name = "Quotes";

    // Contacts Table Columns names
    //private static final String _Id = "_Id";
    //private static final String quotes = "quotes";
    //private static final String author = "author";

    private SQLiteDatabase myDataBase; 

    private final Context myContext;

    /**
     * Constructor
     * Takes and keeps a reference of the passed context in order to access to the application assets and resources.
     * @param context
     */
    public DataBaseHelper(Context context) {
        super(context, DB_NAME, null, 1);
        this.myContext = context;
    }

    /**
     * Creates a empty database on the system and rewrites it with your own database.
     * */
    public void createDataBase() throws IOException{

        boolean dbExist = checkDataBase();
        SQLiteDatabase db_Read = null;

        if(dbExist){
            //do nothing - database already exist
        }else{
            //By calling this method and empty database will be created into the default system path
            //of your application so we are gonna be able to overwrite that database with our database.
            db_Read = this.getReadableDatabase(); 
            db_Read.close();

            try {
                copyDataBase();
            } catch (IOException e) {
                //throw new Error("Error copying database");
                e.toString();
            }
        }
    }

    /**
     * Check if the database already exist to avoid re-copying the file each time you open the application.
     * @return true if it exists, false if it doesn't
     */
    private boolean checkDataBase(){

        SQLiteDatabase checkDB = null;

        try{
            String myPath = DB_PATH + DB_NAME;
            checkDB = SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(myPath, null, SQLiteDatabase.OPEN_READONLY);
        }catch(SQLiteException e){
            //database does't exist yet.
        }

        if(checkDB != null){
            checkDB.close();
        }

        return checkDB != null ? true : false;
    }

    /**
     * Copies your database from your local assets-folder to the just created empty database in the
     * system folder, from where it can be accessed and handled.
     * This is done by transfering bytestream.
     * */
    private void copyDataBase() throws IOException{

        //Open your local db as the input stream
        InputStream myInput = myContext.getAssets().open(DB_NAME);

        // Path to the just created empty db
        String outFileName = DB_PATH + DB_NAME;

        //Open the empty db as the output stream
        OutputStream myOutput = new FileOutputStream(outFileName);

        //transfer bytes from the inputfile to the outputfile
        byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
        int length;
        while ((length = myInput.read(buffer))>0){
            myOutput.write(buffer, 0, length);
        }

        //Close the streams
        myOutput.flush();
        myOutput.close();
        myInput.close();
    }

    public void openDataBase() throws SQLException{
        //Open the database
        String myPath = DB_PATH + DB_NAME;
        myDataBase = SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(myPath, null, SQLiteDatabase.OPEN_READONLY);

    }

    @Override
    public synchronized void close() {
        if(myDataBase != null)
            myDataBase.close();

        super.close();
    }

    @Override
    public void onCreate(SQLiteDatabase db) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    }

    @Override
    public void onUpgrade(SQLiteDatabase db, int oldVersion, int newVersion) {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    }

    /*// Getting single contact
    public List<Quotes> getQuote(int id) {
        ArrayList<Quotes>();
        getReadableDatabase();

        Cursor cursor = db.query(TABLE_Name, new String[] { _Id,
                qotes,author }, _Id + "=?", new String[] { String.valueOf(id) },
                null, null, null, null);

        //String query = "SELECT _Id, qotes, author From "+TABLE_Name;
        //String query = "SELECT * From Quotes";

        //Cursor cursor = db.rawQuery(query, null);

        if (cursor != null)
            cursor.moveToFirst();
        Quotes quotes = new Quotes(Integer.parseInt(cursor.getString(0)),
        cursor.getString(1),cursor.getString(2));
        QuoteList.add(quotes);
        return QuoteList;
    }
    */
}

Answer 1

Add this permission to your project's AndroidManifest.xml file, in the manifest tag (which should be the top level tag).

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

Answer 2

Replace the checkDataBase() code with the code below:

File dbFile = myContext.getDatabasePath(DB_NAME);
return dbFile.exists();

Answer 3

You may face this issue if you are running your app on Android's Marshmallow or later version (API level 23 or greater), because of the new Real-time Permissions model introduced in this.

Beginning in Android 6.0 (API level 23), users grant permissions to apps while the app is running, not when they install the app. This approach streamlines the app install process, since the user does not need to grant permissions when they install or update the app.

For getting permissions at runtime, you will have to request the user. You can do that in following way.

First request for permissions.

String[] permissions = {Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE};
        requestPermissions(permissions, WRITE_REQUEST_CODE);

And then you can check the results in

@Override
public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, String permissions[], int[] grantResults) {
    switch (requestCode) {
       case WRITE_REQUEST_CODE:
         if(grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED){
           //Permission granted.
           //Continue with writing files...
         }
       else{
           //Permission denied.
         }
        break;
    }
}

Here is good learning source requesting-runtime-permissions-in-android-marshmallow/