Flutter/Dart - File.writeAsBytes executes with no error but can't find the file

Question

I have a base64 encoded string of a PDF file. I'm trying to save it as a file in the android device. My code runs with no error, but i can't find the file.

Uint8List bytes = base64.decode(encodedStr);

String dir = (await getExternalStorageDirectories(
                type: StorageDirectory.downloads))!
            .first
            .path;

File file = File("$dir/" +
            DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch.toString() +
            ".pdf");

await file.writeAsBytes(bytes);

Also, I tried to include code to ask for permission before trying to save the file, but it didn't change anything.

var status = await Permission.storage.status;
if (!status.isGranted) {
    await Permission.storage.request();
}

if (await Permission.storage.request().isGranted) {
    try {
        await file.writeAsBytes(bytes);
    } catch (e) {
        print(e);
    }
}

And, as another attempt, I included these permission on my AndroidManifest file. Also, no changes.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_INTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />    

//dir = /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx/files/Download
//dir + file = /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx/files/Download/1655924904315.pdf
//file path after written = /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx/files/Download/1655924904315.pdf

Is there anything wrong with my code or something that I can change in order for it to work ?

The above code is using path_provider and permission_handler packages and was tested in an emulator and in a physical device.

Thanks.

Answer 1

It happens that the files are being correctly generated, but they are being saved in the application's directory. A download folder has being created and the files are being saved there. I didn't find the files searching via android, but when I connected my physical device to a PC I was able the find them.

It seems that this has something to do with this https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/35783 . Path_provider started to return application document directory after 1.1.0 instead of the general downloads folder.

I'll check how to access the path I want correctly.