Select multiple files with Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT

Question

I'm trying to select multiple files with an Intent, but it seems like I'm missing on something.
I create an Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT Intent, put Intent.EXTRA_ALLOW_MULTIPLE as extra in
(it seems to perfectly fit the purpose) and create a chooser (optional), which chooses the application that should be able to pick multiple files and return them.

The Problem is that I can only pick a single file.

I tried multiple file explorers. It's API 18 (4.3).

ACTIVITY_CHOOSE_FILE = 1;  //global constant Button btn = (Button) this.findViewById(R.id.btnGetFiles); btn.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {   @Override     public void onClick(View v) {       Intent chooseFile;       Intent intent;       chooseFile = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);       chooseFile.setType("file/*");       chooseFile.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_ALLOW_MULTIPLE, true);       intent = Intent.createChooser(chooseFile, "Choose a file");       startActivityForResult(intent, ACTIVITY_CHOOSE_FILE);     }   }); 

I also added this to the Manifest (it had the same functionality before adding it):

        <intent-filter>             <action android:name="android.intent.action.GET_CONTENT" />             <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />         </intent-filter>   

Why can't I choose multiple files?
(For clarification: the problem is not, that multiple files aren't returned - I can't choose more than 1 file)

Answer 1

I got same issue. Here my solution.

Java:

public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {     super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data)     if(requestCode == PICKFILE_RESULT_CODE) {        if(null != data) { // checking empty selection           if(null != data.getClipData()) { // checking multiple selection or not              for(int i = 0; i < data.getClipData().getItemCount(); i++) {                 Uri uri = data.getClipData().getItemAt(i).getUri();              }           } else {              Uri uri = data.getData();           }        }     }  }  

Kotlin:

override fun onActivityResult(requestCode: Int, resultCode: Int, data: Intent) {         super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data)         when (requestCode) {             PICKFILE_RESULT_CODE -> if (resultCode === Activity.RESULT_OK) {                 if (null != data) {                     if (null !=data.clipData) {                         for (i in 0 until data.clipData.itemCount) {                             val uri = data.clipData.getItemAt(i).uri                             dumpImageMetaData(uri)                         }                     } else {                         val uri = data.data                         dumpImageMetaData(uri)                     }                 }             }         }     } 

Answer 2

Why can't I choose multiple files?

Presumably, the implemeters of "the application that should be able to pick multiple files and return them" have not implemented EXTRA_ALLOW_MULTIPLE support. Contact them and request this feature.