Why is the mkdirs() method not working?

Question

Before anyone marks this as a duplicate I would like to let you know that I have gone through a lot of the questions about the mkdirs() method on SO and none have worked for me so I believe I have a special case for this problem worthy of a question.

I have tried using mkdir(), changed the instantiation of the directory File as

new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory())
new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath())
new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), "Directory")
new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath(), "Directory")
new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString + "/Directory")

and nothing works.

NOTE : I ALSO HAVE THE WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in my manifest.

Here is my code snippet:

File rootDirectory = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), getActivity().getPackageName());

File directory = new File(rootDirectory, "Directory");
if (!directory.exists()) {
    if(directory.mkdirs()){
       Log.d("log", "exists");
    } else {
       Log.d("log", "not exists");
    }
 }

what api version have you tried it upon? 2.3 or 18+? – Elltz Aug 14 '15 at 02:43 — Elltz, Aug 14 '15 at 02:43
I am using 5.0.2 on LG G2 – John Ernest Guadalupe Aug 14 '15 at 02:45 — John Ernest Guadalupe, Aug 14 '15 at 02:45

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 14 '15 at 03:14

mkdirs create the complete folder tree, mkdir only the last folder in complete folder tree path

use a code like this:

String foldername = "HelloWorld";
                 File dir = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + foldername);
                if (dir.exists() && dir.isDirectory()) {
                    Log.d("log", "exists");
                } else {
                    //noinspection ResultOfMethodCallIgnored
                    dir.mkdir();
                    Log.d("log", "created");
                }

Elltz · Answer 2 · 2015-08-14T03:37:05.360

use this

File rootDirectory = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(), 
      new File(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOCUMENTS, getActivity().getPackageName()));
   // if you target below api 19 use this => DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS
  // now your old code follows life is good
File directory = new File(rootDirectory, "Directory");
if (!directory.exists()) {
    if(directory.mkdirs()){
       Log.d("log", "exists");
    } else {
       Log.d("log", "not exists");
    }
 }

more info here and here

from your comment

But I don't want the users to be able to see the files I am going to save into the folder

you could use internal memory and call this [getDir(java.lang.String, int)](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Context.html#getDir(java.lang.String, int))

let me know if it helps sir

But I don't want the users to be able to see the files I am going to save into the folder — John Ernest Guadalupe, Aug 14 '15 at 03:24

Why is the mkdirs() method not working?

2 Answers2

Linked