Local files revisited: Opening local HTML files (file:///path/to/file) in Chrome on Android 4.x

Question

There are other questions on this same topic, but I'm finding that on 4.0.4 with my HTC One, I can open file:/// URLs just fine with Firefox, but not with Chrome or the Android browser. Those two simply report a security error and show no content.

Is this something that changed since the 2.x era when it was apparently possible? (edit well I realize there was no Chrome for 2.x but ...)

On 4.2.1 the URLs work fine on Chrome and Chrome Beta, but not the builtin browser. — aleksikallio, Mar 04 '13 at 19:28
For Android 10 or later: Local files revisited: Opening local HTML files (file:///path/to/file) in Chrome on Android 10.x — Andrew T., Dec 28 '21 at 13:07

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 28 '21 at 13:10

3

The issue was user error stemming from the less-than-obvious way the Android OS file system works. Everything visible in the file system is under a top-level (the real top) directory called "sdcard". Thus, file:/// URLs only work for paths like file:///sdcard/foo/bar.

I'll add with questionable relevance that if you haven't installed the app "AirDroid", you should. I found it while looking around for answers to a related problem.

edited Dec 28 '21 at 13:10

Andrew T.

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answered Mar 05 '13 at 14:16

Pointy

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I get: "Access to the file was denied" for the extSdCard. – Luis A. Florit Feb 12 '16 at 18:20
what path must one use for internal storage?? – Fedor Alexander Steeman Feb 03 '17 at 10:58
@FedorSteeman it's in the answer above. – Pointy Feb 03 '17 at 13:28
thanks. I was getting confused over the fact that my unit didn't have an sd card, so it didn't make sense to me to go to the "sdcard". – Fedor Alexander Steeman Feb 03 '17 at 14:24

Local files revisited: Opening local HTML files (file:///path/to/file) in Chrome on Android 4.x

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