Save a text file from a Flutter Android app that can be accessed by user

Question

The user of my Android app developed in Flutter should be able to save (export) some data to a text file. The user should be able to find and access this file on his Android device using other apps (including File Managers).

I'm trying:

final directory = await getExternalStorageDirectory();
final file = File('${directory.path}/test1.txt');
await file.writeAsString('Test');

On an Android 9 phone this saves the file in:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.mydomain.myapp/files

However, I can't access the file (or the directory) using a File Manager app (e.g. Files) on the phone.

(If I connect the phone to a Windows PC using a USB cable, I can access the directory, see the test1.txt file, but I can't view or access it.)

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Solution

I had a similar use-case except I wanted to save "Downloads" folder in Android. Here's what worked for me:

1. Add Permissions to AndroidManifest.xml

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.app">

    <!-- Need this permission so that other apps see the saved files -->
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    ...

2. Function for saving your file
   NOTE: that I used downloads_path_provider instead of "path_provider"

  static Future<void> save(String filename, String content) async {
    final directory = await DownloadsPathProvider.downloadsDirectory;
    final path = '${directory.path}/$filename';
    final file = File(path);
    Logger().d("Saving $path");
    await file.writeAsString(content);
  }

3. Run the App on your phone

4. Enable "Storage" permission for your app

5. Save the file? I was able to view the file saved using a File Browser without being rooted or anything.

Hopefully that works