@capacitor/filesystem

The Filesystem API provides a NodeJS-like API for working with files on the device.

Install

npm install @capacitor/filesystem
npx cap sync

Android

If using Directory.Documents or Directory.ExternalStorage, this API requires the following permissions be added to your AndroidManifest.xml:

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

Read about Setting Permissions in the Android Guide for more information on setting Android permissions.

Note that Directory.Documents and Directory.ExternalStorage are only available on Android 9 or older.

Understanding Directories and Files

iOS and Android have additional layers of separation between files, such as special directories that are backed up to the Cloud, or ones for storing Documents. The Filesystem API offers a simple way to scope each operation to a specific special directory on the device.

Additionally, the Filesystem API supports using full file:// paths, or reading content:// files on Android. Simply leave out the directory param to use a full file path.

Example

import { Filesystem, Directory, Encoding } from '@capacitor/filesystem';

const writeSecretFile = async () => {
  await Filesystem.writeFile({
    path: 'secrets/text.txt',
    data: "This is a test",
    directory: Directory.Documents,
    encoding: Encoding.UTF8,
  });
};

const readSecretFile = async () => {
  const contents = await Filesystem.readFile({
    path: 'secrets/text.txt',
    directory: Directory.Documents,
    encoding: Encoding.UTF8,
  });

  console.log('secrets:', contents);
};

const deleteSecretFile = async () => {
  await Filesystem.deleteFile({
    path: 'secrets/text.txt',
    directory: Directory.Documents,
  });
};

const readFilePath = async () => {
  // Here's an example of reading a file with a full file path. Use this to
  // read binary data (base64 encoded) from plugins that return File URIs, such as
  // the Camera.
  const contents = await Filesystem.readFile({
    path: 'file:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/22A433FD-D82D-4989-8BE6-9FC49DEA20BB/Documents/text.txt'
  });

  console.log('data:', contents);
};

API

readFile(options: ReadFileOptions) => Promise<ReadFileResult>

writeFile(options: WriteFileOptions) => Promise<WriteFileResult>

appendFile(options: AppendFileOptions) => Promise<void>

deleteFile(options: DeleteFileOptions) => Promise<void>

mkdir(options: MkdirOptions) => Promise<void>

rmdir(options: RmdirOptions) => Promise<void>

readdir(options: ReaddirOptions) => Promise<ReaddirResult>

getUri(options: GetUriOptions) => Promise<GetUriResult>

stat(options: StatOptions) => Promise<StatResult>

rename(options: RenameOptions) => Promise<void>

copy(options: CopyOptions) => Promise<void>

checkPermissions() => Promise<PermissionStatus>

requestPermissions() => Promise<PermissionStatus>