How to update the Android media database

Question

My application shows the list of songs in sdcard, and there is an option to delete the song from SD card.

Even when the song is deleted the song still comes in my applications list.

How can I update the android media database and show the updated database?

Answer 1

For Android before ICS, send a ACTION_MEDIA_MOUNTED broadcast :

context.sendBroadcast(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_MOUNTED, Uri.parse("file://" + Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory())));

For ICS and Jelly Bean, you can use the MediaScannerConnection API to scan media files

Answer 2

Android has a cache of sorts that keeps track of media files.

Try this:

sendBroadcast(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_MOUNTED, Uri.parse("file://" + Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory())));

It makes the MediaScanner service run again, which should remove the deleted song from the device's cache.

You also need to add this permission to your AndroidManifest.xml:

<intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED" />
  <data android:scheme="file" /> 
</intent-filter>

Answer 3

Gallery refresh including Android KITKAT

if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT)
{
        Intent mediaScanIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE);
        File f = new File("file://"+ Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES));
        Uri contentUri = Uri.fromFile(f);
        mediaScanIntent.setData(contentUri);
        this.sendBroadcast(mediaScanIntent);
}
else
{
       sendBroadcast(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_MOUNTED, Uri.parse("file://" + Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory())));
} 

Answer 4

The below was tested only on emulators. Solution works on 2.2 and 2.3, but not on 4. On 4th Android emulator this action does nothing with message in LogCat:

Permission Denial: broadcasting Intent

Unfortunately did not found the way to update media storage for Android 4 Did not test on Android 3.

The error happens also in the 2.3.3 Intel image. Have not check on real devices.