Open when another app requires it

[Juan-Demarchi]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the request will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Feature description

Open when another app requires it.
For example: When I want to share a document from WhatsApp, this File-Manager doesn't open.

Why do you want this feature?

Because whitout this basic feature I'm forced to install an alternative to this file manager, and I like this one.

Additional information

It would be perfect if you add this.

[naveensingh]

For example: When I want to share a document from WhatsApp, this File-Manager doesn't open.

That is, you would like to select files directly using Fossify File Manager without any system file picker in between?

The file manager options you see in the system file picker depend on the app you are using (WhatsApp in your case). It is not possible to bypass the system picker.

Because whitout this basic feature I'm forced to install an alternative to this file manager, and I like this one.

Could you share the name? I couldn't find any file manager that can do this.

[Arkam-723362]

Hello, in my case, related to this, there are some files that cannot be opened because the app does not appear in the selector, such as .mcpack, .mcworld, and other files. Is this a problem with my phone? I have tried on two different phones and the issue persists. In advance, thank you very much for such a comprehensive file manager app.

[Jero075]

File picker functionality seems to be implemented in this file manager: https://f-droid.org/packages/me.zhanghai.android.files https://github.com/zhanghai/MaterialFiles. I currently use it for selecting files from other apps (such as WhatsApp). However, I don't know how it works and if it could be implemented in the fossify file manager.

[naveensingh]

I currently use it for selecting files from other apps (such as WhatsApp)

WhatsApp seems to use the ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT intent for picking files, and third-party apps can not respond to it:

Third-party apps can't respond to an intent with the ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT action. Instead, the system receives this intent and displays all the files available from various apps in a unified user interface.

Most apps now use ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT or ACTION_GET_DOCUMENT for selecting files. The app could expose itself as a DocumentProvider to always appear in the system picker sidebar, but it may not be worth the effort.

See also: zhanghai/MaterialFiles#538

[Jero075]

Without Material Files installed:

screen-20250704-082235.mp4

(The app crashes after the second click)

With Material Files installed:

screen-20250704-082618.mp4

Material Files opens directly, not just in the sidebar of the system file picker (which I disabled). I get the same behaviour in WhatsApp (without the crash when Material Files is not installed). In Threema, without Material Files installed, I actually get an error message: "Broken device. DocumentsUI is disabled or missing." When it is installed, I can select a file using Material Files. I'm on LineageOS for microG 22.2 and I disabled the system file picker with adb.

[naveensingh]

Thanks for the video.

Disabling the system picker is not a solution, but I've added ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT handler for such use cases in #229

Note: It will only work as long as you have just one app handling that intent. If you have both Material Files and Fossify File Manager installed, nothing will likely happen (as per my tests on other ROMs).

Test APK: https://github.com/FossifyOrg/File-Manager/actions/runs/16069111247/artifacts/3464340666

[Jero075]

It works now, thanks.