Share data

You can share a data with other app by sending Intent with the ACTION_SEND action.

share text

val sendIntent: Intent = Intent().apply {
    action = Intent.ACTION_SEND
    putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "This is my text to send.")
    type = "text/plain"
}

val shareIntent = Intent.createChooser(sendIntent, null)
startActivity(shareIntent)

Intent sendIntent = new Intent();
sendIntent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
sendIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "This is my text to send.");
sendIntent.setType("text/plain");

Intent shareIntent = Intent.createChooser(sendIntent, null);
startActivity(shareIntent);

Optionally, you can add extras to include more information, such as email recipients.

• EXTRA_EMAIL - array of strings holding e-mail addresses that should be delivered to
• EXTRA_CC - array of strings holding e-mail addresses that should be carbon copied.
• EXTRA_BCC - array of strings holding e-mail addresses that should be blind carbon copied.
• EXTRA_SUBJECT - a string holding the desired subject line of a message

share binary data

Share binary data using the ACTION_SEND action. Set the appropriate MIME type and place a URI to the data in the extra EXTRA_STREAM.

val shareIntent: Intent = Intent().apply {
    action = Intent.ACTION_SEND
    putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uriToImage)
    type = "image/jpeg"
}
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(shareIntent, resources.getText(R.string.send_to)))

Intent shareIntent = new Intent();
shareIntent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
shareIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uriToImage);
shareIntent.setType("image/jpeg");
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(shareIntent, getResources().getText(R.string.send_to)));

The receiving application needs permission to access the data the Uri points to. The recommended ways to do this are:

• Store the data in your own ContentProvider, making sure that other apps have the correct permission to access your provider. To share files you can use FileProvider helper class.
• Use the system MediaStore

using file provider

Add a file provider to the Manifest.xml file. Set property grantUriPermissions to true. Also you need permission to write and read files.

In meta-data specify paths where files can be shared. Typically paths are specified in separate xml file. You can not add path programmatically.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.shareimage">
  
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
  
    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        
        <provider
            android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="com.example.shareimage.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/paths" />
        </provider>
    </application>
  
</manifest>

Add file res/xml/paths.xml with paths to your project.

?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <cache-path
        name="shared_images"
        path="images/" />
</paths>

Now just copy file to the specified path and get its URI.

// it is best to call this method in the background
// if you already have image file, 
// just copy it to the File(getCacheDir(), "images") folder. 
fun AppCompatActivity.getmageToShare(bitmap: Bitmap): Uri? {
    var uri: Uri? = null
   
    val imagefolder = File(getCacheDir(), "images")
    imagefolder.mkdirs()
    
    val file = File(imagefolder, "image_for_share.png")

    runCatching {
        FileOutputStream(file).use {
            bitmap.compress(Bitmap.CompressFormat.PNG, 90, it)
            it.flush()
            uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,
                                             "com.example.shareimage.fileprovider",
                                             file)
        }
    }.onFailure {
        it.printStackTrace()
    }
    
    return uri
}