Xamarin Forms iOS Download Path

Question

My app can download file by getting the url, but the thing is, how to point the downloaded file into iPhone Files app. I try below code, it run smoothly without any error, but I dont know wheres the downloaded file located. I believe many developers facing the same issue for ios.

                string pathToNewFolder = Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal), folder);
                Directory.CreateDirectory(pathToNewFolder);

                WebClient webClient = new WebClient();
                webClient.DownloadFileCompleted += new AsyncCompletedEventHandler(Completed);
                string pathToNewFile = Path.Combine(pathToNewFolder, Path.GetFileName(url));
                webClient.DownloadFileAsync(new Uri(url), pathToNewFile);

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal) does not point to Files app. For image, SaveToPhotosAlbum method seems good and success, but now I want to download file such pdf/excel, etc.

Answer 1

Hello,​

Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform!

I try below code, it run smoothly without any error, but I dont know wheres the downloaded file located

The file will be stored under the 'Documents' folder of the application. The Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal path will map to: /Documents folder on iOS.

IOS imposes some restrictions on what an application can do with the file system to preserve the security of an application’s data, and to protect users from malignant apps. An application is limited to reading and writing files within its home directory (installed location); it cannot access another application’s files. It's unable to download the file to a folder that does not belong to the application directly.

Check the links:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/47237414/what-is-the-best-environment-specialfolder-for-store-application-data-in-xamarin
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/ios/app-fundamentals/file-system

Best Regards,

Jarvan Zhang

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