Creating Video Playback

Mastering Java Android Development – Beginner

Playing videos in your Android app improves user engagement and enhances the multimedia experience. This guide explains how to implement video playback using VideoView, manage permissions, display thumbnails with ImageView, and securely access files using FileProvider. We’ll also cover the proper setup of AndroidManifest permissions and file sharing between apps.

1. Add Dependencies

First, make sure your build.gradle file is set properly. No extra dependencies are needed for VideoView, but FileProvider will require file-sharing configurations.

2. AndroidManifest.xml Configuration

Add the necessary permissions and provider configuration:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

<application
    ...>
    <provider
        android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/file_paths" />
    </provider>
</application>

Create a file res/xml/file_paths.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path
        name="external_files"
        path="." />
</paths>

3. Layout File (activity_main.xml)

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <VideoView
        android:id="@+id/videoView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="300dp"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true" />

    <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/thumbnailView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="300dp"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:scaleType="centerCrop"
        android:visibility="visible"
        android:src="@drawable/sample_thumbnail" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/playButton"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Play Video"
        android:layout_below="@id/videoView"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"/>
</RelativeLayout>

4. Java Code (MainActivity.java)

import android.Manifest;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Environment;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import android.widget.MediaController;
import android.widget.Toast;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.VideoView;

import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;
import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;
import androidx.core.content.FileProvider;


import java.io.File;


public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final int REQUEST_PERMISSION = 100;
    private VideoView videoView;
    private ImageView thumbnailView;
    private Button playButton;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        videoView = findViewById(R.id.videoView);
        thumbnailView = findViewById(R.id.thumbnailView);
        playButton = findViewById(R.id.playButton);

        if (checkPermission()) {
            setupVideoPlayer();
        } else {
            requestPermission();
        }

        playButton.setOnClickListener(v -> {
            thumbnailView.setVisibility(View.GONE);
            videoView.start();
        });
    }

    private void setupVideoPlayer() {
        File videoFile = new File(Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS), "sample_video.mp4");

        Uri videoUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, getPackageName() + ".fileprovider", videoFile);
        videoView.setVideoURI(videoUri);
        videoView.setMediaController(new MediaController(this));
    }

    private boolean checkPermission() {
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
            return ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
        } else {
            return ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED;
        }
    }

    private void requestPermission() {
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
            ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO}, REQUEST_PERMISSION);
        } else {
            ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE}, REQUEST_PERMISSION);
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {
        super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);
        if (requestCode == REQUEST_PERMISSION && grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
            setupVideoPlayer();
        } else {
            Toast.makeText(this, "Permission denied", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        }
    }
}

5. Showing Thumbnail Before Playback

Set the ImageView with a thumbnail image, either static (@drawable/sample_thumbnail) or dynamically extracted using MediaMetadataRetriever if you want a real preview.

Optional: Display the video’s thumbnail using MediaMetadataRetriever.

MediaMetadataRetriever retriever = new MediaMetadataRetriever();
retriever.setDataSource(this, videoUri);
Bitmap bitmap = retriever.getFrameAtTime(1000000); // 1 second
thumbnailView.setImageBitmap(bitmap);
retriever.release();

6. Notes on FileProvider

- FileProvider is essential for sharing private file paths as Uri securely.
- Always define file paths correctly in res/xml/file_paths.xml.
- Avoid file:// URIs; always use content:// via FileProvider for compatibility and security.

Final Tips

- Test on real device, not emulator, especially for READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.
- Place video in Download or public folders to simplify file access.
- Always handle permission denial gracefully.