---
description: Open files with the device's default application, such as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, and more on Android, iOS, and Web.
title: Capacitor File Opener Plugin for Android & iOS - Capawesome
image: https://capawesome.io/docs/assets/images/social/sdks/capacitor/file-opener.png
---
[ Skip to content](#capawesome-teamcapacitor-file-opener)
[ 🔐 Introducing the **Capacitor Vault** plugin — store secrets behind biometrics or a device passcode.](/blog/announcing-the-capacitor-vault-plugin/)
* [ SDKs ](/docs/sdks/)
* [ Configuration ](#configuration)
* [ Demo ](#demo)
* [ Usage ](#usage)
* [ API ](#api)
* [ Changelog ](#changelog)
* [ License ](#license)
* [ File Picker ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/file-picker/)
* [ Firebase ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/firebase/)
* [ Formbricks ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/formbricks/)
* [ Geocoder ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/geocoder/)
* [ Google Sign-In ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/google-sign-in/)
* [ Grafana Faro ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/grafana-faro/)
* [ libSQL ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/libsql/)
* [ Live Update ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/live-update/)
* [ Managed Configurations ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/managed-configurations/)
* [ Media Session ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/media-session/)
* [ ML Kit ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/mlkit/)
* [ Navigation Bar ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/navigation-bar/)
* [ NFC ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/nfc/)
* [ OAuth ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/oauth/)
* [ Pedometer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/pedometer/)
* [ Photo Editor ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/photo-editor/)
* [ PostHog ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/posthog/)
* [ Printer ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/printer/)
* [ Purchases ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/purchases/)
* [ RealtimeKit ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/realtimekit/)
* [ Screen Orientation ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screen-orientation/)
* [ Screenshot ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/screenshot/)
* [ Secure Preferences ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/secure-preferences/)
* [ Speech Recognition ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/speech-recognition/)
* [ Speech Synthesis ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/speech-synthesis/)
* [ Share Target ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/share-target/)
* [ Square Mobile Payments ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/square-mobile-payments/)
* [ SQLite ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/sqlite/)
* [ Superwall ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/superwall/)
* [ Torch ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/torch/)
* [ Vault ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/vault/)
* [ Wifi ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/wifi/)
* [ Zip ](/docs/sdks/capacitor/zip/)
* [ Cordova ](/docs/sdks/cordova/)
* [ Cloud ](/docs/cloud/)
* [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/integrations/)
* Concepts
* Reference
* [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/troubleshooting/)
* [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/faq/)
* [ Native Builds ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/)
* [ Set Up Environments ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/environments/)
* [ Overwrite Native Configurations ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/native-configurations/)
* [ Auto-Increment Build Numbers ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/auto-incrementing-build-numbers/)
* [ Configure the Web Build Script ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/web-build-script/)
* [ Build from a Monorepo ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/monorepo/)
* [ Use pnpm or Yarn ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/package-managers/)
* [ Install Private npm Packages ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/npm-private-registry/)
* [ Override the Java Version ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/override-java-version/)
* [ Custom iOS Provisioning Profiles ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/custom-ios-provisioning-profiles/)
* [ Build without Git ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/build-without-git/)
* [ Access Git Behind a Firewall ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/firewall-access/)
* [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/integrations/)
* Reference
* [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/troubleshooting/)
* [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/faq/)
* [ App Store Publishing ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/)
* [ Submit a Build ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/submit-a-build/)
* [ Submit Automatically After a Build ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/submit-automatically/)
* [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/troubleshooting/)
* [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/app-store-publishing/faq/)
* [ Automations ](/docs/cloud/automations/)
* [ Reference ](/docs/cloud/automations/reference/)
* [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/automations/troubleshooting/)
* [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/automations/faq/)
* [ Assist ](/docs/cloud/assist/)
* [ CLI ](/docs/cloud/cli/)
* APIs and SDKs
* [ Webhooks ](/docs/cloud/webhooks/)
* [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/integrations/)
* Account
* [ Organization ](/docs/cloud/organizations/)
* [ Two-Factor Enforcement ](/docs/cloud/organizations/two-factor-authentication/)
* [ Audit Logs ](/docs/cloud/organizations/audit-logs/)
* [ Billing ](/docs/cloud/organizations/billing/)
* [ License Keys ](/docs/cloud/license-keys/)
* [ AI ](/docs/ai/)
* [ Insiders ](/docs/insiders/)
* [ Billing & Plans ](/docs/insiders/billing-and-plans/)
* [ FAQ ](/docs/insiders/faq/)
* [ License ](https://capawesome.io/legal/eula/)
* [ Support ](/docs/support/)
* [ Contributing ](/docs/contributing/)
* Contributing code
* [ Code of Conduct ](/docs/contributing/code-of-conduct/)
* [ Questions ](https://docs.github.com/en/discussions/collaborating-with-your-community-using-discussions/participating-in-a-discussion#creating-a-discussion)
* [ Blog ](/blog/)
* Categories
* [ Configuration ](#configuration)
* [ Demo ](#demo)
* [ Usage ](#usage)
* [ API ](#api)
* [ Changelog ](#changelog)
* [ License ](#license)
# @capawesome-team/capacitor-file-opener[¶](#capawesome-teamcapacitor-file-opener "Permanent link")
Capacitor plugin to open a file with the default application.
[  ](https://cloud.capawesome.io/)
## Features[¶](#features "Permanent link")
We are proud to offer one of the most complete and feature-rich Capacitor plugins for opening files. Here are some of the key features:
* 🖥️ **Cross-platform**: Supports Android, iOS, and Web.
* 📄 **Multiple file formats**: Open various file types with their default applications.
* 🌐 **Web support**: Open files using Blob objects on Web platform.
* 📱 **Native integration**: Uses system file associations on mobile platforms.
* 📁 **Flexible paths**: Support for file paths and content URIs on Android.
* 🔍 **MIME type detection**: Automatic MIME type detection or manual specification.
* 🔁 **Up-to-date**: Always supports the latest Capacitor version.
Missing a feature? Just [open an issue](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/issues) and we'll take a look!
## Newsletter[¶](#newsletter "Permanent link")
Stay up to date with the latest news and updates about the Capawesome, Capacitor, and Ionic ecosystem by subscribing to our [Capawesome Newsletter](https://cloud.capawesome.io/newsletter/).
## Compatibility[¶](#compatibility "Permanent link")
| Plugin Version | Capacitor Version | Status |
| -------------- | ----------------- | -------------- |
| 8.x.x | \>=8.x.x | Active support |
| 7.x.x | 7.x.x | Deprecated |
| 6.x.x | 6.x.x | Deprecated |
| 5.x.x | 5.x.x | Deprecated |
## Installation[¶](#installation "Permanent link")
You can use our **AI-Assisted Setup** to install the plugin. Add the [Capawesome Skills](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills) to your AI tool using the following command:
`[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-0-1)npx skills add capawesome-team/skills --skill capacitor-plugins
`
Then use the following prompt:
`` [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-1)Use the `capacitor-plugins` skill from `capawesome-team/skills` to install the `@capawesome-team/capacitor-file-opener` plugin in my project.
``
If you prefer **Manual Setup**, install the plugin by running the following commands and follow the platform-specific instructions below:
`[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-1)npm install @capawesome-team/capacitor-file-opener
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-2)npx cap sync
`
### Android[¶](#android "Permanent link")
You need to specify the directories that contain the files you want to open. To do this, create a new file named `file_paths.xml` in the `res/xml` directory of your Android project (e.g. `android/app/src/main/res/xml/file_paths.xml`). Here is an example of the content of the file:
`[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-1)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-2)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-3)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-4)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-5)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-6)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-7)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-8)
`
More information can be found in the [Android documentation](https://developer.android.com/training/secure-file-sharing/setup-sharing#DefineMetaData).
#### Variables[¶](#variables "Permanent link")
If needed, you can define the following project variable in your app’s `variables.gradle` file to change the default version of the dependency:
* `$androidxDocumentFileVersion` version of `androidx.documentfile:documentfile` (default: `1.1.0`)
This can be useful if you encounter dependency conflicts with other plugins in your project.
## Configuration[¶](#configuration "Permanent link")
No configuration required for this plugin.
## Demo[¶](#demo "Permanent link")
A working example can be found here: [robingenz/capacitor-plugin-demo](https://github.com/robingenz/capacitor-plugin-demo)
| Android | iOS |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|  |  |
## Usage[¶](#usage "Permanent link")
`[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-1)import { FileOpener } from '@capawesome-team/capacitor-file-opener';
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-2)
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-3)const open = async () => {
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-4) await FileOpener.openFile({
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-5) path: 'content://com.android.providers.downloads.documents/document/msf%3A1000000073',
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-6) });
[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-7)};
`
## API[¶](#api "Permanent link")
* [openFile(...)](#openfile)
* [Interfaces](#interfaces)
### openFile(...)[¶](#openfile "Permanent link")
`[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-1)openFile(options: OpenFileOptions) => Promise
`
Open a file with the default application.
| Param | Type |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **options** | [OpenFileOptions](#openfileoptions) |
**Since:** 0.0.1
---
### Interfaces[¶](#interfaces "Permanent link")
#### OpenFileOptions[¶](#openfileoptions "Permanent link")
| Prop | Type | Description | Since |
| ------------ | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----- |
| **blob** | Blob | The blob instance of the file to open. Only available on Web. | 6.1.0 |
| **path** | string | The path of the file. Only available on Android and iOS. | 0.0.1 |
| **mimeType** | string | The mime type of the file. If not specified, the mime type will be determined. Only available on Android and iOS. | 0.0.1 |
## Changelog[¶](#changelog "Permanent link")
See [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/blob/main/packages/file-opener/CHANGELOG.md).
## License[¶](#license "Permanent link")
See [LICENSE](https://github.com/capawesome-team/capacitor-plugins/blob/main/packages/file-opener/LICENSE).
May 17, 2026
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