There's been ongoing discussions for a long time about the best way to "hide" certain media to keep them from showing up in media players.
Every 3rd party App Ive dled for Music/Movies/Pictures has had the same issue of scanning all the media in the SD card.
Is this some inherent mandate in Android ? Or lazy dev programming ?
I have podcast apps that only pick up podcasts. NYC subway map app that only picks up its MAP images...
Yes open up any media player and I see all of these included with my media.
Obviously the function is in there
add a file called .nomedia and Android will not index that directory
The no media trick does not solve the problem.
Android apps are scanning the entire SD for media instead of letting you pick a default directory.
I want to know if this is an android OS problem or an app development problem.
xManMythLegend said:
The no media trick does not solve the problem.
Android apps are scanning the entire SD for media instead of letting you pick a default directory.
I want to know if this is an android OS problem or an app development problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i wouldn't call it a problem.. it's just the way the mediascanner works... it scans each directory on the sdcard for media files.
and both the gallery and music app relies on the system mediascanner to fetch pics/videos/music: it's called intended design
There is no way to set a default location for those apps.
3rd party apps can be developed for scanning predefined dirs at the developer's liking.
so for the stock apps the only option is the .nomedia file trick.
note that if u put the .nomedia into a directory, all the sub directories are going to be skipped too.
just rename the folder with a "." in front of the folder name, this makes it a hidden folder and the gallery and what not wont search it.
rastacre said:
well i wouldn't call it a problem.. it's just the way the mediascanner works... it scans each directory on the sdcard for media files.
and both the gallery and music app relies on the system mediascanner to fetch pics/videos/music: it's called intended design
There is no way to set a default location for those apps.
3rd party apps can be developed for scanning predefined dirs at the developer's liking.
so for the stock apps the only option is the .nomedia file trick.
note that if u put the .nomedia into a directory, all the sub directories are going to be skipped too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK YOU !!
I somewhat figured this out when I saw this option in Doggcatcher.
This answers my question.
making a folder invisible doesn't help me.
I have ringtones in one folder and when I playback music, I don't want to hear ringtones.
hmmm is there anyway you can adb push the ringtones to the ringtone folder on the system? So you wouldn't need to have it in your sd card?
download MixZing music player. It will let you select which folder on the memory card to scan for music. Select music folder and your done. No more ringtones playback
This .nomedia trick dosnt work 100 percent. I placed it in my music folder and yes it makes the album covers disappear in the gallery but it also makes the music disappear from the music player. I can no longer scroll through artists, songs, etc from within the music player...
I am not running a rooted phone just the stock firmware with the latest Android update.
Hooligan
*Hooligan* said:
This .nomedia trick dosnt work 100 percent. I placed it in my music folder and yes it makes the album covers disappear in the gallery but it also makes the music disappear from the music player. I can no longer scroll through artists, songs, etc from within the music player...
I am not running a rooted phone just the stock firmware with the latest Android update.
Hooligan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^bump^
I have the same issue - I don't want to see album covers in the gallery, but I do want the music to show up in my music app - any ideas?
Thanks
.nomedia works 100% and does exactly what it says - NO MEDIA. That includes NO VIDEO, NO AUDIO, NO PHOTOS, NO WHATEVER. All system apps looking for media ignore the folder and all its subfolders.
If the album art is in a subfolder inside the album folder - put .nomedia inside that subfolder. If it's outside with the .MP3s - then .nomedia won't help you.
If you're having issues with album art, you could always embed the album art into the mp3/m4a with an app like dbpoweramp.
One more possible solution:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=4c95682562b36eca&hl=en
xManMythLegend said:
The no media trick does not solve the problem.
Android apps are scanning the entire SD for media instead of letting you pick a default directory.
I want to know if this is an android OS problem or an app development problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rastacre said:
well i wouldn't call it a problem.. it's just the way the mediascanner works... it scans each directory on the sdcard for media files.
and both the gallery and music app relies on the system mediascanner to fetch pics/videos/music: it's called intended design
There is no way to set a default location for those apps.
3rd party apps can be developed for scanning predefined dirs at the developer's liking.
so for the stock apps the only option is the .nomedia file trick.
note that if u put the .nomedia into a directory, all the sub directories are going to be skipped too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xManMythLegend said:
THANK YOU !!
I somewhat figured this out when I saw this option in Doggcatcher.
This answers my question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.... what? You argued with the first post, next post said the same thing, then you're thanking them??
r4zv4n said:
^bump^
I have the same issue - I don't want to see album covers in the gallery, but I do want the music to show up in my music app - any ideas?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, name the files right. AlbumArt.jpg
BTW, after putting the .nomedia, you will need to REBOOT the device for it to take effect and system media scanner will rescan after first start up.
I'm having trouble believing this is "by design" and adding .nomedia to EVERY FOLDER other than my music folder makes absolutely no damn sense... the other way around would make much more sense instead! ".media"
This issue has also been breaking my balls... I don't want my damn ringtones in my media library...
Kraion said:
I'm having trouble believing this is "by design" and adding .nomedia to EVERY FOLDER other than my music folder makes absolutely no damn sense... the other way around would make much more sense instead! ".media"
This issue has also been breaking my balls... I don't want my damn ringtones in my media library...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your ringtones should go into the following folder
/sdcard/media/audio/ringtones
And your notifications should go into the following folder
/sdcard/media/audio/notifications
Those folders are not scanned into your music library. There is no need for .nomedia files on those two folders, otherwise they will not show up in your notifications/ringtones list.
NOTE: /sdcard means your sdcard.... so on the root of your sdcard you should put a folder named media, then inside media folder you should put another folder called audio, and then the ringtones or notifications folder inside audio folder..... This should solve your issue.
zeus_chingon said:
Your ringtones should go into the following folder
/sdcard/media/audio/ringtones
And your notifications should go into the following folder
/sdcard/media/audio/notifications
Those folders are not scanned into your music library. There is no need for .nomedia files on those two folders, otherwise they will not show up in your notifications/ringtones list.
NOTE: /sdcard means your sdcard.... so on the root of your sdcard you should put a folder named media, then inside media folder you should put another folder called audio, and then the ringtones or notifications folder inside audio folder..... This should solve your issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works....Did this over a year ago when i first bought my N1...
I noticed that the Gallery will scan the whole sdcard and internal memory.
How to prevent that?
Also, what is the best free app to manage pictures, videos, sounds, and all other media, in one place (app).
Thanks!
No way to prevent it. This is how it works by design.
If you want to prevent showing specific folders - put .nomedia empty file into them. You might need to reboot for this to take effect, or to kill Gallery if it's running, or to unmount and mount SD card.
Any idea what other app should i use to reach my mentioned requirement (without having to put .nomedia empty file to each folder on my sdcard)?
Hey everybody,
im wondering if there is a possibility to get the buildin mp3-player indexing my mp3 files on my external sd as well.
Until now the buildin mp3-player is only indexing the files that are on the internal sdcard, but not any of my files on my external sdcard. Do you have the same problem? or ist it a folder problem?
Thx in advance!
I created a folder on the External SD called Media, then within it a folder called Music, put All my MP3 in it and the media player sees them all just fine.
It should index your sd card.
Can you access the files via the explorer?
Check if its in there correctly.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
it is working out of the box for me
i dumped all my movies and mp3 files into the EXTERNAL SD card and the build in Samsung Music Player plays it just fine.
the only annoying thing is that it needed you to select which songs/album/artist to play.
so after spending a few hours finding another App, i ended up with this "Player" (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=765081) App, you just select the folders you want to play, and it plays everything inside them all
so... very curois. i created a folderstructure like this sdcard\sd\media\Album1, album2, album3.
The buildin Media player is not indexing them.. so i opened my file explorer and navigated to sdcard\sd\media\Album1 and clicked song1. The buildIn Media Player is playing it.
After that i installed the "Player" from Allgamers hint. when i select a folder and want to play the songs within it says that the playlist is empty, sam problem if i only mark 1 mp3-file. "The playlist is empty"
So the only way to play my files on the external sd is to click them, title per title... Very strange. Is that a problem of the indexer? or my sd?
My Phone: XWJM7, rooted an OCLF
Thx for all your fast answers!
So i think my problem is solved!
Because of your hints i reformated my external sd with my phone, and now it works with no problems. All files are indexed, no matter what folder they are saved in!
Thank u all for tipps and hints!
Hi there,
I am having problems transfering music on to my LG Optimus Black.
I am not sure where to create a music folder so the default music player can see the music files.
I have created music folders in Audio and in DCIM and in the main menu and the music is on the phone but the it is not found by the default player.
Any help would be appreciated .
Kind Regards
Kev
You put music files (say .mp3) anywhere in your memory card, your player should detect it automatically. So there should be an error reading the memory card.
Try this : Settings >> SD card & phone storage >> Unmount SD card.
Then mount it again. Once scanning of all media files finishes ( You may be able to see the scanning progress and completion notification on top bar. ) you player should work okay.
Also try downloading different players from market. Do they detect your music files?
I'm not that sure but I think the SD already have a "music" folder? mine those, I put all files there and player automatic detected them, even if I have files at bluetooth>music or download>music folders still detect them with no problem
Felsar said:
I'm not that sure but I think the SD already have a "music" folder? mine those, I put all files there and player automatic detected them, even if I have files at bluetooth>music or download>music folders still detect them with no problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well even if there's no music named folder it still works. I directly copied my folders from pc such as metallica and linkin park etc and I put it in "my favourite" folder in root directory and it works perfectly..
I want to pull in audiobook files into a separate folder, and not have them show up in the music folder. I'd like to set the folder as a "nomedia" folder for scanning. What is the equivalent .nomedia file or setting for windows phones?
Thanks
I used my Desktop Pc to mark the folder as hidden and renamed it. Took some time until the phone recognized it, but it worked.