How to read a simple text file in Android App?

This example demonstrates how do I read a simple text file in the android app.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Create a new Android Resource directory (raw.xml) and add a text file in the res/raw

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:padding="8dp"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <Button
      android:id="@+id/button"
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
      android:layout_marginTop="70dp"
      android:onClick="ReadTextFile"
      android:text="Read Text File" />
   <TextView
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
      android:text="Read text File in Android"
      android:textAlignment="center"
      android:textSize="18sp"
      android:textStyle="bold" />
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/textView"
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_below="@id/button"
      android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
      android:textSize="20sp"
      android:textStyle="bold" />
</RelativeLayout>

Step 3 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   TextView textView;
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      textView = findViewById(R.id.textView);
   }
   public void ReadTextFile(View view) throws IOException {
      String string = "";
      StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
      InputStream is = this.getResources().openRawResource(R.raw.sample);
      BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
      while (true) {
         try {
            if ((string = reader.readLine()) == null) break;
         }
         catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
         }
         stringBuilder.append(string).append("
");
         textView.setText(stringBuilder);
      }
      is.close();
      Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), stringBuilder.toString(),
      Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
   }
}

Step 4 − Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="app.com.sample">
   <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">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from the android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run  icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −

Click here to download the project code.