Using Android Intent.ACTION_SEND for sending email

Question

I\'m using Intent.ACTION_SEND to send an email. However, when I call the intent it is showing choices to send a message, send an email, and also to

Answer 1

[Solution for API LEVEL >=15]

I've finally succeded in sending email WITH attachments to ONLY email clients. I write it here because it took me a lot of time and it may be usefull to others.

The problem is:

• Intent.ACTION_SENDTO takes Data URI (so you can specify "mailto:" schema) BUT it does not accept Intent:EXTRA_STREAM.

• Intent.ACTION_SEND accepts Intent:EXTRA_STREAM (so you can add attachment) BUT it takes only Type (not Data URI so you cannot specify "mailto:" schema).

So Intent.ACTION_SEND lets the user choose from several Activities, even if you setType("message/rfc822"), because that App/Activities can manage all file types (tipically GDrive/Dropbox Apps) and so even email message files.

The solution is in the setSelector method. With this method you can use Intent.ACTION_SENDTO to select the Activity, but then send the Intent.ACTION_SEND Intent.

Here my solution code (the attachment came from a FileProvider, but it could be any file):

{
    Intent emailSelectorIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO);
    emailSelectorIntent.setData(Uri.parse("mailto:"));

    final Intent emailIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
    emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, new String[]{"address@mail.com"});
    emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "Subject");
    emailIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
    emailIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION);
    emailIntent.setSelector( emailSelectorIntent );

    Uri attachment = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, "my_fileprovider", myFile);
    emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, attachment);

    if( emailIntent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null )
        startActivity(emailIntent);
}

Answer 2

Shout-out to ARLabs for posting the best solution on how to send an email on android. I just made a little update - an option to add multiple email attachements.

fun sendEmail(context: Context, recipients: List<String>?, subject: String?, body: String?, attachments: List<Uri>?) {
    val emailIntent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE)
    emailIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION)
    emailIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION)
    emailIntent.selector = Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO, Uri.parse("mailto:"))

    if (recipients != null) {
        val recipientsArray = arrayOfNulls<String>(recipients.size)
        ArrayList(recipients).toArray(recipientsArray)
        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, recipientsArray)
    }
    if (subject != null) {
        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, subject)
    }
    if (body != null) {
        emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, body)
    }
    if (attachments?.isNotEmpty() == true) {
        emailIntent.putParcelableArrayListExtra(Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, ArrayList(attachments))
    }

    if (emailIntent.resolveActivity(context.packageManager) != null) {
        context.startActivity(emailIntent)
    }
}

Answer 3

Best code to restrict it to only send an email. set this type to only send an email. i.setType("message/rfc822");

        Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
        i.setType("message/rfc822");
        i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL  , new String[]{"skapis1@outlook.com"});
        i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "subject of email");
        i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT   , "body of email");
        try {
            startActivity(Intent.createChooser(i, "Send mail..."));
        } catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException ex) {
            Toast.makeText(Firstclass.this, "There are no email clients installed.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        }

Answer 4

This will help you.

On your button click : 

Intent email = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
email.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, new String[]{"youremail@yahoo.com"});          
email.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "subject");
email.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "message");
email.setType("message/rfc822");
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(email, "Choose an Email client :"));

Answer 5

This will open only the Email app installed in your android phone.

        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO);
        intent.setData(Uri.parse("mailto:"));
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, new String[]{"example@gmail.com"});
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "email subject");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "message body");

        try {
            startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "send mail"));
        } catch (ActivityNotFoundException ex) {
            Toast.makeText(this, "No mail app found!!!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            Toast.makeText(this, "Unexpected Error!!!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT);
        }

Answer 6

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

  private EditText edt_email;
  private Button btn_send;
  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    edt_email = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.edt_email);
    btn_send = (Button) findViewById(R.id.btn_send);

    btn_send.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
      @Override
      public void onClick(View view) {

        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND );
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL , new String[]{"sanaebadi97@gmail.com"});
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT , "subject");
        intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT , "My Email Content");
        intent.setType("message/rfc822");
        startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent , "Choose Your Account : "));
      }
    });
  }
}