receive_sharing_intent

pub package

A Flutter plugin that enables flutter apps to receive sharing photos, videos, text, urls or any other file types from another app.

Also, supports iOS Share extension and launching the host app automatically. Check the provided example for more info.

Android iOS
Support SDK 21+ (Kotlin 2.4.0) 13.0+ (Swift 5.0)

Alt Text

Usage

To use this plugin, add receive_sharing_intent as a dependency in your pubspec.yaml file. For example:

dependencies:
  receive_sharing_intent: ^latest

Android

Add the following filters to your android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
.....
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

  <application
        android:name="io.flutter.app.FlutterApplication"
        ...
        >
<!--Set activity launchMode to singleTask, if you want to prevent creating new activity instance everytime there is a new intent.-->
    <activity
            android:name=".MainActivity"
            android:launchMode="singleTask"
            android:theme="@style/LaunchTheme"
            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|keyboard|screenSize|locale|layoutDirection|fontScale|screenLayout|density|uiMode"
            android:hardwareAccelerated="true"
            android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize">

            <!--TODO:  Add this filter, if you want support opening urls into your app-->
            <intent-filter>
               <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
               <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
               <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
               <data
                   android:scheme="https"
                   android:host="example.com"
                   android:pathPrefix="/invite"/>
            </intent-filter>

            <!--TODO:  Add this filter, if you want support opening files into your app-->
            <intent-filter>
              <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
              <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
              <data
                   android:mimeType="*/*"
                   android:scheme="content" />
            </intent-filter>

             <!--TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing text into your app-->
            <intent-filter>
               <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
               <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
               <data android:mimeType="text/*" />
            </intent-filter>

            <!--TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing images into your app-->
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="image/*" />
            </intent-filter>

            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="image/*" />
            </intent-filter>

             <!--TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing videos into your app-->
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="video/*" />
            </intent-filter>
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="video/*" />
            </intent-filter>

            <!--TODO: Add this filter, if you want to support sharing any type of files-->
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="*/*" />
            </intent-filter>
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND_MULTIPLE" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:mimeType="*/*" />
            </intent-filter>
      </activity>

  </application>
</manifest>
....

iOS

1. Create Share Extension

  • Using Xcode, go to File/New/Target and Choose "Share Extension".
  • Give it a name, i.e., "Share Extension".

Make sure the deployment target for Runner.app and the share extension is the same.

2. Replace your ios/Share Extension/Info.plist with the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>AppGroupId</key>
    <string>$(CUSTOM_GROUP_ID)</string>
	<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
	<string>$(FLUTTER_BUILD_NUMBER)</string>
	<key>NSExtension</key>
	<dict>
		<key>NSExtensionAttributes</key>
        <dict>
            <key>PHSupportedMediaTypes</key>
               <array>
                    <!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing video into your app-->
                   <string>Video</string>
                   <!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing images into your app-->
                   <string>Image</string>
               </array>
            <key>NSExtensionActivationRule</key>
            <dict>
                <!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing text into your app-->
                <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsText</key>
                <true/>
                <!--TODO: Add this tag, if you want to support sharing urls into your app-->
            	<key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsWebURLWithMaxCount</key>
            	<integer>1</integer>
            	<!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing images into your app-->
                <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsImageWithMaxCount</key>
                <integer>100</integer>
                <!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing video into your app-->
                <key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsMovieWithMaxCount</key>
                <integer>100</integer>
                <!--TODO: Add this flag, if you want to support sharing other files into your app-->
                <!--Change the integer to however many files you want to be able to share at a time-->
				<key>NSExtensionActivationSupportsFileWithMaxCount</key>
				<integer>1</integer>
            </dict>
        </dict>
		<key>NSExtensionMainStoryboard</key>
		<string>MainInterface</string>
		<key>NSExtensionPointIdentifier</key>
		<string>com.apple.share-services</string>
	</dict>
  </dict>
</plist>

3. Add the following to your ios/Runner/Info.plist:

...
<key>AppGroupId</key>
<string>$(CUSTOM_GROUP_ID)</string>
<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>CFBundleTypeRole</key>
			<string>Editor</string>
			<key>CFBundleURLSchemes</key>
			<array>
				<string>ShareMedia-$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER)</string>
			</array>
		</dict>
	</array>

<key>NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription</key>
<string>To upload photos, please allow permission to access your photo library.</string>
...

4. Add the following to your ios/Runner/Runner.entitlements:

....
    <!--TODO:  Add this tag, if you want support opening urls into your app-->
    <key>com.apple.developer.associated-domains</key>
    <array>
        <string>applinks:example.com</string>
    </array>
....

5. Make the plugin available to the Share Extension (Swift Package Manager)

This plugin is distributed as a Swift Package (SPM only — there is no CocoaPods podspec). Make sure Swift Package Manager is enabled for your project:

flutter config --enable-swift-package-manager

Flutter automatically adds the plugin to your Runner target. Your Share Extension target also needs access to the receive_sharing_intent module (it provides RSIShareViewController). Add it in Xcode:

  • Select the Share Extension target → General tab.
  • Under Frameworks and Libraries, click +.
  • Choose the receive-sharing-intent library from the receive_sharing_intent Swift package and add it.

If you previously used CocoaPods, remove the ios/Podfile and run pod deintegrate in the ios/ directory, then remove the #include "Pods/..." lines from ios/Flutter/Debug.xcconfig and ios/Flutter/Release.xcconfig. See the example project for a fully SPM-only setup.

6. Add Runner and Share Extension in the same group

  • Go to Signing & Capabilities tab and add App Groups capability in BOTH Targets: Runner and Share Extension
  • Add a new container with the name of your choice. For example group.MyContainer in the example project its group.com.kasem.ShareExtention
  • Add User-defined(Build Settings -> +) string CUSTOM_GROUP_ID in BOTH Targets: Runner and Share Extension and set value to group id created above. You can use different group ids depends on your flavor schemes

7. Go to Build Phases of your Runner target and move Embed Foundation Extension to the top of Thin Binary.

8. Make your ShareViewController ios/Share Extension/ShareViewController.swift inherit from RSIShareViewController:

// If you get no such module 'receive_sharing_intent' error.
// Go to Build Phases of your Runner target and
// move `Embed Foundation Extension` to the top of `Thin Binary`.
import receive_sharing_intent

class ShareViewController: RSIShareViewController {
      
    // Use this method to return false if you don't want to redirect to host app automatically.
    // Default is true
    override func shouldAutoRedirect() -> Bool {
        return false
    }
    
}

<key>NSExtensionPrincipalClass</key>
<string>$(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).ShareViewController</string>

The example's Action Extension ("Share to RSI") demonstrates this direct-open mode; the Share Extension demonstrates the compose-dialog mode.

Auto-redirect vs. the built-in compose UI

RSIShareViewController is a plain UIViewController (it no longer subclasses the deprecated SLComposeServiceViewController). Its behaviour depends on shouldAutoRedirect():

  • true (default) — no UI is shown. The shared content is processed and the extension immediately redirects into your host app. There is no white compose card and no dimmed system sheet behind it.
  • false — a built-in compose sheet is shown: a bottom card with a circular close button, a "Send" button, an auto-focused message field (the keyboard comes up automatically), and a thumbnail preview of the first shared item. Tapping the dimmed background cancels the share.

You can customise the built-in compose UI by overriding these open members:

class ShareViewController: RSIShareViewController {

    override func shouldAutoRedirect() -> Bool { false }

    // Placeholder shown in the empty message field.
    override var placeholder: String { "Add a caption…" }

    // Title of the confirm button (can be a long label).
    override var sendButtonTitle: String { "Send to Example" }

    // Gate the Send button on your own validation. Default: always valid.
    override func isContentValid() -> Bool { !contentText.isEmpty }

    // Called when the user taps Send. Default saves the message and redirects.
    override func didSelectPost() { saveAndRedirect(message: contentText) }

    // Called when the user taps Cancel / taps the dimmed background.
    // Default cancels the extension request.
    override func didSelectCancel() { cancel() }
}

The typed message is available via contentText and is forwarded to your Flutter app as a shared text item.

Migration note: the compose UI previously came from the system SLComposeServiceViewController. That API is deprecated, so the plugin now ships its own equivalent UI (implemented in RSIComposeView). The contentText, isContentValid() and didSelectPost() hooks are preserved. The old navigationTitle and characterLimit overrides were removed.

9. Adopt UISceneDelegate (required for upcoming iOS versions)

Newer iOS versions deliver lifecycle events (including shared URLs) through a UISceneDelegate instead of the AppDelegate. This plugin already adopts the scene lifecycle (it conforms to FlutterSceneLifeCycleDelegate and registers itself with addSceneDelegate), so it keeps working automatically once your app adopts a scene delegate. Follow Flutter's official UISceneDelegate migration guide, summarized below.

b. Add a SceneDelegate that subclasses FlutterSceneDelegate (see example/ios/Runner/SceneDelegate.swift). For a typical app this can be empty — the plugin handles the shared URLs itself. Only override scene(_:openURLContexts:) if your app uses multiple libraries that handle incoming URLs and you need to disambiguate between them:

import Flutter
import UIKit
import receive_sharing_intent

class SceneDelegate: FlutterSceneDelegate {
    // Optional - only needed when multiple libraries handle incoming URLs.
    // Called on a cold start when the scene connects. The shared URL (if any)
    // is delivered here via connectionOptions instead of the launchOptions.
    override func scene(
        _ scene: UIScene,
        willConnectTo session: UISceneSession,
        options connectionOptions: UIScene.ConnectionOptions
    ) {
        // Work-around to prevent other libraries like flutter_branch_sdk from absorbing links meant to be handled by receive_sharing_intent.
        _ = ReceiveSharingIntentPlugin.instance.scene(scene, willConnectTo: session, options: connectionOptions)
        super.scene(scene, willConnectTo: session, options: connectionOptions)
    }

    // Called while the app is already running (warm start).
    override func scene(_ scene: UIScene, openURLContexts URLContexts: Set<UIOpenURLContext>) {
        // Work-around to prevent other libraries like flutter_branch_sdk from absorbing links meant to be handled by receive_sharing_intent.
        if ReceiveSharingIntentPlugin.instance.scene(scene, openURLContexts: URLContexts) {
            return
        }
        // Proceed url handling for other Flutter libraries like uni_links
        super.scene(scene, openURLContexts: URLContexts)
    }
}

This plugin is distributed via Swift Package Manager only, so make sure SPM is enabled (flutter config --enable-swift-package-manager).

Compiling issues and their fixes

  • Error: No such module 'receive_sharing_intent' (in the Share Extension)

    • Fix: Add the receive-sharing-intent library to the Share Extension target under General → Frameworks and Libraries (see step 5).

  • Error: Unable to resolve module dependency: 'receive_sharing_intent'

    • Fix: Ensure Swift Package Manager is enabled and the Share Extension target links the receive-sharing-intent Swift package product (see step 5).

  • Error: Invalid Bundle. The bundle at 'Runner.app/Plugins/Sharing Extension.appex' contains disallowed file 'Frameworks'

Full Example

main.dart

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'dart:async';

import 'package:receive_sharing_intent/receive_sharing_intent.dart';

void main() => runApp(MyApp());

class MyApp extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _MyAppState createState() => _MyAppState();
}

class _MyAppState extends State<MyApp> {
  late StreamSubscription _intentSub;
  final _sharedFiles = <SharedMediaFile>[];

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();

    // Listen to media sharing coming from outside the app while the app is in the memory.
    _intentSub = ReceiveSharingIntent.instance.getMediaStream().listen((value) {
      setState(() {
        _sharedFiles.clear();
        _sharedFiles.addAll(value);

        print(_sharedFiles.map((f) => f.toMap()));
      });
    }, onError: (err) {
      print("getIntentDataStream error: $err");
    });

    // Get the media sharing coming from outside the app while the app is closed.
    ReceiveSharingIntent.instance.getInitialMedia().then((value) {
      setState(() {
        _sharedFiles.clear();
        _sharedFiles.addAll(value);
        print(_sharedFiles.map((f) => f.toMap()));

        // Tell the library that we are done processing the intent.
        ReceiveSharingIntent.instance.reset();
      });
    });
  }

  @override
  void dispose() {
    _intentSub.cancel();
    super.dispose();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    const textStyleBold = const TextStyle(fontWeight: FontWeight.bold);
    return MaterialApp(
      home: Scaffold(
        appBar: AppBar(
          title: const Text('Plugin example app'),
        ),
        body: Center(
          child: Column(
            children: <Widget>[
              Text("Shared files:", style: textStyleBold),
              Text(_sharedFiles
                      .map((f) => f.toMap())
                      .join(",\n****************\n")),
            ],
          ),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

Libraries

receive_sharing_intent