Google Android OS System Format
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The .NOMEDIA file extension refers to the android OS No media file. Basically, the NOMEDIA file is nothing but an empty text file.The origin of this file type lies in Google's privacy compliance and it was made initially to not allow third party viewers and Gallery apps to see any other apps internal media files.

The working of the .NOMEDIA file is interesting, whenever an media scanner or a gallery app searches through the android device's storage, it checks all the directories. Upon discovering a .NOMEDIA file in any directory, the media scanner does not show any of the media files in that directory in the gallery app.

NOMEDIA file extension is used by empty text files used by Android opreating system for changing indexing methods for various apps. NOMEDIA files don’t contain any data and their size is always 0 kb.

NOMEDIA file usage

Android uses NOMEDIA files is order exclude multimedia files from being indexed by certain apps, such as image galleries or media players. When application discovers NOMEDIA file during folder scanning process, all the files in given folder will be excluded from being displayed in the application. NOMEDIA files are also used for hidding ads featured in free apps by placing such files in folder used by ad.

Impact on loading times

NOMEDIA can affect Android system responsivness and load times of some multimedia apps. Ignoring files during indexing makes app load media files faster.

Additional information

  1. NOMEDIA files don’t have a filename prefix and Android doesn’t normally list them within folders as those files are hidden.
  2. NOMEDIA can be created manually by creating an empty text file or folder with NOMEDIA extension.

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