.NET MAUI Media Picker Skill

Core API

Use MediaPicker.Default to pick or capture photos and videos. All methods must run on the UI thread.

Single-select methods (all .NET versions)

Method Purpose

MediaPicker.Default.PickPhotoAsync()

Pick one photo from gallery

MediaPicker.Default.PickVideoAsync()

Pick one video from gallery

MediaPicker.Default.CapturePhotoAsync()

Capture a photo with the camera

MediaPicker.Default.CaptureVideoAsync()

Capture a video with the camera

All return Task<FileResult?> . A null result means the user cancelled.

Multi-select methods (.NET 10+)

Method Purpose

MediaPicker.Default.PickPhotosAsync()

Pick multiple photos

MediaPicker.Default.PickVideosAsync()

Pick multiple videos

These return Task<IEnumerable<FileResult>> . An empty list means the user cancelled.

MediaPickerOptions (.NET 10+)

Pass MediaPickerOptions to any pick/capture method to control behavior:

var options = new MediaPickerOptions { Title = "Select photos", // Picker dialog title SelectionLimit = 5, // Max items (0 = unlimited; multi-select only) MaximumWidth = 1024, // Resize max width in pixels MaximumHeight = 1024, // Resize max height in pixels CompressionQuality = 80, // JPEG quality 0–100 RotateImage = true, // Auto-rotate per EXIF PreserveMetaData = true // Keep EXIF/metadata };

var photos = await MediaPicker.Default.PickPhotosAsync(options);

Platform note: Android and Windows may not enforce SelectionLimit . Always validate the count in your code.

FileResult usage

var photo = await MediaPicker.Default.PickPhotoAsync(); if (photo is null) return; // user cancelled

// Read the stream using var stream = await photo.OpenReadAsync();

// Useful properties string fullPath = photo.FullPath; string fileName = photo.FileName; string contentType = photo.ContentType;

Save to app storage

async Task<string> SaveToAppDataAsync(FileResult fileResult) { var targetPath = Path.Combine(FileSystem.AppDataDirectory, fileResult.FileName); using var sourceStream = await fileResult.OpenReadAsync(); using var targetStream = File.OpenWrite(targetPath); await sourceStream.CopyToAsync(targetStream); return targetPath; }

Platform permissions

Android

Add to Platforms/Android/AndroidManifest.xml :

<!-- Camera capture --> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

<!-- Storage: API ≤ 32 (Android 12 and below) --> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" android:maxSdkVersion="32" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" android:maxSdkVersion="32" />

<!-- Storage: API ≥ 33 (Android 13+) --> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_VIDEO" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_MEDIA_AUDIO" />

Also add inside <application> :

<queries> <intent> <action android:name="android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE" /> </intent> </queries>

iOS / Mac Catalyst

Add to Platforms/iOS/Info.plist (and Platforms/MacCatalyst/Info.plist ):

<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key> <string>This app needs camera access to take photos</string> <key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key> <string>This app needs microphone access to record video</string> <key>NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription</key> <string>This app needs photo library access to pick media</string> <key>NSPhotoLibraryAddUsageDescription</key> <string>This app needs permission to save photos</string>

Windows

No additional permissions required.

Check availability before capture

if (MediaPicker.Default.IsCaptureSupported) { var photo = await MediaPicker.Default.CapturePhotoAsync(); // ... }

Multi-select example (.NET 10+)

var options = new MediaPickerOptions { SelectionLimit = 10 }; var results = await MediaPicker.Default.PickPhotosAsync(options);

if (!results.Any()) return; // user cancelled

foreach (var file in results) { using var stream = await file.OpenReadAsync(); // process each selected photo }

Key rules

• Always call media picker methods on the main/UI thread.

• Single-select cancellation returns null; multi-select returns an empty list.

• Use IsCaptureSupported before calling capture methods.

• Android/Windows may ignore SelectionLimit — validate result count yourself.

• OpenReadAsync() gives a stream; dispose it when done.

• Save files to FileSystem.AppDataDirectory for persistent app-local storage.