.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)

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

Multi-select methods (.NET 10+)

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.