Troubleshooting: Android MediaPlayer Not Playing MP3 File

Problem

This guide addresses a common issue in Android development: using MediaPlayer to play an MP3 file without success. The MediaPlayer setup seems correct, with the MP3 file placed in the res/raw folder, but no sound is produced when the app runs.

public class soundtest extends Activity {
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
        MediaPlayer mp = new MediaPlayer();
        mp.create(getApplicationContext(), R.raw.norm_iphone_money);
        mp.start();
    }
}

Solution

The issue may be related to the media volume setting, rather than the ringer volume. Try setting the media volume programmatically:

AudioManager audioManager = (AudioManager) getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
audioManager.setStreamVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, 20, 0);

This code sets the media volume to a moderate level, ensuring that the audio is audible. Refer to Android's developer documentation for more details on setStreamVolume.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

• Check Permissions: Ensure the app has permissions for audio playback in its AndroidManifest.xml.
• Test on Physical Device: Some audio issues may not appear in the emulator, so test on a physical Android device.
• Ensure Correct File Path: Verify that the MP3 file is in res/raw and correctly named.

Conclusion

This solution should address the most common reasons for MediaPlayer not playing MP3 files. Adjusting the media volume is a common oversight in such scenarios.

For further reference, visit the original discussion on Stack Overflow.