Delete Android Default Browser History

Question

I'm trying to develop an android application that could erase default browser's search history without rooting, but I'm stuck. Here is my source code

File file = new File("data/data/com.android.browser/databases/browser.db");

            try {

                String content = "";



                if(!file.exists()) {
                    file.createNewFile();
                }

                FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(file.getAbsoluteFile());
                BufferedWriter bw = new BufferedWriter(fw);
                bw.write(content);
                bw.close();

                Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "History Deleted From Default Browser", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

                System.out.println("Done");

            } catch (IOException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }

As i know browser's history will be stored in "browser.db" file, i can able to clear history only if I change the permission of browser.db file in command prompt through adb shell like "chmod 777 data/data/com.android.browser/databases/browser.db" But i need to do it every time, i want to do this inside my application source code, I also tried Runtime.exec() methods to execute adb shell, actually History Eraser app can erase the history of default browser without root permission, Can any one please help me out in solving this mystery. Thanks in Advance.

you are tyring to break the sandbox - that won't work! checkhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/7235741/programmatically-erase-android-browser-cache-history-etc-with-root?rq=1 — Blitz
– Blitz, Commented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:11
But there are lots of history cleaner apps like History Eraser for example can erase without rooting @LordT. If they can do it there has to be some way right ? — Chethan Shetty
– Chethan Shetty, Commented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:13
from JNI, you can run system() call, but not sure that works — Charan Pai
– Charan Pai, Commented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:15
@SIGSEGV even if we run we might need root acces isn't it ?End user afraid of rooting their mobiles, so I'm targetting the app to work in all kind of environment, But I'm stuck here. Any way thanks for your time. SIGSEGV — Chethan Shetty
– Chethan Shetty, Commented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:18
@ChethanShetty No, if you are able to run adb shell pm clear com.android.browser without rooting then system() call from jni will work i hope. — Charan Pai
– Charan Pai, Commented Jun 24, 2013 at 9:19

Phil Applegate · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-25 07:26:55Z

9

Add the following permissions to AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="com.android.browser.permission.WRITE_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.browser.permission.READ_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS"/>

Then when you want to clear the history use:

Browser.clearHistory(getContentResolver());

answered Jun 25, 2013 at 7:26

Phil Applegate

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2 Comments

DKV Over a year ago

cannot resolve the method clearHistory (android.content.contentresolver)

Nithinjith Over a year ago

These permissions are removed in API 23 or above. So if you are targeting 23 or above this make some error.

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