Attachment preview shows only blank image

[martgil]

When previewing an encrypted image attachment from an email in the FlowCrypt android app, the image no longer displays and instead replaced by a seemed to be blank image.

I've tested this issue on both Android 11 (emulator) and 13 (real android device). The attachment download feature continues to work well on the other hand.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open FlowCrypt Android app version 1.5.9.
2. Open a secure email that contains encrypted image attachment (.jpg file in my testing case).
3. Tap the "preview" icon button and notice that it will then start to decrypt the file and will ask you which application you want to use for opening it where it will suggest the image viewer such as Google Photos. But right there when the Google Photos appear, the image will blank and will not show the preview of the image.

[DenBond7]

Thanks, Mart. It should be retested after the conversation view will be released.

[martgil]

Thanks, @DenBond7! I'll be ready to test that out. I'll try to keep an eye on the release, but if I miss it, please feel free to ping me, and I'll test it out.

[DenBond7]

please feel free to ping me, and I'll test it out.

@martgil Ping )). It can be already tested in #2821

[martgil]

I have tested this out in #2821 and here are the details:

• Testing it from my actual device (Android 13) with Google Photos installed (default image): After I tap the preview attachment and the app starts downloading it, the warning message saying Sorry, you don't have an application that can open this file appears at the end of this process.

• But testing it from the android emulator shows different behavior where the images retains blank:

Screencast.from.2024-12-04.11-16-40.webm

I'd also like to raise this observation regarding attachment download. When downloading the attachment for the first time, the download notification will appear and will show sign of file being downloaded. However, doing it repeatedly won't show the same notification again though the animation of the download within the attachment icons happens but the notification of the download finishes never occur again. Maybe an additional toast can be added so that even through the notification progress bar never pops, at least there will be information from the app that the file has been downloaded. This is just my personal experience and just my opinion with the app regarding file download.

[DenBond7]

Thank you @martgil. It looks like I need additional investigation.

I'd also like to raise this observation regarding attachment download. ... Maybe an additional toast can be added so that even through the notification progress bar never pops, at least there will be information from the app that the file has been downloaded.

Could you share more details(maybe a video)?

You've tested the following logic:

1. A user clicks on the preview button
2. the app downloads and stores an attachment in the RAM cache(temporary, can be dropped from this cache based on low RAM size)
3. the app opens the cached attachment via existing apps
4. if a user navigates back and clicks on the already cached attachment the app checks if the attachment is still in the cache, gets it(or downloads it again), and displays it via existing apps.

[martgil]

Hello @DenBond7, I've shared the video screen recording for the scenarios in attachment preview as well as the downloading process where notification pop up (where notification never gets pops when the user downloads it for the second time but download succeeds).

[DenBond7]

Hi @martgil,

1. When previewing an encrypted image attachment from an email in the FlowCrypt android app, the image no longer displays and instead replaced by a seemed to be blank image.

I'm able to reproduce the issue. But it happens only for the internal Gallery app for AOSP devices like emulators. That's because this app is deprecated and isn't maintained anymore. I've checked a lot of Android apps(like Google Photos, Google Files, some image viewers, and different file managers on a few devices) and all of them work well.

2. Testing it from my actual device (Android 13) with Google Photos installed (default image): After I tap the preview attachment and the app starts downloading it, the warning message saying Sorry, you don't have an application that can open this file appears at the end of this process.

I can't reproduce it. If you still have this problem please make a video for me.

3. However, doing it repeatedly won't show the same notification again though the animation of the download within the attachment icons happens but the notification of the download finishes never occur again. Maybe an additional toast can be added so that even through the notification progress bar never pops, at least there will be information from the app that the file has been downloaded. This is just my personal experience and just my opinion with the app regarding file download.

I've improved this scenario. Please try.

[martgil]

Hi @DenBond7 - I'm testing this one now. I'll have more details on this one too. I'll be using the #2948 to test it and compare it with 1.6.1 play store version. I'll be in touch soon.