How to paste a copied file into a TextField and get the file path?

Question

I want to let the user copy a file from the device file manager and then paste it into a TextField in my Flutter app.

When the user clicks "Paste" in the text field, I want to get the path or file URI of the file that was copied.

For example: If the user copies /storage/emulated/0/Download/test.pdf, or If they copy a file from a file manager (which may put a content:// URI in clipboard), then when they paste into the text field, I want to automatically get that file path or URI string.

I tried using:

final data = await Clipboard.getData(Clipboard.kTextPlain);
print(data?.text);

But this only works for plain text, not for copied files or URIs (e.g. content://...).

It seems Android and iOS both support copying files (via ClipData / UIPasteboard), but Flutter’s Clipboard API doesn’t expose that.

How can I detect and paste copied files or their paths from the clipboard in Flutter?

Did you already try reading the file from the provided path? — Frank van Puffelen
– Frank van Puffelen, Commented Oct 23 at 0:49
I don’t have the file path, Flutter’s clipboard API only gives me text, not the actual file or its URI. I’m looking for a way to get the file or its path when pasting. — Mohammad Alamoudi
– Mohammad Alamoudi, Commented Oct 23 at 1:18

Munsif Ali · Accepted Answer · 2025-10-23 05:50:33Z

You can use the package.

pasteboard: ^0.4.0

import 'package:pasteboard/pasteboard.dart';

TextFormField(
  controller: _controller,
  contextMenuBuilder: (context, editableTextState) {
    return AdaptiveTextSelectionToolbar.buttonItems(
      anchors: editableTextState.contextMenuAnchors,
      buttonItems: <ContextMenuButtonItem>[
        ...editableTextState.contextMenuButtonItems,
        ContextMenuButtonItem(
          onPressed: () async {
            final imageBytes = await Pasteboard.image;
            if (imageBytes == null) return;

            final directory = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
            final imagePath =
                '${directory.path}/pasted_image_${DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch}.png';
            final file = File(imagePath);
            await file.writeAsBytes(imageBytes);

            _controller.text = imagePath;
            editableTextState.hideToolbar();
          },
          label: 'Paste Image',
        ),
      ],
    );
  },
  onTapOutside: (event) => FocusScope.of(context).unfocus(),
)

I tried this solution, but it didn’t work, the Pasteboard.files are always empty.
Could you please specify your testing device's specifications?

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