Null pointer on FileProvider.getUriForFile

Question

I'm trying to get an old app of mine working again... When trying to capture an picture, with this code:

public void photoIntent() {
 Log.d("MainActivity", "photoIntent");
 Intent intent = new Intent("android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE");
 File photo = null;
 try {
 File outputDir = context.getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES); // context being the Activity pointer
 photo = new File(outputDir+"picture.jpg");
 // place where to store camera taken picture
 //photo.delete();
 } catch (Exception e) {
 Log.d("MainActivity", "Can't create file to take picture!");
 }
 **Uri mImageUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID+".fileprovider, photo);**
 intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, mImageUri);
 // start camera intent
 this.startActivityForResult(intent, 1);
 }

I'm having this error, on line "mImageUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(this, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID, photo);":

java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'android.content.res.XmlResourceParser android.content.pm.ProviderInfo.loadXmlMetaData(android.content.pm.PackageManager, java.lang.String)' on a null object reference
 at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.parsePathStrategy(FileProvider.java:583)
 at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getPathStrategy(FileProvider.java:557)
 at android.support.v4.content.FileProvider.getUriForFile(FileProvider.java:399)
 at com.marzinp.mycelium.MainActivity.photoIntent(MainActivity.java:96)
 at com.marzinp.mycelium.MainActivity1ドル.onClick(MainActivity.java:69)
 at android.view.View.performClick(View.java:7892)
 at android.widget.TextView.performClick(TextView.java:16220)
 at android.view.View.performClickInternal(View.java:7869)
 at android.view.View.-$$Nest$mperformClickInternal(Unknown Source:0)
 at android.view.View$PerformClick.run(View.java:30891)
 at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:942)
 at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
 at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:226)
 at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:313)
 at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8762)
 at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
 at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:604)
 at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1067)

Here is my manifest:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
 package="com.marzinp.mycelium"
 android:versionCode="112"
 android:versionName="1.1.2" >
 <uses-sdk
 android:minSdkVersion="22"
 android:targetSdkVersion="33" />
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
 <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera"/>
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
 <application
 android:allowBackup="true"
 android:icon="@drawable/lombric"
 android:label="@string/app_name"
 android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
 <provider
 android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
 android:authorities="com.marzinp.mycelium.provider"
 android:exported="false"
 android:grantUriPermissions="true">
 <meta-data
 android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
 android:resource="@xml/provider_paths"/>
 </provider>
 <activity
 android:name="com.marzinp.mycelium.MainActivity"
 android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize" 
 android:label="@string/app_name" >
 <intent-filter>
 <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
 <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
 </intent-filter>
 </activity>
 </application>
</manifest>

and my res.xml provider_path file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
 <external-path
 name="external_files"
 path="Pictures" />
</paths>

I've tried many solutions, from many web pages, to no result...

Thanks for your help, I'm a noob, returning to android after 10 years!

• Nguyen Tien Dung: Did you try changing android:name of provider tag in AndroidManifest.xml from android.support.v4.content.FileProvider to androidx.core.content.FileProvider?
• Pierre Marzin: Thanks. I wasn't using androidx, but I will do that and tell you.