diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
index 569cd7c8d..464f086b4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/FileBackend.java
@@ -536,8 +536,7 @@ public class FileBackend {
 	public static Uri getUriForFile(Context context, File file) {
 		if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N || Config.ONLY_INTERNAL_STORAGE) {
 			try {
-				String packageId = context.getPackageName();
-				return FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, packageId + FILE_PROVIDER, file);
+				return FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, getAuthority(context), file);
 			} catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
 				if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N) {
 					throw new SecurityException(e);
@@ -550,6 +549,10 @@ public class FileBackend {
 		}
 	}
 
+	public static String getAuthority(Context context) {
+		return context.getPackageName() + FILE_PROVIDER;
+	}
+
 	public static Uri getIndexableTakePhotoUri(Uri original) {
 		if (Config.ONLY_INTERNAL_STORAGE || "file".equals(original.getScheme())) {
 			return original;
@@ -727,9 +730,7 @@ public class FileBackend {
 				input = rotate(input, getRotation(image));
 				return cropCenterSquare(input, size);
 			}
-		} catch (SecurityException e) {
-			return null; // happens for example on Android 6.0 if contacts permissions get revoked
-		} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
+		} catch (FileNotFoundException | SecurityException e) {
 			return null;
 		} finally {
 			close(is);
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/utils/FileUtils.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/utils/FileUtils.java
index 20d605506..43e3da118 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/utils/FileUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/utils/FileUtils.java
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ import android.provider.DocumentsContract;
 import android.provider.MediaStore;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import eu.siacs.conversations.persistance.FileBackend;
 
 public class FileUtils {
 
@@ -83,7 +86,13 @@ public class FileUtils {
 		}
 		// MediaStore (and general)
 		else if ("content".equalsIgnoreCase(uri.getScheme())) {
-			String path = getDataColumn(context, uri, null, null);
+			List<String> segments = uri.getPathSegments();
+			String path;
+			if (FileBackend.getAuthority(context).equals(uri.getAuthority()) && segments.size() > 1 && segments.get(0).equals("external")) {
+				path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + uri.getPath().substring(segments.get(0).length() + 1);
+			} else {
+				path = getDataColumn(context, uri, null, null);
+			}
 			if (path != null) {
 				File file = new File(path);
 				if (!file.canRead()) {
@@ -111,7 +120,7 @@ public class FileUtils {
 	 * @return The value of the _data column, which is typically a file path.
 	 */
 	public static String getDataColumn(Context context, Uri uri, String selection,
-									   String[] selectionArgs) {
+	                                   String[] selectionArgs) {
 
 		Cursor cursor = null;
 		final String column = "_data";
@@ -120,12 +129,12 @@ public class FileUtils {
 		};
 
 		try {
-			cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, selection, selectionArgs,null);
+			cursor = context.getContentResolver().query(uri, projection, selection, selectionArgs, null);
 			if (cursor != null && cursor.moveToFirst()) {
 				final int column_index = cursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(column);
 				return cursor.getString(column_index);
 			}
-		} catch(Exception e) {
+		} catch (Exception e) {
 			return null;
 		} finally {
 			if (cursor != null) {