Abstract: Persistent files stored in non-XIP flash memory are accessed during operation of an electronic device. During execution of application code on the device, the persistent files are accessed using an access directory such as a look-up table. The access directory provides information that allows an application or other software code running on the processor of the device to locate and access a persistent file within a non-XIP flash memory device where the non-XIP flash memory device may include bad blocks. During creation of the access directory, locations of the bad blocks in the device are identified and recorded. Files are accessed from the non-XIP flash memory device by reading from file start locations identified in the access directory while accounting for bad blocks identified in the bad block data of the access directory.