CODEWITHSUNDEEP
android
Mr Pablo
Mr Pablo

Reputation: 4187

How to keep a foreground app running 24/7?

I am looking into how to keep my Android app running in the foreground.

It will be a privately distributed app, so I can do anything possible to make sure it runs constantly on the device (HDMI TV Stick)

So, how can I make sure that the app stays running no matter what? The app is pretty light weight in terms of resource usage, so having it run 24/7 should hopefully not be a problem.

I read about the persistent parameter in the manifest, but it looks like it might only apply to system apps?

Should I make my app a system app? How would I do that and would it help?

Upvotes: 20

Views: 68441

Answers (7)

Umasankar
Umasankar

Reputation: 505

You may try startLockTask(); For More info, visit here

Upvotes: 0

Yann G
Yann G

Reputation: 111

Now that activityManager.getRunningAppProcesses() is deprecated( as of API21 ), you will want to replace :

RunningTaskInfo foregroundTaskInfo = activityManager.getRunningTasks(1).get(0);
String foregroundTaskPackageName = foregroundTaskInfo .topActivity.getPackageName();

with:

List<ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo> tasks = activityManager.getRunningAppProcesses();
String foregroundTaskPackageNameTest = tasks.get(0).processName;

do not forget to import List with:

import java.util.List;

As a side note, I am not sure about OP's way of keeping the screen always on. I'm not sure that it works the way he's done it, but more importantly, it is deprecated and very much advised against to be using Wake Locks as you need to add permissions, which opens the door to bugs. Rather, it is generally better practice to use Window manager flags: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams.html#FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON

Upvotes: 1

Mathias Monstrey
Mathias Monstrey

Reputation: 31

I solved that issue by having a sticky service running that relaunches the app when the activity is getting closed.

//Your activity

@Override
public void onPause() {
    super.onPause();

    if (yourservice != null) {
        yourservice.validateActivityOnPause();
    }
}

and in the validateActivityOnPause() have something like:

//Your service

public void validateLynxActivityOnPause() {
    //Do some stuff here

    Intent startActivityIntent = new Intent(this, LynxActivity.class);
    startActivityIntent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
    this.startActivity(startActivityIntent);
}

Upvotes: 2

nlt
nlt

Reputation: 555

You could make your app become a launcher, by adding 2 following category tags into <intent-filter> tags:

  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT"/>
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME"/>

then you should always check if there's another app run on top, run following code to direct user to our app:

  Intent startMain = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
  startMain.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
  startMain.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
  startActivity(startMain);

I have tried this solution, but it cannot hide apps that draw on top, like Facebook Messenger chat head.

Upvotes: 0

Tanasis
Tanasis

Reputation: 826

  • If you want an external app use: Autostart and StaY!

  • If you want to do this programmatically you can use a service that polls every "x" milliseconds to see if your app is in the foreground. If it is not, it will start/bring your app in the foreground. Do it like this:

    public class PersistService extends Service {

    private static final int INTERVAL = 3000; // poll every 3 secs
    private static final string YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME = "YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME";

    private static boolean stopTask;
    private PowerManager.WakeLock mWakeLock;

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();

        stopTask = false;

        // Optional: Screen Always On Mode!
        // Screen will never switch off this way
        mWakeLock = null;
        if (settings.pmode_scrn_on){
            PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE);
            mWakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.SCREEN_DIM_WAKE_LOCK, "a_tag");
            mWakeLock.acquire();
        }

        // Start your (polling) task
        TimerTask task = new TimerTask() {
            @Override
            public void run() {

                // If you wish to stop the task/polling
                if (stopTask){
                    this.cancel();
                }

                // The first in the list of RunningTasks is always the foreground task.
                RunningTaskInfo foregroundTaskInfo = activityManager.getRunningTasks(1).get(0);
                String foregroundTaskPackageName = foregroundTaskInfo .topActivity.getPackageName();

                // Check foreground app: If it is not in the foreground... bring it!
                if (!foregroundTaskPackageName.equals(YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME)){
                    Intent LaunchIntent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(YOUR_APP_PACKAGE_NAME);
                    startActivity(LaunchIntent);
                }
            }
        };
        Timer timer = new Timer();
        timer.scheduleAtFixedRate(task, 0, INTERVAL);
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroy(){
        stopTask = true;
        if (mWakeLock != null)
            mWakeLock.release();
        super.onDestroy();
    }
}

The above code has also the "option" to force the Screen to stay always on! Of course you will need the following permissions:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_TASKS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />

and do not also forget to register your service:

    <service android:name="YOURPACAKGE.PersistService" 
     android:enabled="true"/>

Upvotes: 15

Boardy
Boardy

Reputation: 36227

This is something not too easy to achieve as foreground apps are technically not supposed to be running non stop. Also if android is running out of memory it will start killing apps that pose the least risk which would then require the app to be restarted by the user.

As mentioned you could either make it a system app, but I think you do need to root the device or build your own ROM and make your app part of the ROM. Probably not the best solution for your needs though as few people will be able to flash a ROM on to their devices.

I think the easiest solution would be to put in the manifest that your app is a home screen replacement, i.e. a launcher app. I don't know the exact code from the top of my head but this would go into the application section within the android manifest. This would mean that as soon as the device boots, or the user presses the home button, they will be taken to your app.

Upvotes: 2

Thkru
Thkru

Reputation: 4199

use this:

import android.os.PowerManager;

public class MyActivity extends Activity {

    protected PowerManager.WakeLock mWakeLock;

    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(final Bundle icicle) {
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        /* This code together with the one in onDestroy() 
         * will make the screen be always on until this Activity gets destroyed. */
        final PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE);
        this.mWakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.SCREEN_DIM_WAKE_LOCK, "My Tag");
        this.mWakeLock.acquire();
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroy() {
        this.mWakeLock.release();
        super.onDestroy();
    }
}

And in the manifest: 

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />

Seen here: How do I keep the screen on in my App?

Upvotes: 3

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