MapFragment or MapView getMap() returns null on Lollipop

Question

I've been using Google Maps API v2 for a long time on Android 4.x versions without a problem. Now I installed latest Lollipop build on my Nexus devices (5 and 7) trying to materialize the app.

I'd like to point out that everything is ok on KitKiat and the problem I'm describing is poping up only on Lollipop.

In my XML source code I'm using MapFragment (Google Play Services library version 6.1.11).

<fragment android:id="@+id/map"
          android:layout_width="match_parent"
          android:layout_height="match_parent"
          android:name="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment"/>

In Java code I'm overriding OnPause() method to reach map:

GoogleMap map = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map)).getMap();

At this line it throws NullPointerException. In debugger app is able to find fragment, however it's not able to return GoogleMap. I've also tried to use MapView. It also throws null. The weirdest thing for me is that map loads without a problem on app itself but in code I cant reach it to work with it.

Answer 1

I had exactly the same problem but this is what worked for me:

Replace this...

GoogleMap map = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map)).getMap();

with this...

GoogleMap map = getMapFragment().getMap();

then slip this bad boy in and give it a whirl...

private MapFragment getMapFragment() {
    FragmentManager fm = null;

    Log.d(TAG, "sdk: " + Build.VERSION.SDK_INT);
    Log.d(TAG, "release: " + Build.VERSION.RELEASE);

    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
        Log.d(TAG, "using getFragmentManager");
        fm = getFragmentManager();
    } else {
        Log.d(TAG, "using getChildFragmentManager");
        fm = getChildFragmentManager();
    }

    return (MapFragment) fm.findFragmentById(R.id.map);
}

Answer 2

Google now made a more convenient way to get the map using the following method

    myMapFragment.getMapAsync(new OnMapReadyCallback) {
         @Override
         public void onMapReady(GoogleMap googleMap) {
             myMap = googleMap;
         }
    });

Answer 3

It looks like this might be an issue with a targetSdkVersion of 21: https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/issues/detail?id=1947

However, switching to getChildFragmentManager() worked for me:

findFragmentById for SupportMapFragment returns null in Android Studio

Answer 4

Have you tried isGooglePlayServicesAvailable to check why its returning null? null has many reasons on getmap, try using this to check why its giving null