Start activity from receiver in Android Q

Question

I'm checking my app with the Android Q [beta 6] in order to add all the required changes to be fully-compatible with the last SO. However, I found out that I am using a Receiver to start an Activity from background and due to the last background limitations implemented (https://developer.android.com/preview/privacy/background-activity-starts) the activity is not being opened.

I tried to use both the receiver context and application context to start the activity but in both cases the system shows a toast saying that is not possible to start activity from background.

What I tried on the Receiver...

class MyReceiver : BroadcastReceiver() {

    override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
        context?.applicationContext?.let {
            it.startActivity(Intent(it, MyActivity::class.java).apply {
                addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
            })
            PushUtils.showReceiverCalledNotification(it)
        }
    }

That way I wanted to start MyActivity and also show a notification when the receiver is called. Instead, I can see the notification but the Activity is never started. It is very important for the feature to start the activity immediately, so there is a way to continue starting the activity from the receiver?

Answer 1

It is very important for the feature to start the activity immediately, so there is a way to continue starting the activity from the receiver?

No, sorry. Use a high-priority notification, so it appears in "heads-up" mode. The user can then rapidly tap on it to bring up your activity.

Answer 2

Due to restrictions, you cannot start activity from background. Instead you can use notifications as CommonsWare suggested and also suggested on the android developer site.

Here's the official documentation that lists situations when it will work and when won't.

https://developer.android.com/guide/components/activities/background-starts

You can use something like this:

class MyReceiver : BroadcastReceiver() {
    override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
        context ?: return
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.Q) {
            showNotification(context.applicationContext)
        } else {
            context.applicationContext.startActivity(Intent(context, MyActivity::class.java).apply {
                addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
            })
        }
        PushUtils.showReceiverCalledNotification(context)

    }

    private fun showNotification(context: Context) {
        val manager = context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE) as? NotificationManager ?: return
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
            val channel = NotificationChannel("default", "default", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT)
            manager.createNotificationChannel(channel)
        }

        val intent = Intent(context, MyActivity::class.java).apply {
            addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
        }

        val pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(context, 0, intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT)

        with(NotificationCompat.Builder(context, "default")) {
            setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_scan_colored)
            setContentTitle("Custom Title")
            setContentText("Tap to start the application")
            setContentIntent(pendingIntent)
            setAutoCancel(true)
            manager.notify(87, build())
        }
    }
}