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My app is disappear in the recent apps after dynamic changing the app Icon with Android 9.0

I use activity-alias to dynamically change the icon of my application, resulting in my application disappear in the recent apps.
Manifest
<activity-alias
android:enabled="false"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_11"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:name=".ui.launcher_d_eleven"
android:targetActivity=".ui.SplashActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
private void enableComponent(PackageManager pm, String launcher) {
ComponentName newComponent = new ComponentName(this, launcher);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(newComponent,
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
private void disableComponent(PackageManager pm, String launcherAlias) {
LoggerUtil.e("zkx disable Launcher = " + launcherAlias);
ComponentName deComponent = new ComponentName(this, launcherAlias);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(deComponent,
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, 0);
}

Hitting it a bit late but I got a solution for this, you need to add a default alias pointing to the MainActivity without changing the icon and remove the Launcher property in the Main Activity's intent-filter manifest.
So your MainActivity would look like this
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
>
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
</intent-filter>
And add a default alias that looks like this
<activity-alias
android:name=".Default"
targetActivity = ".MainActivity"
enabled = true>
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
And then when you don't enable/disable your MainActivity, you disable the alias and substitute it with another alias
That's what worked for me

I want to change my Application name programmatically ie name which is present below app installed on home screen using Xamarin Android [duplicate]

How can I change application label to change app name shown from java code in android?
I'm refering to:
<application android:icon="#drawable/icon" android:label="#string/app_name">
in the Android Manifest
Is there any way to update values in strings.xml file?

in the activity, i tried
this.setTitle("your text");
and it worked. I hope it's a common solution

It's not possible by the moment. It is a fixed string in the AndroidManifest.xml file which cannot be changed at runtime.

Using <activity-alias> you can change App icon and name to few predefined by you.
Create such config in Mannifest.xml
<activity android:name="package.name.MainActivity"
android:screenOrientation="portrait"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#style/CustomTheme"
android:launchMode="singleTask">
<intent-filter>
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="#string/app_name_default"
android:icon="#drawable/icon_default"
android:name=".MainActivity-Default"
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="#string/app_name_flavor_one"
android:icon="#drawable/icon_flavor_one"
android:name=".MainActivity-Flavor-One"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Now you can switch between those two aliases, therefore we will change app icon or/and name.
To switch from Default to Flavor-One use this code.
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("package.name", "package.name.MainActivity-Flavor-One"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("package.name", "package.name.MainActivity-Default"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Keep in mind that you have to track that only one alias will be enabled at a time

In Launcher Activity,Before setContentView() write this,
setTitle("Your Title");
I don't know how it's possible, But it's surely works.

Yes, Its possible, In this question everyone mentioned like
this.setTitle("your text");
this will change only your activity name not app logo here I show you how to change the app logo and appname dynamicly
First add your dynamic app icons in the mipmap folder , after that add the below code in your AndroidManifest.xml file
Add <activity-alias> for your app icon
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity android:name=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<!-- Disable the original activity app icon in launcher -->
<!-- <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> -->
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="Anand"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:name=".MainActivityAlias1"
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="Anand 1"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher2"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher2_round"
android:name=".MainActivityAlias2"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
</application>
After doing these methods on your activity, just do below things on button click
import android.content.ComponentName
import android.content.pm.PackageManager
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity
import android.os.Bundle
import kotlinx.android.synthetic.main.activity_main.*
class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)
button1.setOnClickListener{
packageManager?.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(applicationContext.packageName, applicationContext.packageName + ".MainActivityAlias1"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
packageManager?.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(applicationContext.packageName, applicationContext.packageName + ".MainActivityAlias2"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
}
button2.setOnClickListener{
packageManager?.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(applicationContext.packageName, applicationContext.packageName + ".MainActivityAlias1"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
packageManager?.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(applicationContext.packageName, applicationContext.packageName + ".MainActivityAlias2"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
}
}
}
for more details refer this github project

Application's android:label is a fixed resource referrer.
But the string under this referrer could have multiple values, depending on configuration qualifier names (values-en, -large, -land, etc.), according to
Providing Alternative Resources.

To anyone interested: Android How to change the application title
But it's not clear if it changes the "application label" (that is, the name of the icon in the application list) or only the window title.

If you are extending the firmware, you can actually accomplish this by changing IconCache.java file and make it show a string with some internal value of the phone.
For example if you want the SIM Toolkit to show the name of the carrier, you can do that this way.
But for regular apps, as it's been said, it's currently not posible.

As Mister Smith said, it is not possible,
but you could use multiple ActivityAlias, which can be enabled/disabled dynamically and point to the same targetActivity. Therefore create your chooser for the app name - let the user select one and enable the ActivityAlias via the packageManager:
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(context, context.getPackageName() + "." + aliasName);
context.getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName,
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
To hide the old alias, use the same code with the flag : COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED
You can also add the possibility to directly add a shortcut to the home launcher, after you enabled the alias. There are plenty ways described here on sow.

How to change android app icon based on date of the month [duplicate]

Is it possible to change an application icon directly from the program?
I mean, change icon.png in the res\drawable folder.
I would like to let users to change application's icon from the program so next time they would see the previously selected icon in the launcher.

Try this, it works fine for me:
1 . Modify your MainActivity section in AndroidManifest.xml, delete from it, line with MAIN category in intent-filter section
<activity android:name="ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity"
android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation"
android:screenOrientation="portrait"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#style/CustomTheme"
android:launchMode="singleTask">
<intent-filter>
==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== Delete this line
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
2 . Create <activity-alias>, for each of your icons. Like this
<activity-alias android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/icon"
android:name=".MainActivity-Red"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
3 . Set programmatically: set ENABLE attribute for the appropriate activity-alias
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("ru.quickmessage.pa", "ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity-Red"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Note, At least one must be enabled at all times.

It's an old question, but still active as there is no explicit Android feature. And the guys from facebook found a work around - somehow. Today, I found a way that works for me. Not perfect (see remarks at the end of this answer) but it works!
Main idea is, that I update the icon of my app's shortcut, created by the launcher on my home screen. When I want to change something on the shortcut-icon, I remove it first and recreate it with a new bitmap.
Here is the code. It has a button increment. When pressed, the shortcut is replaced with one that has a new counting number.
First you need these two permissions in your manifest:
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.UNINSTALL_SHORTCUT" />
Then you need this two methods for installing and uninstalling shortcuts. The shortcutAdd method creates a bitmap with a number in it. This is just to demonstrate that it actually changes. You probably want to change that part with something, you want in your app.
private void shortcutAdd(String name, int number) {
// Intent to be send, when shortcut is pressed by user ("launched")
Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Play.class);
shortcutIntent.setAction(Constants.ACTION_PLAY);
// Create bitmap with number in it -> very default. You probably want to give it a more stylish look
Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(100, 100, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
Paint paint = new Paint();
paint.setColor(0xFF808080); // gray
paint.setTextAlign(Paint.Align.CENTER);
paint.setTextSize(50);
new Canvas(bitmap).drawText(""+number, 50, 50, paint);
((ImageView) findViewById(R.id.icon)).setImageBitmap(bitmap);
// Decorate the shortcut
Intent addIntent = new Intent();
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, name);
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON, bitmap);
// Inform launcher to create shortcut
addIntent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(addIntent);
}
private void shortcutDel(String name) {
// Intent to be send, when shortcut is pressed by user ("launched")
Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Play.class);
shortcutIntent.setAction(Constants.ACTION_PLAY);
// Decorate the shortcut
Intent delIntent = new Intent();
delIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
delIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, name);
// Inform launcher to remove shortcut
delIntent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.UNINSTALL_SHORTCUT");
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(delIntent);
}
And finally, here are two listener to add the first shortcut and update the shortcut with an incrementing counter.
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.test);
findViewById(R.id.add).setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
shortcutAdd("changeIt!", count);
}
});
findViewById(R.id.increment).setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
shortcutDel("changeIt!");
count++;
shortcutAdd("changeIt!", count);
}
});
}
Remarks:
This way works also if your App controls more shortcuts on the home screen, e.g. with different extra's in the Intent. They just need different names so that the right one is uninstalled and reinstalled.
The programmatical handling of shortcuts in Android is a well known, widely used but not officially supported Android feature. It seems to work on the default launcher and I never tried it anywhere else. So dont blame me, when you get this user-emails "It does not work on my XYZ, double rooted, super blasted phone"
The launcher writes a Toast when a shortcut was installad and one when a shortcut was uninstalled. So I get two Toasts every time I change the icon. This is not perfect, but well, as long as the rest of my app is perfect...

You cannot change the manifest or the resource in the signed-and-sealed APK, except through a software upgrade.

Programatically, you may want to publish the application launcher yourself :
Note: this method no longer works starting with Android 8.0 - Oreo
In your AndroidManifest.xml, add :
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT"/>
Then you need create your app launcher intent:
Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent();
myLauncherIntent.setClassName("your.package.name", "YourLauncherActivityName");
myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
Create an install shortcut intent with your app launcher and custom icon:
Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, myLauncherIntent);
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, "Application Name");
intent.putExtra
(
Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON_RESOURCE,
Intent.ShortcutIconResource.fromContext
(
getApplicationContext(),
R.drawable.app_icon
)
);
intent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
And finally launch the broadcast intent:
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(intent);

Assuming you mean changing the icon shown on the home screen, this could easily be done by creating a widget that does exactly this. Here's an article that demonstrate how that can be accomplished for a "new messages" type application similar to iPhone:
http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10278814-251.html

#P-A's solution partially works for me. Detail my findings below:
1) The first code snippet is incorrect, see below:
<activity
...
<intent-filter>
==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== This line shouldn't be deleted, otherwise will have compile error
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> //DELETE THIS LINE
</intent-filter>
</activity>
2) Should use following code to disable all icons before enabling another one, otherwise it will add a new icon, instead of replacing it.
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
BUT, if you use code above, then shortcut on homescreen will be removed! And it won't be automatically added back. You might be able to programmatically add icon back, but it probably won't stay in the same position as before.
3) Note that the icon won't get changed immediately, it might take several seconds. If you click it right after changing, you might get an error saying: "App isn't installed".
So, IMHO this solution is only suitable for changing icon in app launcher only, not for shortcuts (i.e. the icon on homescreen)

As mentioned before you need use <activity-alias> to change the application icon.
To avoid killing the application after enabling appropriate activity-alias you need to do this after the application is killed. To find out if the application was killed you can use this method
Create activity aliases in AndroidManifest.xml
<activity android:name=".ui.MainActivity"/>
<activity-alias
android:name=".one"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_one"
android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
android:enabled="true">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias
android:name=".two"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_two"
android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
android:enabled="false">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Сreate a service that will change the active activity-alias after killing the application. You need store the name of new active activity-alias somewhere (e.g. SharedPreferences)
class ChangeAppIconService: Service() {
private val aliases = arrayOf(".one", ".two")
override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder? = null
override fun onTaskRemoved(rootIntent: Intent?) {
changeAppIcon()
stopSelf()
}
fun changeAppIcon() {
val sp = getSharedPreferences("appSettings", Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
sp.getString("activeActivityAlias", ".one").let { aliasName ->
if (!isAliasEnabled(aliasName)) {
setAliasEnabled(aliasName)
}
}
}
private fun isAliasEnabled(aliasName: String): Boolean {
return packageManager.getComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(
this,
"${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
)
) == PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
}
private fun setAliasEnabled(aliasName: String) {
aliases.forEach {
val action = if (it == aliasName)
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
else
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED
packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(
this,
"${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
),
action,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
}
}
}
Add service to AndroidManifest.xml
<service
android:name=".ChangeAppIconService"
android:stopWithTask="false"
/>
Start ChangeAppIconService in MainActivity.onCreate
class MainActivity: Activity {
...
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
...
startService(Intent(this, ChangeAppIconService::class.java))
...
}
...
}

Try this solution
<activity android:name=".SplashActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_launcher">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="ShortCut"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_short_cut"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".SplashActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Add the following code when you want to change your app icon
PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
"your_package_name.SplashActivity"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
"your_package_name.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

AndroidManifest.xml example:
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:launchMode="singleTask">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
<!--<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>-->
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="RED"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_red"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="GREEN"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_green"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="BLUE"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_blue"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
</application>
Then follow below given code in MainActivity:
ImageView imageView = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imageView);
int imageResourceId;
String currentDateTimeString = DateFormat.getDateTimeInstance().format(new Date());
int hours = new Time(System.currentTimeMillis()).getHours();
Log.d("DATE", "onCreate: " + hours);
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
if(hours == 13)
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_red", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}else if(hours == 14)
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_green", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}else
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_blue", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
imageView.setImageResource(imageResourceId);

Applying the suggestions mentioned, I've faced the issue of app getting killed whenever default icon gets changed to new icon. So have implemented the code with some tweaks.
Step 1). In file AndroidManifest.xml, create for default activity with android:enabled="true" & other alias with android:enabled="false". Your will not contain but append those in with android:enabled="true".
<activity
android:name=".activities.SplashActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:screenOrientation="portrait"
android:theme="#style/SplashTheme">
</activity>
<!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically> : default icon, set enabled true -->
<activity-alias
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias1" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically> : sale icon, set enabled false initially -->
<activity-alias
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_store_marker"
android:roundIcon="#drawable/ic_store_marker"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Step 2). Make a method that will be used to disable 1st activity-alias that contains default icon & enable 2nd alias that contains icon need to be changed.
/**
* method to change the app icon dynamically
*
* #param context
* #param isNewIcon : true if new icon need to be set; false to set default
* icon
*/
public static void changeAppIconDynamically(Context context, boolean isNewIcon) {
PackageManager pm = context.getApplicationContext().getPackageManager();
if (isNewIcon) {
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"), //com.example.dummy will be your package
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
} else {
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
}
Step 3). Now call this method depending on your requirement, say on button click or date specific or occasion specific conditions, simply like -
// Switch app icon to new icon
GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, true);
// Switch app icon to default icon
GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, false);
Hope this will help those who face the issue of app getting killed on icon change.
Happy Coding :)

To get the solution by Markus working I needed the first Intent so be:
Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
myLauncherIntent.setClassName(this, this.getClass().getName());
myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);

How to provide a separate Icon for Xiaomi Mi Phones?

I noticed that on a Xiaomi Mi Phone icons are iOS'ed. This is why the icon for an app that I am working on looks terrible.
Is there a way to provide a separate icon just for those Xiaomi Mi Phones? Or is this the user would have to change himself?

You can check the device manufacturer and then with the help of using activity-alias for different icons you can change the icon specifically for Xiaomi phones. The process goes like this -
First under your main activity declaration in your Manifest file create 2 new Activity-Alias :
<!-- MAIN ACTIVITY -->
<activity
android:name="com.example.MainActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name" >
<intent-filter>
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<!-- 2 ACTIVITY ALIAS For Main Activity -->
<activity-alias
android:name="com.example.MainActivity-Normal"
android:enabled="true"
android:icon="#drawable/logo_normal"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:targetActivity="com.example.MainActivity" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias
android:name="com.example.MainActivity-Xiaomi"
android:enabled="false"
android:icon="#drawable/logo_xiaomi"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:targetActivity="com.example.MainActivity" >
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Notice that i have removed the line
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
from the MainActivity declaration. Its only there in Activity-Alias. Also only the first Activity-Alias is enabled which is for the normal icon and the second Activity-Alias with Xiaomi icons is disabled initially.
Now the second step, open your MainActivity.java and inside it make this method :
private void checkForIcon(){
if(Build.MANUFACTURER.equals("Xiaomi")){
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.example", "com.example.MainActivity-Normal"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.example", "com.example.MainActivity-Xiaomi"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
}
After this simply call this method in your MainActivity's OnCreate() method and you're done.
As soon as the app launches the first time it will check whether the phone is manufactured by Xiaomi and if it is then it will use the second Activity-Alias by enabling it and disabling the first one(So that 2 icons don't show up in your phone).
Make sure you put the correct package name everywhere and put both sets of app icons in your drawable folder with the name specified in Manifest file.

How to change an application icon programmatically in Android?

Is it possible to change an application icon directly from the program?
I mean, change icon.png in the res\drawable folder.
I would like to let users to change application's icon from the program so next time they would see the previously selected icon in the launcher.

Try this, it works fine for me:
1 . Modify your MainActivity section in AndroidManifest.xml, delete from it, line with MAIN category in intent-filter section
<activity android:name="ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity"
android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation"
android:screenOrientation="portrait"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:theme="#style/CustomTheme"
android:launchMode="singleTask">
<intent-filter>
==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== Delete this line
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
2 . Create <activity-alias>, for each of your icons. Like this
<activity-alias android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/icon"
android:name=".MainActivity-Red"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
3 . Set programmatically: set ENABLE attribute for the appropriate activity-alias
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("ru.quickmessage.pa", "ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity-Red"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Note, At least one must be enabled at all times.

It's an old question, but still active as there is no explicit Android feature. And the guys from facebook found a work around - somehow. Today, I found a way that works for me. Not perfect (see remarks at the end of this answer) but it works!
Main idea is, that I update the icon of my app's shortcut, created by the launcher on my home screen. When I want to change something on the shortcut-icon, I remove it first and recreate it with a new bitmap.
Here is the code. It has a button increment. When pressed, the shortcut is replaced with one that has a new counting number.
First you need these two permissions in your manifest:
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.UNINSTALL_SHORTCUT" />
Then you need this two methods for installing and uninstalling shortcuts. The shortcutAdd method creates a bitmap with a number in it. This is just to demonstrate that it actually changes. You probably want to change that part with something, you want in your app.
private void shortcutAdd(String name, int number) {
// Intent to be send, when shortcut is pressed by user ("launched")
Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Play.class);
shortcutIntent.setAction(Constants.ACTION_PLAY);
// Create bitmap with number in it -> very default. You probably want to give it a more stylish look
Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(100, 100, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
Paint paint = new Paint();
paint.setColor(0xFF808080); // gray
paint.setTextAlign(Paint.Align.CENTER);
paint.setTextSize(50);
new Canvas(bitmap).drawText(""+number, 50, 50, paint);
((ImageView) findViewById(R.id.icon)).setImageBitmap(bitmap);
// Decorate the shortcut
Intent addIntent = new Intent();
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, name);
addIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON, bitmap);
// Inform launcher to create shortcut
addIntent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(addIntent);
}
private void shortcutDel(String name) {
// Intent to be send, when shortcut is pressed by user ("launched")
Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Play.class);
shortcutIntent.setAction(Constants.ACTION_PLAY);
// Decorate the shortcut
Intent delIntent = new Intent();
delIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
delIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, name);
// Inform launcher to remove shortcut
delIntent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.UNINSTALL_SHORTCUT");
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(delIntent);
}
And finally, here are two listener to add the first shortcut and update the shortcut with an incrementing counter.
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.test);
findViewById(R.id.add).setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
shortcutAdd("changeIt!", count);
}
});
findViewById(R.id.increment).setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
shortcutDel("changeIt!");
count++;
shortcutAdd("changeIt!", count);
}
});
}
Remarks:
This way works also if your App controls more shortcuts on the home screen, e.g. with different extra's in the Intent. They just need different names so that the right one is uninstalled and reinstalled.
The programmatical handling of shortcuts in Android is a well known, widely used but not officially supported Android feature. It seems to work on the default launcher and I never tried it anywhere else. So dont blame me, when you get this user-emails "It does not work on my XYZ, double rooted, super blasted phone"
The launcher writes a Toast when a shortcut was installad and one when a shortcut was uninstalled. So I get two Toasts every time I change the icon. This is not perfect, but well, as long as the rest of my app is perfect...

You cannot change the manifest or the resource in the signed-and-sealed APK, except through a software upgrade.

Programatically, you may want to publish the application launcher yourself :
Note: this method no longer works starting with Android 8.0 - Oreo
In your AndroidManifest.xml, add :
<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT"/>
Then you need create your app launcher intent:
Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent();
myLauncherIntent.setClassName("your.package.name", "YourLauncherActivityName");
myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
Create an install shortcut intent with your app launcher and custom icon:
Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, myLauncherIntent);
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, "Application Name");
intent.putExtra
(
Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON_RESOURCE,
Intent.ShortcutIconResource.fromContext
(
getApplicationContext(),
R.drawable.app_icon
)
);
intent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
And finally launch the broadcast intent:
getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(intent);

Assuming you mean changing the icon shown on the home screen, this could easily be done by creating a widget that does exactly this. Here's an article that demonstrate how that can be accomplished for a "new messages" type application similar to iPhone:
http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10278814-251.html

#P-A's solution partially works for me. Detail my findings below:
1) The first code snippet is incorrect, see below:
<activity
...
<intent-filter>
==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== This line shouldn't be deleted, otherwise will have compile error
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> //DELETE THIS LINE
</intent-filter>
</activity>
2) Should use following code to disable all icons before enabling another one, otherwise it will add a new icon, instead of replacing it.
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
BUT, if you use code above, then shortcut on homescreen will be removed! And it won't be automatically added back. You might be able to programmatically add icon back, but it probably won't stay in the same position as before.
3) Note that the icon won't get changed immediately, it might take several seconds. If you click it right after changing, you might get an error saying: "App isn't installed".
So, IMHO this solution is only suitable for changing icon in app launcher only, not for shortcuts (i.e. the icon on homescreen)

As mentioned before you need use <activity-alias> to change the application icon.
To avoid killing the application after enabling appropriate activity-alias you need to do this after the application is killed. To find out if the application was killed you can use this method
Create activity aliases in AndroidManifest.xml
<activity android:name=".ui.MainActivity"/>
<activity-alias
android:name=".one"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_one"
android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
android:enabled="true">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias
android:name=".two"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_two"
android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
android:enabled="false">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Сreate a service that will change the active activity-alias after killing the application. You need store the name of new active activity-alias somewhere (e.g. SharedPreferences)
class ChangeAppIconService: Service() {
private val aliases = arrayOf(".one", ".two")
override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder? = null
override fun onTaskRemoved(rootIntent: Intent?) {
changeAppIcon()
stopSelf()
}
fun changeAppIcon() {
val sp = getSharedPreferences("appSettings", Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
sp.getString("activeActivityAlias", ".one").let { aliasName ->
if (!isAliasEnabled(aliasName)) {
setAliasEnabled(aliasName)
}
}
}
private fun isAliasEnabled(aliasName: String): Boolean {
return packageManager.getComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(
this,
"${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
)
) == PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
}
private fun setAliasEnabled(aliasName: String) {
aliases.forEach {
val action = if (it == aliasName)
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
else
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED
packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(
ComponentName(
this,
"${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
),
action,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
)
}
}
}
Add service to AndroidManifest.xml
<service
android:name=".ChangeAppIconService"
android:stopWithTask="false"
/>
Start ChangeAppIconService in MainActivity.onCreate
class MainActivity: Activity {
...
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
...
startService(Intent(this, ChangeAppIconService::class.java))
...
}
...
}

Try this solution
<activity android:name=".SplashActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_launcher">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="ShortCut"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_short_cut"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".SplashActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Add the following code when you want to change your app icon
PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
"your_package_name.SplashActivity"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
"your_package_name.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

AndroidManifest.xml example:
<application
android:allowBackup="true"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:supportsRtl="true"
android:theme="#style/AppTheme">
<activity android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:launchMode="singleTask">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
<!--<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>-->
</intent-filter>
</activity>
<activity-alias android:label="RED"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_red"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="GREEN"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_green"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<activity-alias android:label="BLUE"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_android_blue"
android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
</application>
Then follow below given code in MainActivity:
ImageView imageView = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imageView);
int imageResourceId;
String currentDateTimeString = DateFormat.getDateTimeInstance().format(new Date());
int hours = new Time(System.currentTimeMillis()).getHours();
Log.d("DATE", "onCreate: " + hours);
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
if(hours == 13)
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_red", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}else if(hours == 14)
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_green", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}else
{
imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_blue", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
imageView.setImageResource(imageResourceId);

Applying the suggestions mentioned, I've faced the issue of app getting killed whenever default icon gets changed to new icon. So have implemented the code with some tweaks.
Step 1). In file AndroidManifest.xml, create for default activity with android:enabled="true" & other alias with android:enabled="false". Your will not contain but append those in with android:enabled="true".
<activity
android:name=".activities.SplashActivity"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:screenOrientation="portrait"
android:theme="#style/SplashTheme">
</activity>
<!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically> : default icon, set enabled true -->
<activity-alias
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher"
android:roundIcon="#mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias1" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
android:enabled="true"
android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
<!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically> : sale icon, set enabled false initially -->
<activity-alias
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:icon="#drawable/ic_store_marker"
android:roundIcon="#drawable/ic_store_marker"
android:name=".SplashActivityAlias" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
android:enabled="false"
android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>
</activity-alias>
Step 2). Make a method that will be used to disable 1st activity-alias that contains default icon & enable 2nd alias that contains icon need to be changed.
/**
* method to change the app icon dynamically
*
* #param context
* #param isNewIcon : true if new icon need to be set; false to set default
* icon
*/
public static void changeAppIconDynamically(Context context, boolean isNewIcon) {
PackageManager pm = context.getApplicationContext().getPackageManager();
if (isNewIcon) {
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"), //com.example.dummy will be your package
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
} else {
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
new ComponentName(context,
"com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
}
Step 3). Now call this method depending on your requirement, say on button click or date specific or occasion specific conditions, simply like -
// Switch app icon to new icon
GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, true);
// Switch app icon to default icon
GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, false);
Hope this will help those who face the issue of app getting killed on icon change.
Happy Coding :)

To get the solution by Markus working I needed the first Intent so be:
Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
myLauncherIntent.setClassName(this, this.getClass().getName());
myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);