Develop Reference

Best way to handle activity state

I'm making an app that shows another activity when I correctly login however in the home screen when I pressed back and then returned to the app the login activity showed.
I was able to avoid this overriding the onBackPressed this way:
public void onBackPressed()
moveTaskToBack(true);
}
Is this the best way to do it? Is there a more proper way to keep the state of the application when I exit it?

In your login activity after starting intent call finish()
finish destroy your activity and avoid to run it again automatically.

Your issue is that you kept LoginActivity in stack. so when you press back it will kill MainActivity(after login) and since LoginAcitivity still there. it will be shown again. best is to kill LoginAcitivty after starting new activity.
call this in LoginActivity:
Intent intent = new Intent(context, MainActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);
finish();

As you question I understand, you want to clear the entire history stack and start a new activity. For this, in API level 11 a new Intent Flag was added which is: Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
Just to clarify, use this:
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
For API <=10 now one can use IntentCompat class for the same. One can use IntentCompat.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK flag to clear task. So you can support pre API level 11 as well.

How to remove all activity in Stack when press back button

I have a list of activities A - B -C -D - E and more, for example final activity is K. I want clear all these activities in stack when i press BACK button. How can i do ? In fact, i over ride
onBackPress(){
moveTaskToBack(true);
finish();
}
but only current activity is deleted and application exit. Then, i come back application, it resume activity before K. I want it start from begining when i re-open app. I think the reason here is because the list of activities in stack still are stored, so i want to clear all stack when clicking BACK button. Any suggestions ? thank you very much !

There is method called finishAffinity() for finishing all activity.
public void onBackPressed(){
super.onBackPressed();
this.finishAffinity();}

You need to call your activity with the FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP inside your onBackPressed
#Override
public void onBackPressed()
{
Intent it = new Intent(YouCurrentActivity.this, YourFinalActivity.class);
it.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
startActivity(it);
finish();
}
Hope it Helps!

Either use the noHistory flag in the manifest or finish each activity yourself when the user navigates away.
startActivity(myIntent);
finish();
Another solution, maybe the best, if you have so many overlaying Activities: use only one Activity and handle the content in Fragments. This way you are in control what exactly you want to show when the user hits the back button.

In API level 11 or greater, use FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK and FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK flag on Intent to clear all the activity stack.
Add this code on your onBackPressed() method,
> This launch mode can also be used to
good effect in conjunction with
FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK: if used to
start the root activity of a task, it
will bring any currently running
instance of that task to the
foreground, and then clear it to its
root state. This is especially useful,
for example, when launching an
activity from the notification
manager.
So your code to launch B would be:
Intent intent = new Intent(A.this, B.class);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
finish(); // call this to finish the current activity

Android 2.2 (API 8) Logging Out

I have an app that will have multiple activities open.
Activity A -> Activity B -> Activity C
I want to logout and close all open activities. I have read many different links that describes how to do this.
On logout, clear Activity history stack, preventing "back" button from opening logged-in-only Activites
Close all running activities in an android application?
The issue for this however is that the Intent Flags only work with API level 11 and above. I have an app that I would like to be made available for API level 8 and above. I know that it goes way back but what is the best way to accomplish this for API level 8?
Or should I just give in and make the minimum level 11?

Intent intent = new Intent(this, LoginActivity.class);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
startActivity(intent);``

Did you try this ?
void signOut() {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, HomeActivity.class);
intent.putExtra("finish", true);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP); // To clean up all activities *not necessary*
startActivity(intent);
finish();
}
from this answer

Okay, you can do one thing get ProcessID of your application and in onDestroy() kill that process. Thats it from this link How to force stop my android application programmatically?
int pid=android.os.Process.myPid();
android.os.Process.killProcess(pid);
you can use alternative told by one of user here using startActivityForResult() and onActivityResult() works fine even on API level 8.
For this u need to use
startActivityForResult() instead of startActivty. and onActivtyResult() for you work.

you say "I want to logout and close all open activities." , Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP works on API Level 8 , I have incorporated Logout functionality ,that way in app that is already in store, but there is one difference if I understand you correctly , logout goes to LoginActivity , logout does not kill process or something as this goes against concept of Android. Anyway you can even do this also when you do this as suggested above:
void logout() {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, LoginActivity.class);
intent.putExtra("finish", true);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
startActivity(intent);
}
And then in LoginActivity you can search for "finish" boolean in extra in onCreate method and finish that activity too.
#Override public void onCreate(Bundle state) {
super.onCreate(state);
if (getIntent().getBooleanExtra("finish", false)) finish();
}

Clear the entire history stack and start a new activity on Android

Is it possible to start an activity on the stack, clearing the entire history before it?
The situation
I have an activity stack that either goes A->B->C or B->C (screen A selects the users token, but many users only have a single token).
In screen C the user may take an action which makes screen B invalid, so the application wants to take them to screen A, regardless of whether it is already in the stack. Screen A should then be the only item on the stack in my application.
Notes
There are many other similar questions, but I haven't found anything that answers this exact question. I tried calling getParent().finish() - this always results in a null pointer exception. FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP only works if the activity is already on the stack.

In API level 11 a new Intent Flag was added just for this: Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
Just to clarify, use this:
Java
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
Kotlin
intent.flags = Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
Unfortunately for API lvl <= 10, I haven't yet found a clean solution to this.
The "DontHackAndroidLikeThis" solution is indeed pure hackery. You should not do that. :)
Edit:
As per #Ben Pearson's comment, for API <=10 now one can use IntentCompat class for the same. One can use IntentCompat.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK flag to clear task. So you can support pre API level 11 as well.

Case 1:Only two activity A and B:
Here Activity flow is A->B .On clicking backbutton from B we need to close the application then while starting Activity B from A just call finish() this will prevent android from storing Activity A in to the Backstack.eg for activity A is Loding/Splash screen of application.
Intent newIntent = new Intent(A.this, B.class);
startActivity(newIntent);
finish();
Case 2:More than two activitiy:
If there is a flow like A->B->C->D->B and on clicking back button in Activity B while coming from Activity D.In that case we should use.
Intent newIntent = new Intent(D.this,B.class);
newIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
newIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(newIntent);
Here Activity B will be started from the backstack rather than a new instance because of Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP and Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK clears the stack and makes it the top one.So when we press back button the whole application will be terminated.

With Android's Newer Version >= API 16 use finishAffinity()
approach is suitable for >= API 16.
Intent mIntent = new Intent(mContext,MainActivity.class);
finishAffinity();
startActivity(mIntent);
Its is same as starting new Activity, and clear all stack.
OR Restart to MainActivity/FirstActivity.

I spent a few hours on this too ... and agree that FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP sounds like what you'd want: clear the entire stack, except for the activity being launched, so the Back button exits the application. Yet as Mike Repass mentioned, FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP only works when the activity you're launching is already in the stack; when the activity's not there, the flag doesn't do anything.
What to do? Put the activity being launching in the stack with FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK, which makes that activity the start of a new task on the history stack. Then add the FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP flag.
Now, when FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP goes to find the new activity in the stack, it'll be there and be pulled up before everything else is cleared.
Here's my logout function; the View parameter is the button to which the function's attached.
public void onLogoutClick(final View view) {
Intent i = new Intent(this, Splash.class);
i.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
startActivity(i);
finish();
}

Immediately after you start a new activity, using startActivity, make sure you call finish() so that the current activity is not stacked behind the new one.

You shouldn't change the stack. Android back button should work as in a web browser.
I can think of a way to do it, but it's quite a hack.
Make your Activities singleTask by adding it to the AndroidManifest
Example:
<activity android:name=".activities.A"
android:label="#string/A_title"
android:launchMode="singleTask"/>
<activity android:name=".activities.B"
android:label="#string/B_title"
android:launchMode="singleTask"/>
Extend Application which will hold the logic of where to go.
Example:
public class DontHackAndroidLikeThis extends Application {
private Stack<Activity> classes = new Stack<Activity>();
public Activity getBackActivity() {
return classes.pop();
}
public void addBackActivity(Activity activity) {
classes.push(activity);
}
}
From A to B:
DontHackAndroidLikeThis app = (DontHackAndroidLikeThis) getApplication();
app.addBackActivity(A.class);
startActivity(this, B.class);
From B to C:
DontHackAndroidLikeThis app = (DontHackAndroidLikeThis) getApplication();
app.addBackActivity(B.class);
startActivity(this, C.class);
In C:
If ( shouldNotGoBackToB() ) {
DontHackAndroidLikeThis app = (DontHackAndroidLikeThis) getApplication();
app.pop();
}
and handle the back button to pop() from the stack.
Once again, you shouldn't do this :)

Advanced Reuseable Kotlin:
You can set the flag directly using setter method. In Kotlin or is the replacement for the Java bitwise or |.
intent.flags = FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK or FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
If you plan to use this regularly, create an Intent extension function
fun Intent.clearStack() {
flags = Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
}
You can then directly call this function before starting the intent
intent.clearStack()
If you need the option to add additional flags in other situations, add an optional param to the extension function.
fun Intent.clearStack(additionalFlags: Int = 0) {
flags = additionalFlags or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
}

Try below code,
Intent intent = new Intent(ManageProfileActivity.this, LoginActivity.class);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP|
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK|
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);

Try this:
Intent logout_intent = new Intent(DashboardActivity.this, LoginActivity.class);
logout_intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
logout_intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
logout_intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
startActivity(logout_intent);
finish();

For me none of the above methods not work.
Just do this to clear all previous activity:
finishAffinity() // if you are in fragment use activity.finishAffinity()
Intent intent = new Intent(this, DestActivity.class); // with all flags you want
startActivity(intent)

Intent i = new Intent(MainPoliticalLogin.this, MainActivity.class);
i.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
startActivity(i);

In Java: -
startActivity(new Intent(getApplicationContext(),ChooseServiceActivity.class)
.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK));

Sometimes your android emulator might fails to connect eclipse DDMS tool and ask for adb to start manually. In that case you can start or stop the adb using the command prompt.

I found too simple hack just do this add new element in AndroidManifest as:-
<activity android:name=".activityName"
android:label="#string/app_name"
android:noHistory="true"/>
the android:noHistory will clear your unwanted activity from Stack.

Removing an activity from the history stack

My app shows a signup activity the first time the user runs the app, looks like:
ActivitySplashScreen (welcome to game, sign up for an account?)
ActivitySplashScreenSignUp (great, fill in this info)
ActivityGameMain (main game screen)
so the activities launch each other in exactly that order, when the user clicks through a button on each screen.
When the user goes from activity #2 to #3, is it possible to wipe #1 and #2 off the history stack completely? I'd like it so that if the user is at #3, and hits the back button, they just go to the homescreen, instead of back to the splash screen.
I think I can accomplish this with tasks (ie. start a new task on #3) but wanted to see if there was simpler method,
Thanks

You can achieve this by setting the android:noHistory attribute to "true" in the relevant <activity> entries in your AndroidManifest.xml file. For example:
<activity
android:name=".AnyActivity"
android:noHistory="true" />

You can use forwarding to remove the previous activity from the activity stack while launching the next one. There's an example of this in the APIDemos, but basically all you're doing is calling finish() immediately after calling startActivity().

Yes, have a look at Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY.

This is likely not the ideal way to do it. If someone has a better way, I will be looking forward to implementing it. Here's how I accomplished this specific task with pre-version-11 sdk.
in each class you want to go away when it's clear time, you need to do this:
... interesting code stuff ...
Intent i = new Intent(MyActivityThatNeedsToGo.this, NextActivity.class);
startActivityForResult(i, 0);
}
#Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
if (resultCode == R.string.unwind_stack_result_id) {
this.setResult(R.string.unwind_stack_result_id);
this.finish();
}
}
then the one that needs to set off the chain of pops from the stack needs to just call this when you want to initiate it:
NextActivity.this.setResult(R.string.unwind_stack_result_id);
NextActivity.this.finish();
Then the activities aren't on the stack!
Remember folks, that you can start an activity, and then begin cleaning up behind it, execution does not follow a single (the ui) thread.

One way that works pre API 11 is to start ActivityGameMain first, then in the onCreate of that Activity start your ActivitySplashScreen activity. The ActivityGameMain won't appear as you call startActivity too soon for the splash.
Then you can clear the stack when starting ActivityGameMain by setting these flags on the Intent:
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
You also must add this to ActivitySplashScreen:
#Override
public void onBackPressed() {
moveTaskToBack(true);
}
So that pressing back on that activity doesn't go back to your ActivityGameMain.
I assume you don't want the splash screen to be gone back to either, to achieve this I suggest setting it to noHistory in your AndroidManifest.xml. Then put the goBackPressed code in your ActivitySplashScreenSignUp class instead.
However I have found a few ways to break this. Start another app from a notification while ActivitySplashScreenSignUp is shown and the back history is not reset.
The only real way around this is in API 11:
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);

I use this way.
Intent i = new Intent(MyOldActivity.this, MyNewActivity.class);
i.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK)
startActivity(i);

I know I'm late on this (it's been two years since the question was asked) but I accomplished this by intercepting the back button press. Rather than checking for specific activities, I just look at the count and if it's less than 3 it simply sends the app to the back (pausing the app and returning the user to whatever was running before launch). I check for less than three because I only have one intro screen. Also, I check the count because my app allows the user to navigate back to the home screen through the menu, so this allows them to back up through other screens like normal if there are activities other than the intro screen on the stack.
//We want the home screen to behave like the bottom of the activity stack so we do not return to the initial screen
//unless the application has been killed. Users can toggle the session mode with a menu item at all other times.
#Override
public void onBackPressed() {
//Check the activity stack and see if it's more than two deep (initial screen and home screen)
//If it's more than two deep, then let the app proccess the press
ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager)this.getSystemService(Activity.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
List<RunningTaskInfo> tasks = am.getRunningTasks(3); //3 because we have to give it something. This is an arbitrary number
int activityCount = tasks.get(0).numActivities;
if (activityCount < 3)
{
moveTaskToBack(true);
}
else
{
super.onBackPressed();
}
}

In the manifest you can add:
android:noHistory="true"
<activity
android:name=".ActivityName"
android:noHistory="true" />
You can also call
finish()
immediately after calling startActivity(..)

Just set noHistory="true" in Manifest file.
It makes activity being removed from the backstack.

It is crazy that no one has mentioned this elegant solution. This should be the accepted answer.
SplashActivity -> AuthActivity -> DashActivity
if (!sessionManager.isLoggedIn()) {
Intent intent = new Intent(context, AuthActivity.class);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
context.startActivity(intent);
finish();
} else {
Intent intent = new Intent(context, DashActivity.class);
context.startActivity(intent);
finish();
}
The key here is to use intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY); for the intermediary Activity. Once that middle link is broken, the DashActivity will the first and last in the stack.
android:noHistory="true" is a bad solution, as it causes problems when relying on the Activity as a callback e.g onActivityResult. This is the recommended solution and should be accepted.

It's too late but hope it helps. Most of the answers are not pointing into the right direction. There are two simple flags for such thing.
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
From Android docs:
public static final int FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
Added in API level 11
If set in an Intent passed to Context.startActivity(), this flag will cause any existing task that would be associated with the
activity to be cleared before the activity is started. That is, the
activity becomes the new root of an otherwise empty task, and any old
activities are finished. This can only be used in conjunction with
FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK.

Just call this.finish() before startActivity(intent) like this-
Intent intent = new Intent(ActivityOne.this, ActivityTwo.class);
this.finish();
startActivity(intent);

Removing a activity from a History is done By setting the flag before the activity You Don't want
A->B->C->D
Suppose A,B,C and D are 4 Activities if you want to clear B and C then
set flag
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
In the activity A and B
Here is the code bit
Intent intent = new Intent(this,Activity_B.class);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY);
startActivity(intent);

if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
super.finishAndRemoveTask();
}
else {
super.finish();
}

Here I have listed few ways to accomplish this task:
Go to the manifest.xml- and put android:noHistory="true", to remove the activity from the stack.
While switching from present activity to some other activity, in intent set flag as (Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK). It is demonstrated in the example below.
Intent intent = new Intent(CurrentActivity.this, HomeActivity.class);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK |
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK)
startActivity(intent);here
Note :Putting the intent flags can cause blank screen for sometime (while switching activity).

Try this:
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_LAUNCHED_FROM_HISTORY)
it is API Level 1, check the link.