Develop Reference

Android: How to unhide app

I want to allow the users of my Android app to hide/unhide it when they want.
I already have the code to perform the hide/unhide actions, and the hiding works fine.
But now how can I call the unhide method to let the app back?
I mean, if the app is hidden, where can the user, let's say, "click a button" that calls the method to make the app unhide?
Here is my hide/unhide code:
// method to hide the app icon
public static void hideAppIcon(final Context context)
{
PackageManager p = context.getPackageManager();
// activity which is first time open in manifest file which is declare as <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(context, SplashActivity.class);
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName,PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
// method to unhide the app icon
public static void unhideAppIcon(final Context context)
{
PackageManager p = context.getPackageManager();
// activity which is first time open in manifest file which is declare as <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(context, SplashActivity.class);
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName, PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}

Here's a way I've learned from another app. Not "hiding" the icon, instead, change the icon and label of your app. Disguise the app as some built-in apps like "Settings" or "Calculator".
Another solution (which might be closer to your need) is to add an intent-filter in your app, detecting something like phone calls. If users call a certain number, you unhide your app.
see this for more infomation.
Hope this will help.

How to set default app launcher programmatically?

I am creating a launcher (kiosk) app that will be downloadable through google. When first installing this application the user has the ability of choosing which launcher (mine or the stock) will be the default. I am trying to bring this up manually if the user does not make my application the default launcher. I want the user to be forced into selecting ALWAYS instead of JUST ONCE when that dialog comes up, otherwise the dialog will continue to appear periodically with a friendly message. This is what I have attempted so far.
I created a method to check for if my application is the default
/**
* method checks to see if app is currently set as default launcher
* #return boolean true means currently set as default, otherwise false
*/
private boolean isMyAppLauncherDefault() {
final IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
List<IntentFilter> filters = new ArrayList<IntentFilter>();
filters.add(filter);
final String myPackageName = getPackageName();
List<ComponentName> activities = new ArrayList<ComponentName>();
final PackageManager packageManager = (PackageManager) getPackageManager();
packageManager.getPreferredActivities(filters, activities, null);
for (ComponentName activity : activities) {
if (myPackageName.equals(activity.getPackageName())) {
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
Then I make the attempt of launching the chooser
/**
* method starts an intent that will bring up a prompt for the user
* to select their default launcher. It comes up each time it is
* detected that our app is not the default launcher
*/
private void launchAppChooser() {
Log.d(TAG, "launchAppChooser()");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
}
When I do this I am not receiving the choice between my app and the stock launcher. I tried using startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Please set launcher settings to ALWAYS")); and I get the choices between my app and the stock launcher, however, I don't get the options ALWAYS or JUST ONCE.
I can create a custom dialog for this instead of launching chooser but I need to know how to set the default app launcher programmatically. Thanks in advance!

This is actually possible with a little workaround:
Create an empty Activity that acts as a launcher called FakeLauncherActivity. Add it to your manifest as a disabled component:
<activity
android:name="com.path.to.your.FakeLauncherActivity"
android:enabled="false">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
</intent-filter>
</activity>
Check whether your desired launcher activity is the default one (with the isMyAppLauncherDefault() from your question).
If not, offer the user to choose the preferred launcher activity like this:
public static void resetPreferredLauncherAndOpenChooser(Context context) {
PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(context, com.path.to.your.FakeLauncherActivity.class);
packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName, PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Intent selector = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
selector.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
selector.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
context.startActivity(selector);
packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName, PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DEFAULT, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}
This method temporarily enables FakeLauncherActivity, which leads to a change in the set of available launcher activities, which forces Android to forget its default launcher. You will see something like...
521-735/system_process I/PackageManager﹕ Result set changed, dropping preferred activity for Intent { act=android.intent.action.MAIN cat=[android.intent.category.HOME] flg=0x10000000 } type null
... in your log.
The method then simply opens a launcher intent where you can see all installed launchers and the buttons "Always" / "Just once".
Finally, the method disables FakeLauncherActivity again so that it doesn't display in the list.
You could repeat that as often as you want and only let the user proceed if your desired launcher activity is set as default.

The isMyAppLauncherDefault() function in the question doesn't always work for some reason.
This code might be better for determining what is the default package for the HOME screen.
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
ResolveInfo resolveInfo = getPackageManager().resolveActivity(intent, PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY);
String currentHomePackage = resolveInfo.activityInfo.packageName;

I want the user to be forced into selecting ALWAYS instead of JUST ONCE when that dialog comes up
That is not possible, except perhaps on rooted devices, barring some security flaw in Android.
When I do this I am not receiving the choice between my app and the stock launcher
Correct. If a default has already been chosen, this will simply launch the default.
I tried using startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Please set launcher settings to ALWAYS")); and I get the choices between my app and the stock launcher, however, I don't get the options ALWAYS or JUST ONCE.
Correct. createChooser() forces a choice, but does not allow setting a default.

Android Q (API 29) has RoleManager. Let's say your app is a Launcher.
[AndroidManifest.xml]
<activity
... />
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
</intent-filter>
private val startForResult = registerForActivityResult(
ActivityResultContracts.StartActivityForResult()
) { activityResult ->
if (activityResult.resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
// Perhaps log the result here.
}
}
private fun showLauncherSelection() {
val roleManager = requireActivity().getSystemService(Context.ROLE_SERVICE)
as RoleManager
if (roleManager.isRoleAvailable(RoleManager.ROLE_HOME) &&
!roleManager.isRoleHeld(RoleManager.ROLE_HOME)
) {
val intent = roleManager.createRequestRoleIntent(RoleManager.ROLE_HOME)
startForResult.launch(intent)
}
}
When you call showLauncherSelection(), you should see a dialog similar to the following.
There are other roles, such as ROLE_BROWSER, ROLE_DIALER, ROLE_SMS, and such.

If you are implementing Google EMM solution (Dedicated Device):
https://developer.android.com/work/dpc/dedicated-devices/cookbook
// Create an intent filter to specify the Home category.
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
filter.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_DEFAULT);
// Set the activity as the preferred option for the device.
ComponentName activity = new ComponentName(context, KioskModeActivity.class);
DevicePolicyManager dpm =
(DevicePolicyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE);
dpm.addPersistentPreferredActivity(adminName, filter, activity);

Android: REmove icon from springboard and launch this application from other application

How to remove application icon from springboard but I don't want to uninstall, just remove icon from springboard and this app will be launched from another application. In a simple word, I want to make another springboard like this and launch application from there not from anywhere else. Is this possible?

To remove application from springboard you can try this:
PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(context,LauncherActivity.class);
packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName,
PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Now to start your application from another application you can do the following steps:
1.Create an intent with action=MAIN and category=LAUNCHER
2.Get the PackageManager from the current context using context.getPackageManager
3.packageManager.queryIntentActivity(, 0) where intent has category=LAUNCHER, action=MAIN or packageManager.resolveActivity(, 0) to get the first activity with main/launcher
4.Get the ActivityInfo you're interested in
5.From the ActivityInfo, get the packageName and name
6.Finally, create another intent with with category=LAUNCHER, action=MAIN, componentName = new ComponentName(packageName, name) and setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
7.Finally, context.startActivity(newIntent)

In the AndroidMainfest.xml of your application, remove the below line for the activity that you do not want to have the launcher.
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
and change android.intent.action.MAIN action to something that is your app specific
<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
For example, one can change it to below to represent custom intent action:
<action android:name="com.example.action.MAIN" />
Now, you should be able to launch this application from another application using something like this:
Intent intent = new Intent("com.example.action.MAIN");
currentActivity.startActivity(intent);
More info here: http://developer.android.com/guide/components/intents-filters.html

Android how to programmatically hide launcher icon

my app is designed to only need to be run once. As such I want to hide the icon from the launcher after the first run, but without uninstalling the app.
I have seen similar applications - they can remove their own icons from the launcher app list. How can I achieve the same results? Thank you.

PackageManager p = getPackageManager();
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
Note that the icon may not be gone until the next reboot.

Hide app's icon using below code
PackageManager pkg=this.getPackageManager();
pkg.setComponentEnabledSetting(new ComponentName(this,SplashActivity.class),PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
// activity which is first time open in manifiest file which is declare as <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
Here is how to bring back the app's icon
PackageManager p = getPackageManager();
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(this,SplashActivity.class);
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName, PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

With Android Q (API 29) Google changed the Launcher icon visibility behaviour. Even if you disable your Launcher Activity or completely remove the
android.intent.category.LAUNCHER <intent-filter> from all your Activities, the app will appear in the launcher and open the Android OS app settings, with the exception of:
Packages that don't declare any permissions in their respective manifest files
System apps
Apps that don't contain any components inside their
respective manifest's tag

You can have an app without a launcher by NOT including an intent filter with MAIN and LAUNCHER in the declaration of the Activity in the AndroidManifest - the question then becomes how to do the first kick off.. Widget maybe ?

Hide app icon using this code:
PackageManager p = getPackageManager();
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(this, com.apps.MainActivity.class); // activity which is first time open in manifiest file which is declare as <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName,PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
and bring it back, with this:
PackageManager p = getPackageManager();
ComponentName componentName = new ComponentName(this, com.apps.MainActivity.class);
p.setComponentEnabledSetting(componentName, PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
NOTE: This will not work for Android 10

How do you make an Android "Home" shortcut bypass the app it's point to's history?

I have an app that allows you to create Home "shortcuts" to a specific Activity. It turns out that some of my users will use the app, hit the home key to go do something else, then use one of the shortcuts to jump back to that Activity. Since the app is still in memory it just opens the new Activity on top of the others and the "Back" key will take them back through the whole history. What I'd like to have happen is if they use a shortcut then to effectively kill the history and have the back key just exit the app. Any suggestions?

First, set up the taskAffinity in the Manifest to make the Activity run as a different "task":
<activity
android:taskAffinity=""
android:name=".IncomingShortcutActivity">
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.example.App.Shortcut"/>
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT"/>
</intent-filter>
</activity>
then, when building the shortcut, set the FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK and FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP flags. Something like:
// build the shortcut's intents
final Intent shortcutIntent = new Intent();
shortcutIntent.setComponent(new ComponentName(this.getPackageName(), ".IncomingShortcutActivity"));
shortcutIntent.putExtra(EXTRA_STOPID, Integer.toString(this.stop_id));
shortcutIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
shortcutIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
final Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, shortcutIntent);
// Sets the custom shortcut's title
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, custom_title);
// Set the custom shortcut icon
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON_RESOURCE, Intent.ShortcutIconResource.fromContext(this, R.drawable.bus_stop_icon));
// add the shortcut
intent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");
sendBroadcast(intent);

Try adding Intent.FLAG_NEW_TASK to the Intent.