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Why does foreground service stop working when device go into sleep mode

I want to create an app that is constantly checking for location change and put the current location in the firebase (e.g. an app for runners).
Unfortunately the foregroundservice is being stopped or paused every time the device go into sleep mode.
For starters I wanted to create a foreground service that is continuously writing information to the base (that would be a time stamp or a simple string) every second.
After some time it just stops writing to firebase without calling stopself().
The service is working fine on the emulator (even if put to sleep), but stops when tested on a real device – in my case Huawei, Android 8.1.0.
What should I do to force service to run in every state of the device?
My MainActivity:
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
intent.putExtra("action", "start");
startForegroundService(intent);
}
else {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
intent.putExtra("action", "start");
startService(intent);
}
}
#Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
intent.putExtra("action", "stop");
startForegroundService(intent);
}
else {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
intent.putExtra("action", "stop");
startService(intent);
}
}
}
MyService:
public class MyService extends Service {
int i =0;
private String CHANNEL_ID = "2345";
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
}
public MyService() {
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
startForeground(1000, createNotification());
String action = intent.getExtras().getString("action");
switch (action){
case "start":
final Handler handler = new Handler();
Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
myfunction();
handler.postDelayed(this, 1000);
}
};
break;
case "stop":
stopfunction();
break;
}
handler.postDelayed(runnable, 1000);
return START_NOT_STICKY;
}
private void stopfunction() {
stopSelf();
}
private void myfunction() {
FirebaseDatabase database = FirebaseDatabase.getInstance();
DatabaseReference myRef = database.getReference("locations");
myRef.child("location").setValue(i);
i++;
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// TODO: Return the communication channel to the service.
return null;
}
#RequiresApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.O)
private void createChannel(){
NotificationManager notificationManager = (NotificationManager) this.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID, getString(R.string.infoTxt),
NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_HIGH);
channel.setShowBadge(false);
channel.setLockscreenVisibility(Notification.VISIBILITY_PUBLIC);
notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
}
private Notification createNotification(){
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O){
createChannel();
}
Intent notificationItent = new Intent(this, MainActivity.class);
notificationItent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP);
PendingIntent intent = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0, notificationItent, 0);
return new NotificationCompat.Builder(this, CHANNEL_ID)
.setColor(ContextCompat.getColor(this, android.R.color.background_dark))
.setContentIntent(intent)
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_launcher_background)
.setVisibility(NotificationCompat.VISIBILITY_PUBLIC)
.setOnlyAlertOnce(true)
.setContentTitle("GPS Location")
.build();
}
}

I've tried everything: service, foreground service, broadcast receiver, jobSheduler, WorkerManager – nothing helped. Then I found it’s a new HUAWEI feature called “power-intensive app monitor “. It kills every app that runs in the background for a long time unless user gives special permissions to it.
The path to do this:
Settings -> Security & privacy -> Location services -> recent location requests: YOUR APP NAME -> Battery -> uncheck Power-intensive prompt, App launch: Manage manually: check all three positions: Auto-launch, secondary launch, run in background.
I don’t know is there a way to do this programmatically. I think the best way is to create a sort of help activity and explain the user what to do if application won’t work.

Foreground services generally should be used for task which require user attention such as visual processes.
use Background service instead

How to deal with background geofencing in 2022?

Here is the situation:
When a user creates a Geofence, I save it to backend and I register a Geofence with the OS. But whenever my app restarts I fetch geofences from my backend and reregister them with the OS again, since they keep disappearing.
I have two classes MainActivity and FormActivity. Both of these activities register Geofences, so I have extracted the actual registration to an ordinary POJO Geofences.java
Here is the problem:
Now the strange thing is, triggers are only received when a map activity is on the screen. I do have a map activity in my app, but it doesn't even have to be my map-activity, even if I launch google maps geofence triggers start firing.
What am I doing wrong?
Geofences.java:
public class Geofences {
private final String TAG = Geofences.class.getSimpleName();
private final float RADIUS = 150.0F; //meter
private boolean success = false;
private final int LOITERING_IN_MILLISECONDS = 30000;// 30 seconds
public boolean doGeofenceStuff(GeoTemp newTemp, String geofenceId, PendingIntent pendingIntent, GeofencingClient geofencingClient) {
Geofence geofence = createGeofence(newTemp, geofenceId);
GeofencingRequest geofencingRequest = createGeofenceRequest(geofence);
geofencingClient.addGeofences(geofencingRequest, pendingIntent)
.addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<Void>() {
#Override
public void onComplete(#NonNull Task<Void> task) {
if (task.isSuccessful()) {
success = true;
Log.i(TAG, "onComplete: DEBUG-Message: Geofence has been added.");
} else {
success = false;
Log.i(TAG, "onComplete: Geofence could not be added");
}
}
}); // handle error here
return success;
}
// Create a Geofence
private Geofence createGeofence(GeoTemp geoTemp, String geofenceId) {
long expiration = getExpirationForCurrentGeofence();
if (expiration < 1) {
Log.e(TAG, "createGeofence: Can't create Geofence, since expiration is less than zero");
return null;
}
Log.d(TAG, "createGeofence");
return new Geofence.Builder()
.setRequestId(geofenceId)
.setCircularRegion(getLat(), getLong(), RADIUS)
.setExpirationDuration(expiration)
.setTransitionTypes(Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_ENTER | Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_DWELL | Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_EXIT)
.setLoiteringDelay(LOITERING_IN_MILLISECONDS)
.build();
}
// Create a Geofence Request
private GeofencingRequest createGeofenceRequest(Geofence geofence) {
Log.d(TAG, "createGeofenceRequest");
return new GeofencingRequest.Builder()
.setInitialTrigger(GeofencingRequest.INITIAL_TRIGGER_DWELL)
.addGeofence(geofence)
.build();
}
}
This POJO Geofences.java is then used by two of my activities:
MainActivity:
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static String TAG = "MainActivity";
private final int GEOFENCE_REQ_CODE = 0;
private GeofencingClient geofencingClient;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
geofencingClient = LocationServices.getGeofencingClient(this);
getCurrentTemps();
}
private void refreshGeofence(GeoTemp temp, String id) {
new Geofences().doGeofenceStuff(temp, id, createGeofencePendingIntent(), geofencingClient);
}
private void getCurrentTemps() {
List<GeoTemp> currentGeofences = getUpdatedList();
currentGeofences.forEach(geoTemp -> {
refreshGeofence( geoTemp, id);
});
}
private PendingIntent createGeofencePendingIntent() {
Log.d(TAG, "createGeofencePendingIntent");
Intent intent = new Intent(this, LocationAlertIntentService.class);
return PendingIntent.getService(
this, GEOFENCE_REQ_CODE, intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
}
}
There is one more activity which uses Geofences.java to register geofences with the operating system.
Update:
I have found out that, if any other app (including mine) requests for location lock, geofence triggers fire. I need them to fire in the background.

I had similar issue when working with geofencing in android.
This happens due to background restrictions added in Android Oreo and later.
OS does not allow your app to start service when it is in background so you won't receive geofence trigger.
To handle this:
Add broadcast receiver to receive intent. (This receiver will get
geofence alert even when app is in background)
Replace service with JobIntentService. (This will use OS JobSchedular
and run even with background restrictions)
Get broadcast from pending intent instead of service.
Checkout this sample project for further clarifications.

Alarm ringing stops when cleared from ram

I am making an alarm clock which asks user to do a particular work in order to close the alarm when it rings. It is working fine but the problem is that if the user closes the alarm app from the recent activities while the alarm is ringing, the alarm stops ringing. I want that even if the user clears the app while its ringing, it should not stop ringing. It should only stop once the task given is completed. How can I implement this?
Edit #1: Activity that is called when alarm rings
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
Log.v(LOG_TAG, "in AlarmAlert");
unlockScreen();
setContentView(R.layout.activity_alarm_alert);
Bundle bundle = this.getIntent().getExtras();
alarm = (Alarm) bundle.getSerializable("alarm");
alarmDatabase = new AlarmDatabase(this);
//Uri uri = alarm.getRingtonePath();
question = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.question);
answer = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.answer);
oldColors = answer.getTextColors();
diff = alarm.getDifficulty().toString();
questionString = GenerateMathsQuestion.generateQuestion(diff);
question.setText(questionString);
actualAnswer = EvaluateString.evaluate(questionString);
AudioManager am = (AudioManager)getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
int result = am.requestAudioFocus(focusChangeListener,
AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC,
AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN);
if (result == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED) {
mediaPlayer = new MediaPlayer();
mediaPlayer.setVolume(1.0f, 1.0f);
mediaPlayer.setLooping(true);
mediaPlayer.setAudioStreamType(AudioManager.STREAM_ALARM);
try {
mediaPlayer.setDataSource(this, Uri.parse(alarm.getRingtonePath()));
mediaPlayer.prepare();
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
mediaPlayer.start();
}
if(alarm.getIsVibrate()) {
vibrator = (Vibrator) getSystemService(VIBRATOR_SERVICE);
long[] pattern = {1000, 200, 200, 200};
vibrator.vibrate(pattern, 0);
}
}
public void closeAlarm(){
Log.v(LOG_TAG, "will now stop");
mediaPlayer.stop();
if(vibrator!=null)
vibrator.cancel();
Log.v(LOG_TAG, "will now release");
mediaPlayer.release();
Log.v(LOG_TAG, "id of ringing alarm: " + alarm.getAlarmId());
alarm.setIsActive(false);
alarmDatabase.updateData(alarm);
cursor = alarmDatabase.sortQuery();
while(cursor.moveToNext()){
int id = cursor.getInt(cursor.getColumnIndex(AlarmDatabase.COLUMN_UID));
currentAlarm = alarmDatabase.getAlarm(id);
Log.v(LOG_TAG, "id of next alarm " + id);
if(currentAlarm != null) {
if (currentAlarm.getIsActive() == true) {
currentAlarm.scheduleAlarm(this, true);
break;
}
}
}
this.finish();
}

You should use Services. Take a look at it, that is what you want it. Generally you can make it to run an operation, and a service wont return any result. But it runs indefinitely even when you kill the app from task manager or free RAM.
I suggest this tutorial for reading about services.
UPDATE
Implement your activity with the service in the following way so it can talk with the layout and stops the alarm when required.
public class HelloService extends Service {
private Looper mServiceLooper;
private ServiceHandler mServiceHandler;
// Handler that receives messages from the thread
private final class ServiceHandler extends Handler {
public ServiceHandler(Looper looper) {
super(looper);
}
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
// Normally we would do some work here, like download a file.
// For our sample, we just sleep for 5 seconds.
try {
Thread.sleep(5000);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
// Restore interrupt status.
Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
}
// Stop the service using the startId, so that we don't stop
// the service in the middle of handling another job
stopSelf(msg.arg1);
}
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
// Start up the thread running the service. Note that we create a
// separate thread because the service normally runs in the process's
// main thread, which we don't want to block. We also make it
// background priority so CPU-intensive work will not disrupt our UI.
HandlerThread thread = new HandlerThread("ServiceStartArguments",
Process.THREAD_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND);
thread.start();
// Get the HandlerThread's Looper and use it for our Handler
mServiceLooper = thread.getLooper();
mServiceHandler = new ServiceHandler(mServiceLooper);
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
Toast.makeText(this, "service starting", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
// For each start request, send a message to start a job and deliver the
// start ID so we know which request we're stopping when we finish the job
Message msg = mServiceHandler.obtainMessage();
msg.arg1 = startId;
mServiceHandler.sendMessage(msg);
// If we get killed, after returning from here, restart
return START_STICKY;
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// We don't provide binding, so return null
return null;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Toast.makeText(this, "service done", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}

Anyway to send push notification to android without GCM?

Is there any other way to send push notifications to android device from server without using GCM? I don't want to share my device data or anything with 3rd party like Google? So any other way?

You may try this code for simple push notification without using GCM or FCM.
Update the changes in onCreateView method..
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
/* ed1=(EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText);
ed2=(EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText2);
ed3=(EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText3);*/
Button b1=(Button)findViewById(R.id.button);
b1.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
public int mNotificationId;
#RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN)
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
NotificationCompat.Builder mBuilder =
new NotificationCompat.Builder(getApplicationContext())
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.msg)
.setContentTitle("My notification")
.setContentText("Hello Preetam! How are you");
Intent resultIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Result_Activity.class);
TaskStackBuilder stackBuilder = TaskStackBuilder.create(getApplicationContext());
stackBuilder.addParentStack(Result_Activity.class);
stackBuilder.addNextIntent(resultIntent);
PendingIntent resultPendingIntent =
stackBuilder.getPendingIntent(0, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
mBuilder.setContentIntent(resultPendingIntent);
NotificationManager mNotificationManager =
(NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
mNotificationManager.notify(mNotificationId, mBuilder.build());
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"Check your notification",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
});
And Put a button to generate the notification.And make one more Activity to be displayed on clicking the notification.

I use a ftp library to connect to my server. in my notification service, I scan a directory where I keep plain text files. Each one represents a notification. If a new text file is added, the service gets the date the file was added to the server. If it was today, it reads the file, returns the contents, and I put it into a notification.
Here is an example of a service that looks for a text file with today's date as the title. If it exists, it will parse the data and put it into a notification
public class NotifyService extends Service {
private WakeLock mWakeLock;
/**
* Simply return null, since our Service will not be communicating with
* any other components. It just does its work silently.
*/
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return null;
}
#SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
private void handleIntent() {
// obtain the wake lock
PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(POWER_SERVICE);
mWakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, "Partial");
mWakeLock.acquire();
// check the global background data setting
ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) getSystemService(CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
if (!cm.getBackgroundDataSetting()) {
stopSelf();
return;
}
// do the actual work, in a separate thread
new PollTask().execute();
}
private class PollTask extends AsyncTask<String, String, String> {
#Override
protected void onPreExecute() {
super.onPreExecute();
}
#Override
protected String doInBackground(String... args) {
// do stuff!
String title = null;
Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();
int month = c.get(Calendar.MONTH) + 1;
int day = c.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH);
int year = c.get(Calendar.YEAR);
String Month = (String.valueOf(month));
String Day = (String.valueOf(day));
String Year = (String.valueOf(year));
String todaysDate = (Month + "-" + Day + "-" + Year);
try {
// Create a URL for the desired page
URL updateURL = new URL("URL to your notification directory" + todaysDate + ".txt");
// Read all the text returned by the server
BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(updateURL.openStream()));
StringBuilder total = new StringBuilder();
String line;
while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) {
total.append(line).append("\n");
}
title = total.toString();
in.close();
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
return title;
}
/**
* In here you should interpret whatever you fetched in doInBackground
* and push any notifications you need to the status bar, using the
* NotificationManager. I will not cover this here, go check the docs on
* NotificationManager.
*
* What you HAVE to do is call stopSelf() after you've pushed your
* notification(s). This will:
* 1) Kill the service so it doesn't waste precious resources
* 2) Call onDestroy() which will release the wake lock, so the device
* can go to sleep again and save precious battery.
*/
#Override
protected void onPostExecute(String title) {
int mId = 420;
if (title == null) {
stopSelf();
}else{
Intent notificationIntent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), MapActivity.class);
PendingIntent contentIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(NotifyService.this, 0, notificationIntent, 0);
//Set up the notification
Notification noti = new NotificationCompat.Builder(getApplicationContext()).setLargeIcon(BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(), R.drawable.ic_launcher))
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_launcher_small)
.setTicker("New Notification ...")
.setWhen(System.currentTimeMillis())
.setContentTitle("Your app name")
.setContentText(title)
.setContentIntent(contentIntent)
//At most three action buttons can be added
//.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_menu_camera, "Action 1", contentIntent)
//.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_menu_compass, "Action 2", contentIntent)
//.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_menu_info_details, "Action 3", contentIntent)
.setAutoCancel(true).build();
//Show the notification
NotificationManager mNotificationManager =
(NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
// mId allows you to update the notification later on.
mNotificationManager.notify(mId, noti);
// handle your data
stopSelf();
}
}
}
/**
* This is deprecated, but you have to implement it if you're planning on
* supporting devices with an API level lower than 5 (Android 2.0).
*/
#SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
#Override
public void onStart(Intent intent, int startId) {
handleIntent();
}
/**
* This is called on 2.0+ (API level 5 or higher). Returning
* START_NOT_STICKY tells the system to not restart the service if it is
* killed because of poor resource (memory/cpu) conditions.
*/
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
handleIntent();
return START_NOT_STICKY;
}
/**
* In onDestroy() we release our wake lock. This ensures that whenever the
* Service stops (killed for resources, stopSelf() called, etc.), the wake
* lock will be released.
*/
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
mWakeLock.release();
}
}

If you mean by targeting devices but without direct connection there is no really other way. If its just a text you can send a simple sms message but if you want a clickable notification GCMS is the only way for now.

EventListener for Power Button press in a Service

I want to listen the power key event in the service.
How can in do that ?
Currently I am working with an app, where I need to listen the power button for some events, from a service which is running in a background, even when the app is killed or stopped.
Somehow I can manage to get it.
But when I kill/stop the app, the service is getting stopped.
How can i overcome this ?
Currently the code i am using this :
Service Class:
public class SampleService extends Service
{
SettingContentObserver mSettingsContentObserver;
AudioManager mAudioManager;
private ComponentName mRemoteControlResponder;
private Intent intent;
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId)
{
Log.v("StartServiceAtBoot", "StartAtBootService -- onStartCommand()");
// We want this service to continue running until it is explicitly
// stopped, so return sticky.
return START_STICKY;
}
#Override
public void onStart(Intent intent, int startId) {
boolean screenOn = intent.getBooleanExtra("screen_state", false);
if (!screenOn) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "On", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
} else {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Off", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
public void onCreate()
{
mSettingsContentObserver = new SettingContentObserver(this,new Handler());
getApplicationContext().getContentResolver().registerContentObserver
(android.provider.Settings.System.CONTENT_URI, true, mSettingsContentObserver );
mAudioManager = (AudioManager) getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
mRemoteControlResponder = new ComponentName(getPackageName(),
StartAtBootServiceReceiver.class.getName());
IntentFilter filter = new IntentFilter(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_ON);
filter.addAction(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_OFF);
BroadcastReceiver mReceiver = new StartAtBootServiceReceiver();
registerReceiver(mReceiver, filter);
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
return null;
}
public void onDestroy()
{
getApplicationContext().getContentResolver().unregisterContentObserver(mSettingsContentObserver);
}
}
BroadcastReceiver Class:
public class StartAtBootServiceReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver
{
static boolean wasScreenOn;
private boolean screenOff;
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
{
if(intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_OFF))
{
wasScreenOn = false;
Toast.makeText(context, "Power Off", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
else if(intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_ON))
{
wasScreenOn = true;
}
Intent i = new Intent(context, SampleService.class);
i.putExtra("screen_state", screenOff);
i.setAction("com.example.antitheft.SampleService");
context.startService(i);
//
if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED)) {
Intent i1 = new Intent();
i1.setAction("com.example.sampleonkeylistener.MainActivity");
context.startService(i1);
}
}
}
given above is the sample code and i have created AndroidManifest.xml files also with user's permission but i cannot get the app continue service if it is killed or stopped.
Thanks in Advance.

#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
startService(new Intent(this, SampleService.class));
}
This is one way to ensure that service will never stop even user want to destroy it.
This is one Just ONE of ways to achieve what you are trying to achieve.
Secondly, you can try and run service in "foreground" by using startForeground().
Also, make sure that in you return "START_STICKY" (which you are doing in the sample code that you shared and I trust that you are also doing in App's code too :) ) in Services's onStartCommand().
This will ensure that If this service's process is killed while it is started (after returning from onStartCommand(Intent, int, int)), then leave it in the started state but don't retain this delivered intent. Later the system will try to re-create the service.
And you may find some additional pointers/hints to make sure your service is not stopped at below link.
How can we prevent a Service from being killed by OS?
Just pick and choose the approach that best suits YOUR Need/implementation.