Trying to start a service on boot on Android

Question

I\'ve been trying to start a service when a device boots up on android, but I cannot get it to work. I\'ve looked at a number of links online but none of the code works. Am

Answer 1

How to start service on device boot(autorun app, etc.)

For first: since version Android 3.1+ you don't receive BOOT_COMPLETE if user never started your app at least once or user "force closed" application. This was done to prevent malware automatically register service. This security hole was closed in newer versions of Android.

Solution:

Create app with activity. When user run it once app can receive BOOT_COMPLETE broadcast message.

For second: BOOT_COMPLETE is sent before external storage is mounted. If app is installed to external storage it won't receive BOOT_COMPLETE broadcast message.

In this case there is two solution:

1. Install your app to internal storage
2. Install another small app in internal storage. This app receives BOOT_COMPLETE and run second app on external storage.

If your app already installed in internal storage then code below can help you understand how to start service on device boot.

---

In Manifest.xml

Permission:

Register your BOOT_COMPLETED receiver:

Register your service:

---

In receiver OnBoot.java:

public class OnBoot extends BroadcastReceiver
{

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) 
    {
        // Create Intent
        Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(context, YourCoolService.class);
        // Start service
        context.startService(serviceIntent);

    }

 }

---

For HTC you maybe need also add in Manifest this code if device don't catch RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED:

Receiver now look like this:

---

How to test BOOT_COMPLETED without restart emulator or real device? It's easy. Try this:

adb -s device-or-emulator-id shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED

How to get device id? Get list of connected devices with id's:

adb devices

adb in ADT by default you can find in:

adt-installation-dir/sdk/platform-tools

Enjoy! )