Can we use VectorDrawable or VectorXML as icons for push notifications in android?

Question

I am using PNG image but its size is getting too big so I have to compromise with its quality. So i was thinking vectors may be the another way around ? Example will be a gr

Answer 1

Can we use VectorDrawable or VectorXML as icons for push notifications?

Yes, just call the vector drawable the standard way for notifications:

.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.my_vector)

In order to use the transparency (notification icons are only white and/or transparent), you will have to use the alpha channels when settings the colors in the vector XML, meaning #00000000 for transparent and #FFFFFFFF for white.

Answer 2

Probably you should not use VectorDrawable icons in notifications if you are using vector drawable support package - you may encounter errors on pre-lollipop devices.

Check out this: Notification throws error when using vector drawables

Wuthout vector drawable support package, I didn't encounter any errors but after using it, pre-lollipop devices were unable to access the vector icon at the time of notification and threw this error:

android.app.RemoteServiceException: Bad notification posted from package com.xxx.xxx: Couldn't create icon: StatusBarIcon(pkg=com.xxx.xxxuser=0 id=0x7f020082 level=0 visible=true num=0)

Answer 3

If you insist to use Vector drawable try converting it to bitmap :

Bitmap bitmap = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(),R.drawable.my_vector_drawable);
                    mBuilder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(context)
                            .setLargeIcon(bitmap)
                            .setOngoing(!cancelable);

 if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
                        mBuilder.setSmallIcon(getNotificationIcon());
                    }

Answer 4

UPDATE 2020

Yes, it is definitely possible. But let Android Studio take care of icon creation. Otherwise you will be at risk of not supporting older Android versions (check other answers).

So how to create the right files with Android Studio:

1. Right click on a file on the left side of Android studio
2. New > Image Assets
3. Icon Type > Notification Icons

5. Select a vector image (.svg for example)

Android studio will create all the correct files needed.

Answer 5

For version < 21,

If you want to directly pass in vector drawable resource id into setSmallIcon(): No way.

For setLargeIcon() indirectly, yes. Use

VectorDrawableCompat drawable = VectorDrawableCompat.create(context.getResources(), resource id, theme);

then create Bitmap from this drawable and pass into setLargeIcon()

Answer 6

VectorDrawables will only work as notification icons for versions higher than (or equal to) Android Lollipop - i.e. API 21.

I know this because I did try using .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.my_vector) as shown in one of the other answers here, and although this works perfectly fine for API 21 and above, I got the following error for versions prior to Lollipop:

android.app.RemoteServiceException: Bad notification posted from package com.example.app: Couldn't create icon: StatusBarIcon(pkg=com.example.appuser=0 id=0x7f02005a level=0 visible=true num=0 )

There are also other answers on Stack Overflow supporting this argument:

• One by CommonsWare
• Another by ianhanniballake