AccessibilityService stops receiving events on reboot

Question

I have an app that uses the accessibility services to listen to notifications. It works correctly unti the user reboots. If you reboot, you have to disable/re-enable the service from the accessibility services menu.

Why does the app not get the events after a reboot?

@Override
protected void onServiceConnected() {
    pMan = new PreferencesManager(this);
    bulbManager = new BulbManager(((Context) this), pMan.getBridge());
    AccessibilityServiceInfo info = new AccessibilityServiceInfo();
    info.eventTypes = AccessibilityEvent.TYPE_NOTIFICATION_STATE_CHANGED;
    info.notificationTimeout = 100;
    info.feedbackType = AccessibilityEvent.TYPES_ALL_MASK;
    setServiceInfo(info);
    Log.d("OMG, STARTED FINALLY!", "RIGHT NOW!");
}

and the xml

<accessibility-service xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:accessibilityEventTypes="typeNotificationStateChanged"
    android:packageNames="com.t3hh4xx0r.huenotifier"
    android:accessibilityFeedbackType="feedbackAllMask"
    android:notificationTimeout="100"
    android:accessibilityFlags="flagDefault"
    android:settingsActivity="com.t3hh4xx0r.huenotifier.activities.LoadingSplashActivity"
    android:canRetrieveWindowContent="false"
    android:description="@string/app_name" />

and the manifest

   <service
        android:name="com.t3hh4xx0r.huenotifier.MyAccessibilityService"
        android:permission="android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.accessibilityservice.AccessibilityService" />
        </intent-filter>

        <meta-data
            android:name="android.accessibilityservice"
            android:resource="@xml/service_info" />
    </service>

Answer 1

I was facing same problem. After a lot of attempt I found that this problem occurs with older version of android (eg.Jellybean). when device is powered off the service gets unbinded. But it is not rebinded on_Boot_Completed. As this problem doesn't appear on newer version of android I considered it as a android bug. Because only way to re-activate the service is turning off and restarting the service, I am using sharedPreference to keep track states of my service. when onUnbind onRebind or onServiceConnected is called I update my sharedPreference with the value I associated for it. Now, before using service I check that if the service called onRebind or onServiceConnected if not then I tell user to restart service or start working with my service.

If you are so confused then you can Include the bellow code in your accessibility service.

public static String AccessibilityPreference="AccessibilityPreference";
public static String isServiceBinded="isServiceBinded";
@Override
public void onServiceConnected() {
    Log.e(TAG, "ACC::onServiceConnected:************************* ");
    SharedPreferences p=getSharedPreferences(AccessibilityPreference,Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
    SharedPreferences.Editor e=p.edit();
    e.putBoolean(isServiceBinded,true);
    e.commit();
}
 @Override
public boolean onUnbind(Intent intent) {
    Log.e("onUnbind","onUnbind Called***************************************************");
    SharedPreferences p=getSharedPreferences(AccessibilityPreference,Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
    SharedPreferences.Editor e=p.edit();
    e.putBoolean(isServiceBinded,false);
    e.commit();
    return super.onUnbind(intent);
}

@Override
public void onRebind(Intent intent) {
    Log.e("onRebind","onRebind Called***************************************************");
    SharedPreferences p=getSharedPreferences(AccessibilityPreference,Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
    SharedPreferences.Editor e=p.edit();
    e.putBoolean(isServiceBinded,true);
    e.commit();
    super.onRebind(intent);
}
public static boolean isServiceBinded(SharedPreferences preferences){
   return preferences.getBoolean(isServiceBinded,true);
}

Then before start working with the service check if service is valid like bellow,

if(AccessibilityWorkService.isServiceBinded(getSharedPreferences(AccessibilityWorkService.AccessibilityPreference, Context.MODE_PRIVATE))){
//start working
}else {
//tell user to restart service
}