I want to launch an installed package from my Android application. I assume that it is possible using intents, but I didn't find a way of doing it. Is there a link, where to find the information?
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2what happen if I open second app from first one and then click directly the icon of second app, I get two instances of the app, which is undesired.how to manage it ?? – Radhey Nov 21 '14 at 14:44
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Possible duplicate of [How to call one android application from another android application](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2728465/how-to-call-one-android-application-from-another-android-application) – Yksh Nov 17 '15 at 10:18
14 Answers
If you don't know the main activity, then the package name can be used to launch the application.
Intent launchIntent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage("com.package.address");
if (launchIntent != null) {
startActivity(launchIntent);//null pointer check in case package name was not found
}
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5Any reason as to why this would not work? I didn't get it to work at least. – Simon Forsberg Dec 21 '12 at 20:18
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28It starts a new Intent , how about resuming the application which is in background? – Salil Dua Jul 29 '13 at 10:02
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3@andep: This worked well for me when I tested between two apps i created myself. Once I know the package name will this always work, or is there a way to prevent someone from launching your app (in the maniefest or somewhere)? – Leonard Feehan Aug 29 '13 at 10:59
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2@Leonard: My first impression, that it must always work, because package names are public so any apps can read them out. From your apps I think you cannot determine from where was it called but your app can determines that it can not be call via the main activity just via services. – andep Sep 24 '13 at 08:19
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2Yes, this can return null. "The current implementation looks first for a main activity in the category `CATEGORY_INFO`, and next for a main activity in the category `CATEGORY_LAUNCHER`. **Returns null if neither are found.**" – quietmint Jun 02 '15 at 17:05
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what if I wanted to open a Facebook app from my android application(Which I've designed). Because I dont the package used by Facebook at this time what I'm supposed to do?? – Gladwin James Jul 27 '16 at 12:21
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1
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Works only if the other app is release version. Debug apps aren't found this way. – RexSplode May 23 '18 at 11:10
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@andep - how to close the present app(activity) when we call another app. – Arnold Brown Aug 07 '18 at 06:36
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1
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This worked for me. However, if you are a rookie (like me), you need to know how to get the package name of the app to be launched. i.e. [find the android sdk location](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25176594/android-sdk-location) and [use the adb command](https://developer.android.com/studio/run/device#connect) to [list the package names of the installed apps](https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/28767/view-apps-full-package-name). – Franco Nov 11 '19 at 12:15
I know this has been answered but here is how I implemented something similar:
Intent intent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage("com.package.name");
if (intent != null) {
// We found the activity now start the activity
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
} else {
// Bring user to the market or let them choose an app?
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + "com.package.name"));
startActivity(intent);
}
Even better, here is the method:
public void startNewActivity(Context context, String packageName) {
Intent intent = context.getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName);
if (intent != null) {
// We found the activity now start the activity
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
context.startActivity(intent);
} else {
// Bring user to the market or let them choose an app?
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + packageName));
context.startActivity(intent);
}
}
Removed duplicate code:
public void startNewActivity(Context context, String packageName) {
Intent intent = context.getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName);
if (intent == null) {
// Bring user to the market or let them choose an app?
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + packageName));
}
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
context.startActivity(intent);
}
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10I was having an issue when starting an Intent to a Facebook or Twitter profile. They were opening inside my app, instead of as a new activity. Adding the FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK fixed that. Thanks! – Harry Mar 18 '13 at 19:04
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1The method works for me, but sometimes the new Application is open and the calling Activity is still the foreground. Any ideas how to fix? – lgdroid57 Mar 19 '14 at 02:01
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Works only for release versions. If you're trying to open the debug app, intent will be null. – RexSplode May 23 '18 at 11:11
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@JaredBurrows what to do id the called app has not installed? How to inform users to install that app? – Arnold Brown Aug 09 '18 at 07:13
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I found the solution. In the manifest file of the application I found the package name: com.package.address and the name of the main activity which I want to launch: MainActivity The following code starts this application:
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("com.package.address","com.package.address.MainActivity"));
startActivity(intent);
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This way returns an exception which says I need to declare the activity in my manifest.. but its an external app! – JJ Ab May 31 '16 at 07:36
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How to run it in background? Means second called applications doesn't show on screen, but run its onCreated() method. – Dr.jacky Sep 08 '16 at 07:26
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I get this error when i try from instant app: Not allowed to start activity Intent – Mahdi Jan 02 '18 at 13:05
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@Bastian how to close the current app from where we call intent to open another app? – Arnold Brown Aug 07 '18 at 06:33
// in onCreate method
String appName = "Gmail";
String packageName = "com.google.android.gm";
openApp(context, appName, packageName);
public static void openApp(Context context, String appName, String packageName) {
if (isAppInstalled(context, packageName))
if (isAppEnabled(context, packageName))
context.startActivity(context.getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName));
else Toast.makeText(context, appName + " app is not enabled.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
else Toast.makeText(context, appName + " app is not installed.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
private static boolean isAppInstalled(Context context, String packageName) {
PackageManager pm = context.getPackageManager();
try {
pm.getPackageInfo(packageName, PackageManager.GET_ACTIVITIES);
return true;
} catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException ignored) {
}
return false;
}
private static boolean isAppEnabled(Context context, String packageName) {
boolean appStatus = false;
try {
ApplicationInfo ai = context.getPackageManager().getApplicationInfo(packageName, 0);
if (ai != null) {
appStatus = ai.enabled;
}
} catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
return appStatus;
}
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Here is my example of launching bar/QR code scanner from my app if someone finds it useful
Intent intent = new Intent("com.google.zxing.client.android.SCAN");
intent.setPackage("com.google.zxing.client.android");
try
{
startActivityForResult(intent, SCAN_REQUEST_CODE);
}
catch (ActivityNotFoundException e)
{
//implement prompt dialog asking user to download the package
AlertDialog.Builder downloadDialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
downloadDialog.setTitle(stringTitle);
downloadDialog.setMessage(stringMessage);
downloadDialog.setPositiveButton("yes",
new DialogInterface.OnClickListener()
{
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialogInterface, int i)
{
Uri uri = Uri.parse("market://search?q=pname:com.google.zxing.client.android");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, uri);
try
{
myActivity.this.startActivity(intent);
}
catch (ActivityNotFoundException e)
{
Dialogs.this.showAlert("ERROR", "Google Play Market not found!");
}
}
});
downloadDialog.setNegativeButton("no",
new DialogInterface.OnClickListener()
{
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int i)
{
dialog.dismiss();
}
});
downloadDialog.show();
}
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Edit depending on comment
In some versions - as suggested in comments - the exception thrown may be different.
Thus the solution below is slightly modified
Intent launchIntent = null;
try{
launchIntent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage("applicationId");
} catch (Exception ignored) {}
if(launchIntent == null){
startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).setData(Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + "applicationId")));
} else {
startActivity(launchIntent);
}
Original Answer
Although answered well, there is a pretty simple implementation that handles if the app is not installed. I do it like this
try{
startActivity(getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage("applicationId"));
} catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).setData(Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + "applicationId")));
}
Replace "applicationId" with the package that you want to open such as com.google.maps, etc.
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The `PackageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(...)` method returns null if the package name is not recognised. It does not throw `PackageManager.NameNotFoundException`. See [here](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/PackageManager#getLaunchIntentForPackage(java.lang.String)). – Adil Hussain Jan 11 '19 at 17:40
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I just tried `startActivity(null)` on an Android 10 emulator and it throws a `NullPointerException` and not a `PackageManager.NameNotFoundException`. – Adil Hussain Jan 07 '20 at 13:24
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What is the intended behaviour of the `startActivity(Intent intent)` method when it is given a null `Intent` and what makes you say that? The Android developers' [documentation](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/Activity.html#startActivity(android.content.Intent)) only states that it will throw an `ActivityNotFoundException`. – Adil Hussain Jan 07 '20 at 17:32
// check for the app if it exist in the phone it will lunch it otherwise, it will search for the app in google play app in the phone and to avoid any crash, if no google play app installed in the phone, it will search for the app in the google play store using the browser :
public void onLunchAnotherApp() {
final String appPackageName = getApplicationContext().getPackageName();
Intent intent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(appPackageName);
if (intent != null) {
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
startActivity(intent);
} else {
onGoToAnotherInAppStore(intent, appPackageName);
}
}
public void onGoToAnotherInAppStore(Intent intent, String appPackageName) {
try {
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + appPackageName));
startActivity(intent);
} catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException anfe) {
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + appPackageName));
startActivity(intent);
}
}
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If you want to open specific activity of another application we can use this.
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN, null);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER);
final ComponentName cn = new ComponentName("com.android.settings", "com.android.settings.fuelgauge.PowerUsageSummary");
intent.setComponent(cn);
intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
try
{
startActivity(intent)
}catch(ActivityNotFoundException e){
Toast.makeText(context,"Activity Not Found",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
}
If you must need other application, instead of showing Toast you can show a dialog. Using dialog you can bring the user to Play-Store to download required application.
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`com.android.settings.fuelgauge.PowerUsageSummary` is just an [activity-alias](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Settings/+/android-8.1.0_r53/AndroidManifest.xml#2236) of `com.android.settings.Settings$PowerUsageSummaryActivity`, and it was [removed in Android Pie](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Settings/+/db26cfb847967b11eed91ed2f4c334e1e9df9437%5E%21/#F0), so I summitted the edit to make this answer suit Pie. Note that it's also compatible with older version, see AOSP commit on Nov 10, 2011 af9252849fd94c1f2859c56a4010900ea38a607e etc – Weekend Jun 14 '19 at 07:13
It is possible to start an app's activity by using Intent.setClassName
according to the docs.
An example:
val activityName = "com.google.android.apps.muzei.MuzeiActivity" // target activity name
val packageName = "net.nurik.roman.muzei" // target package's name
val intent = Intent().setClassName(packageName, activityName)
startActivity(intent)
To open it outside the current app, add this flag before starting the intent.
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
A related answer here
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1@GeneCode https://stackoverflow.com/a/22436147/8608146 might help I never worked with c++ libs in android before. – Phani Rithvij Feb 23 '20 at 11:49
If you know the data and the action the installed package react on, you simply should add these information to your intent instance before starting it.
If you have access to the AndroidManifest of the other app, you can see all needed information there.
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1Thanks for the reply. Yes I have the AndroidManifest of the other application. What I try to do now is the following code: Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN); intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("com.package",".MainActivity")); startActivity(intent); but in this way it is not working. Can you give me a more precise link, how to do it? – Bastian Oct 06 '10 at 13:21
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1The application crashes at the line "startActivity...": The application has stopped unexpectedly. Pleas try again. Where can I see the error in LogCat? – Bastian Oct 06 '10 at 13:38
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5I found the error: When setting the component, the fully qualified class name instead of just the class has to be named: intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("com.package","com.package.MainActivity")) instead of intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("com.package",".MainActivity")) – Bastian Oct 06 '10 at 13:54
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1Good to know... You can find the LogCat on eclipse: Window > Show view > Other, Android > Logcat – WarrenFaith Oct 06 '10 at 18:00
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@WarrenFaith I need support with https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52335402/how-to-set-timer-clock-programmatically-in-android Please help. – user158 Sep 17 '18 at 05:45
Steps to launch new activity as follows:
1.Get intent for package
2.If intent is null redirect user to playstore
3.If intent is not null open activity
public void launchNewActivity(Context context, String packageName) {
Intent intent = null;
if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.CUPCAKE) {
intent = context.getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName);
}
if (intent == null) {
try {
intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + packageName));
context.startActivity(intent);
} catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException anfe) {
startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + packageName)));
}
} else {
intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
context.startActivity(intent);
}
}
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private fun openOtherApp() {
val sendIntent = packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage("org.mab.dhyanaqrscanner")
startActivity(sendIntent)
finishAffinity()
}
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Try code below:
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
intent.setComponent(new ComponentName("package_name", "Class_name"));
if (intent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null)
{
startActivity(intent);
}
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Since kotlin is becoming very popular these days, I think it's appropriate to provide a simple solution in Kotlin as well.
var launchIntent: Intent? = null
try {
launchIntent = packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage("applicationId")
} catch (ignored: Exception) {
}
if (launchIntent == null) {
startActivity(Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).setData(Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=" + "applicationId")))
} else {
startActivity(launchIntent)
}
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