How to programmatically answer/end a call in Android 4.1?

I am writing an android app in which I need to answer an incoming call, do some work and then end the call. After all the Googling I could find two different ways to achieve this both of which do not work with recent versions of Android, specifically after 4.1, Jelly Bean.

I.) Access "com.android.internal.telephony.ITelephony" using Java Reflection in the Broadcast receiver for "android.intent.action.PHONE_STATE". Below sample code can be found in hundreds of related post:

public class PhoneCallReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
 Context context = null;
 private static final String TAG = "Phone call";
 private ITelephony telephonyService;

@Override
 public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
  if (!intent.getAction().equals("android.intent.action.PHONE_STATE")) 
    return;

  Log.v(TAG, "Receving....");
  TelephonyManager telephony = (TelephonyManager) 
  context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);  
  try {
      Log.v(TAG, "Get getTeleService...");
      Class c = Class.forName(telephony.getClass().getName());
      Method m = c.getDeclaredMethod("getITelephony");
      m.setAccessible(true);
      telephonyService = (ITelephony) m.invoke(telephony);
      telephonyService.silenceRinger();
      Log.v(TAG, "Answering Call now...");
      telephonyService.answerRingingCall();
      Log.v(TAG, "Call answered...");
      //telephonyService.endCall();
  } catch (Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
   Log.e(TAG,
           "FATAL ERROR: could not connect to telephony subsystem");
   Log.e(TAG, "Exception object: " + e);
  }
 }
}

The problem with this code is that

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_PHONE_STATE" /> 

is required for this method to work, and this permission has been defined as "for system apps only" from android v 2.3. In short, normal user apps can not define this permission in the manifest file anymore.

II.) Another way is to simulate pushing of the Headset hook which makes Android answer the call. This is done by broadcasting the "Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON" as shown in below code.

public class PhoneCallReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
 Context context = null;
 private static final String TAG = "Phone call";

 @Override
 public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
     if (!intent.getAction().equals("android.intent.action.PHONE_STATE")) 
         return;

     String state = intent.getStringExtra(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE);
     if (state.equals(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE_RINGING)) {
         String number = intent.getStringExtra(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_INCOMING_NUMBER);

         Intent answer = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
         answer.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
         context.sendOrderedBroadcast(answer, null);
         Log.d(TAG, "Answered incoming call from: " + number);
     }   
     return;
 } 
}

This method works till Android 4.1 after which android has restricted user apps from broadcasting "Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON".

So my conclusion is that currently there is no way how we can achieve this in Android 4.1 or later.

Has anybody else found any other solution or workaround to this problem?


This works from Android 2.2 to 4.0 and now after adding the try catch to the last line it works for 4.1.2 and 4.2 Frankly speaking dont know how it works but it works for me.

Log.d(tag, "InSecond Method Ans Call");
// froyo and beyond trigger on buttonUp instead of buttonDown
Intent buttonUp = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
buttonUp.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
sendOrderedBroadcast(buttonUp, "android.permission.CALL_PRIVILEGED");

Intent headSetUnPluggedintent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG);
headSetUnPluggedintent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_RECEIVER_REGISTERED_ONLY);
headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("state", 0);
headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("name", "Headset");
try {
    sendOrderedBroadcast(headSetUnPluggedintent, null);
} catch (Exception e) { 
    e.printStackTrace();
}

This is working for me in Android 4.1.2 as well as i have tested on 4.2 This still gives an exception which is handled.

Edit for End Call

Hope this helps all the people looking for total solution for answer and end call.

/**
 * Reject button click listener will reject the incoming call.
 */
private class RejectCallOnClickListener implements OnClickListener {
    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {
        Log.d(tag, "OnRejectButton: " + "Reject OnClick");
        ignoreCall();
        exitCleanly();
    }
}

/**
 * ignore incoming calls
 */
private void ignoreCall() {
    if (USE_ITELEPHONY)
        ignoreCallAidl();
    else
        ignoreCallPackageRestart();
}
/**
 * AIDL/ITelephony technique for ignoring calls
 */
private void ignoreCallAidl() {
    try {
        // telephonyService.silenceRinger();

        telephonyService.endCall();
    } catch (RemoteException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
        Log.d(tag, "ignoreCall: " + "Error: " + e.getMessage());

    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
        Log.d(tag, "ignoreCall" + "Error: " + e.getMessage());

    }
}
/**
 * package restart technique for ignoring calls
 */
private void ignoreCallPackageRestart() {
    ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
    am.restartPackage("com.android.providers.telephony");
    am.restartPackage("com.android.phone");
}
/**
 * cleanup and exit routine
 */
private void exitCleanly() {
    unHookReceiver();
    this.finish();

}

My application has been using the following code to answer the phone for about 6 months:

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
i.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP,
            KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
context.sendOrderedBroadcast(i, null);

I have tested this on Android Versions from 2.2 to 4.2.2. I have not seen a SecurityException broadcasting "Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON" in my testing n a 4.2.2 device, nor have I seen crash reports from the Play Store indicating such exceptions are occurring.

I will say that this does not always work. It does not work on HTC devices due to the fact that HTC devices have a HeadsetObeserver that listen for the actually plugging in of a wired headset. Without this event, which it is currently a SecurityException for a third party app to broadcast, the HeadsetHook KeyEvent goes ignored.

The previous answers are misleading. The following code block does nothing:

Intent headSetUnPluggedintent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG);
headSetUnPluggedintent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_RECEIVER_REGISTERED_ONLY);
headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("state", 0);
headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("name", "Headset");
try {
    sendOrderedBroadcast(headSetUnPluggedintent, null);
} catch (Exception e) {
    // TODO Auto-generated catch block
    e.printStackTrace();
}

except generate a SecurityException and catch it.

In the other answers where the code works, it is because of the KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK being broadcast.


Try this Answer for end the call using pro grammatically. Its working fine for me.

try {

    String serviceManagerName = "android.os.ServiceManager";
    String serviceManagerNativeName = "android.os.ServiceManagerNative";
    String telephonyName = "com.android.internal.telephony.ITelephony";

    Class telephonyClass;
    Class telephonyStubClass;
    Class serviceManagerClass;
    Class serviceManagerStubClass;
    Class serviceManagerNativeClass;
    Class serviceManagerNativeStubClass;

    Method telephonyCall;
    Method telephonyEndCall;
    Method telephonyAnswerCall;
    Method getDefault;

    Method[] temps;
    Constructor[] serviceManagerConstructor;

    // Method getService;
    Object telephonyObject;
    Object serviceManagerObject;

    telephonyClass = Class.forName(telephonyName);
    telephonyStubClass = telephonyClass.getClasses()[0];
    serviceManagerClass = Class.forName(serviceManagerName);
    serviceManagerNativeClass = Class.forName(serviceManagerNativeName);

    Method getService = // getDefaults[29];
            serviceManagerClass.getMethod("getService", String.class);

    Method tempInterfaceMethod = serviceManagerNativeClass.getMethod(
            "asInterface", IBinder.class);

    Binder tmpBinder = new Binder();
    tmpBinder.attachInterface(null, "fake");

    serviceManagerObject = tempInterfaceMethod.invoke(null, tmpBinder);
    IBinder retbinder = (IBinder) getService.invoke(serviceManagerObject, "phone");
    Method serviceMethod = telephonyStubClass.getMethod("asInterface", IBinder.class);

    telephonyObject = serviceMethod.invoke(null, retbinder);
    //telephonyCall = telephonyClass.getMethod("call", String.class);
    telephonyEndCall = telephonyClass.getMethod("endCall");
    //telephonyAnswerCall = telephonyClass.getMethod("answerRingingCall");

    telephonyEndCall.invoke(telephonyObject);

} catch (Exception e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
    Log.error(DialerActivity.this,
            "FATAL ERROR: could not connect to telephony subsystem");
    Log.error(DialerActivity.this, "Exception object: " + e);
}

As a conclusion to this thread, here is the code that works for me for Android 4.2.2.

--> Call is answered by simulating push of headset hook and keeping the broadcast in try-catch as mentioned by @PravinDodia in abouve thread. (Observe that an exception is thrown and handled in catch and the call is answered anyway. So I guess we can just ignore this exception and continue living life as if nothing happened! )

--> Call is disconnected using ITelephony.

public class PhoneCallReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
 Context context = null;
 private static final String TAG = "Phone call";

 @Override
 public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
     if (!intent.getAction().equals("android.intent.action.PHONE_STATE")) 
         return;
     else {
         String state = intent.getStringExtra(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE);

         if (state.equals(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE_RINGING)) {
             answerPhoneHeadsethook(context, intent);
             return;
         }
         else if(state.equals(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE_OFFHOOK)){
             Log.d(TAG, "CALL ANSWERED NOW!!");
             try {
                    synchronized(this) {
                        Log.d(TAG, "Waiting for 10 sec ");
                        this.wait(10000);
                    }
                }
                catch(Exception e) {
                    Log.d(TAG, "Exception while waiting !!");
                    e.printStackTrace();
                }
             disconnectPhoneItelephony(context);
             return;
         }
         else {
             Log.d(TAG, "ALL DONE ...... !!");
         }
     }  
 }

 public void answerPhoneHeadsethook(Context context, Intent intent) {
     String state = intent.getStringExtra(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE);
     if (state.equals(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_STATE_RINGING)) {
         String number = intent.getStringExtra(TelephonyManager.EXTRA_INCOMING_NUMBER);
         Log.d(TAG, "Incoming call from: " + number);
         Intent buttonUp = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);             
         buttonUp.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
         try {
             context.sendOrderedBroadcast(buttonUp, "android.permission.CALL_PRIVILEGED");
             Log.d(TAG, "ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON broadcasted...");
         }
         catch (Exception e) {
             Log.d(TAG, "Catch block of ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON broadcast !");
         }

         Intent headSetUnPluggedintent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG);
         headSetUnPluggedintent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_RECEIVER_REGISTERED_ONLY);
         headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("state", 1); // 0 = unplugged  1 = Headset with microphone 2 = Headset without microphone
         headSetUnPluggedintent.putExtra("name", "Headset");
         // TODO: Should we require a permission?
         try {
             context.sendOrderedBroadcast(headSetUnPluggedintent, null);
             Log.d(TAG, "ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG broadcasted ...");
         }
         catch (Exception e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                //e.printStackTrace();
                Log.d(TAG, "Catch block of ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG broadcast");
                Log.d(TAG, "Call Answered From Catch Block !!");
         }
         Log.d(TAG, "Answered incoming call from: " + number);  
    }
    Log.d(TAG, "Call Answered using headsethook");
 }

 public static void disconnectPhoneItelephony(Context context) {
     ITelephony telephonyService;
     Log.v(TAG, "Now disconnecting using ITelephony....");
      TelephonyManager telephony = (TelephonyManager) 
      context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);  
      try {
          Log.v(TAG, "Get getTeleService...");
          Class c = Class.forName(telephony.getClass().getName());
          Method m = c.getDeclaredMethod("getITelephony");
          m.setAccessible(true);
          telephonyService = (ITelephony) m.invoke(telephony);
          //telephonyService.silenceRinger();
          Log.v(TAG, "Disconnecting Call now...");
          //telephonyService.answerRingingCall();
          //telephonyService.endcall();
          Log.v(TAG, "Call disconnected...");
          telephonyService.endCall();
      } catch (Exception e) {
       e.printStackTrace();
       Log.e(TAG,
               "FATAL ERROR: could not connect to telephony subsystem");
       Log.e(TAG, "Exception object: " + e);
      }
 }
}

At least the disconnect functionality works and we know how it works. So those who want to develop a Call Barring application can go ahead. For those like me who want to answer a call, I guess we can use this for now and only hope that it does not stop working in the next version.


Try this :

Intent buttonDown = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
buttonDown.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
context.sendOrderedBroadcast(buttonDown, "android.permission.CALL_PRIVILEGED");

// froyo and beyond trigger on buttonUp instead of buttonDown
Intent buttonUp = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
buttonUp.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT, new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK));
context.sendOrderedBroadcast(buttonUp, "android.permission.CALL_PRIVILEGED");

Add permissions in AndroidManifest.xml file as

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_PHONE_STATE"/>