How do I start my app when the phone starts on Android?

I tried using the sample code in this tutorial but it seems outdated and it did not work. So what changes do I have to make and to what files to have my app start automatically when Android finishes booting up?

First, you need the permission in your AndroidManifest.xml:

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

Also, in yourAndroidManifest.xml, define your service and listen for the BOOT_COMPLETED action:

<service android:name=".MyService" android:label="My Service">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="com.myapp.MyService" />
    </intent-filter>
</service>

<receiver
    android:name=".receiver.StartMyServiceAtBootReceiver"
    android:label="StartMyServiceAtBootReceiver">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
    </intent-filter>
</receiver>

Then you need to define the receiver that will get the BOOT_COMPLETED action and start your service.

public class StartMyServiceAtBootReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
        if (Intent.ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED.equals(intent.getAction())) {
            Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(context, MyService.class);
            context.startService(serviceIntent);
        }
    }
}

And now your service should be running when the phone starts up.

This is how to make an activity start running after android device reboot:

Insert this code in your AndroidManifest.xml file, within the <application> element (not within the <activity> element):

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

<receiver
    android:enabled="true"
    android:exported="true" 
    android:name="yourpackage.yourActivityRunOnStartup"
    android:permission="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED">

    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.QUICKBOOT_POWERON" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>

</receiver>

Then create a new class yourActivityRunOnStartup (matching the android:name specified for the <receiver> element in the manifest):

package yourpackage;

import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;

public class yourActivityRunOnStartup extends BroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
        if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED)) {
            Intent i = new Intent(context, MainActivity.class);
            i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
            context.startActivity(i);
        }
    }

}

Note: The call i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK); is important because the activity is launched from a context outside the activity. Without this, the activity will not start.

Also, the values android:enabled, android:exported and android:permission in the <receiver> tag do not seem mandatory. The app receives the event without these values. See the example here.

How do I start my app when the phone starts on Android?

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