Android BroadcastReceiver on startup - keep running when Activity is in Background

Question

I\'m monitoring incoming SMSs.

My app is working perfectly with a BroadcastReceiver. However it is working from an Activity and would like to keep the <

Answer 1

Service or Boot Completed is not mandatory

In fact, you don't need to implement a Service or register to android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED

Some examples shows how to register/unregister a BroadcastReceiver when activity is created and destroyed. However, this is useful for intents that you expect only when app is opened (for internal communication between Service/Activity for example).

However, in case of a SMS, you want to listen to the intent all the time (and not only when you app is opened).

There's another way

You can create a class which extends BroadcastReceiver and register to desired intents via AndroidManifest.xml. This way, the BroadcastReceiver will be indepedent from your Activity (and will not depend from Activity's Life Cycle)

This way, your BroadcastReceiver will be notified automatically by Android as soon as an SMS arrive even if your app is closed.

AndroidManifest.xml

    ...
    
    

    
        ....
        
            
                
            
        
    

MyCustomBroadcastReceiver.java

public class MyCustomBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {

    @Override
    public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
        if(intent != null) {
            String action = intent.getAction();
            if(action != null) {
                if(action.equals("android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED")) {
                    // DO YOUR STUFF
                } else if (action.equals("ANOTHER ACTION")) {
                    // DO ANOTHER STUFF
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Notes

You can add others intent-filters to AndroidManifest and handle all of them in same BroadcastReceiver.

Start a Service only if you will perform a long task. You just need to display a notification or update some database, just use the code above.