So here is another useful thing in Android Development. Today we will see an Android Scheduled Task Example using AlarmManager. Scheduling tasks sometimes are essential. For example, your apps need to execute a particular job daily at a specific time defined by the user. Then we can do it using the AlarmManager in android. So let’s start.
Table of Contents
Android Scheduled Task Example Video
- If you don’t like following written tutorial, then here we have video explanation for you as well. Instead of reading this post you can watch this video to learn the same.
Android Scheduled Task Example using AlarmManager
Creating a new Project
- As always we will be creating a new Android Studio Project. So here I am with my project named AlarmManagerExample.
Building UI
- Inside activity_main.xml we will create the following UI. This is pretty simple we have only a TimePicker and a Button.
- For the above UI you can use the following XML code.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 | <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent" android:padding="10dp" tools:context="net.simplifiedlearning.alarmmanagerexample.MainActivity"> <LinearLayout android:id="@+id/linearLayout" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_centerVertical="true" android:orientation="vertical"> <TimePicker android:id="@+id/timePicker" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" /> <Button android:id="@+id/buttonAlarm" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="Set Alarm" /> </LinearLayout> </RelativeLayout> |
Creating a Broadcast Receiver for the Alarm
- We need a Broadcast Receiver to fire the alarm when our app is not running.
Creating BroadcastReceiver
- So create a java class named MyAlarm.java and write the following code.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 | package net.simplifiedlearning.alarmmanagerexample; import android.content.BroadcastReceiver; import android.content.Context; import android.content.Intent; import android.util.Log; import android.widget.Toast; /** * Created by Belal on 8/29/2017. */ //class extending the Broadcast Receiver public class MyAlarm extends BroadcastReceiver { //the method will be fired when the alarm is triggerred @Override public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) { //you can check the log that it is fired //Here we are actually not doing anything //but you can do any task here that you want to be done at a specific time everyday Log.d("MyAlarmBelal", "Alarm just fired"); } } |
Registering BroadcastReceiver
- We also need to register this BroadcastReceiver in the Manifest file. So here is the AndroidManifest.xml file where you need to register your receiver just before the </application> tag.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 | <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="net.simplifiedlearning.alarmmanagerexample"> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" /> <application android:allowBackup="true" android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher" android:label="@string/app_name" android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round" android:supportsRtl="true" android:theme="@style/AppTheme"> <activity android:name=".MainActivity"> <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> </intent-filter> </activity> <!-- registering the receiver --> <receiver android:name=".MyAlarm" android:enabled="true" android:exported="true" /> </application> </manifest> |
Setting the Alarm
- Now the final step is setting up the Alarm. We will do this inside MainActivity.java.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 | package net.simplifiedlearning.alarmmanagerexample; import android.app.AlarmManager; import android.app.PendingIntent; import android.content.Context; import android.content.Intent; import android.os.Bundle; import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity; import android.view.View; import android.widget.TimePicker; import android.widget.Toast; import java.util.Calendar; public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity { //the timepicker object TimePicker timePicker; @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); //getting the timepicker object timePicker = (TimePicker) findViewById(R.id.timePicker); //attaching clicklistener on button findViewById(R.id.buttonAlarm).setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() { @Override public void onClick(View view) { //We need a calendar object to get the specified time in millis //as the alarm manager method takes time in millis to setup the alarm Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance(); if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 23) { calendar.set(calendar.get(Calendar.YEAR), calendar.get(Calendar.MONTH), calendar.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH), timePicker.getHour(), timePicker.getMinute(), 0); } else { calendar.set(calendar.get(Calendar.YEAR), calendar.get(Calendar.MONTH), calendar.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH), timePicker.getCurrentHour(), timePicker.getCurrentMinute(), 0); } setAlarm(calendar.getTimeInMillis()); } }); } private void setAlarm(long time) { //getting the alarm manager AlarmManager am = (AlarmManager) getSystemService(Context.ALARM_SERVICE); //creating a new intent specifying the broadcast receiver Intent i = new Intent(this, MyAlarm.class); //creating a pending intent using the intent PendingIntent pi = PendingIntent.getBroadcast(this, 0, i, 0); //setting the repeating alarm that will be fired every day am.setRepeating(AlarmManager.RTC, time, AlarmManager.INTERVAL_DAY, pi); Toast.makeText(this, "Alarm is set", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } } |
- Now thats it you can run the application.
- Now after setting the alarm even if you close your application. The method will be fired at the specified time. And you can do anything you want as a scheduled task. Right now it will do nothing and will print a message on log as you can see below.
Android Scheduled Task Example Source Code Download
- If you are having some troubles doing the project. Then here is my source code for you.
Conclusion
- So you can use AlarmManager to schedule your tasks. But remember only use AlarmManager when you want to execute your task at a specified time. If you want to schedule tasks other than a time constraint then you should use JobScheduler. We will discuss about it in the upcoming posts.
So thats all for this Android Scheduled Task Example guys. Feel free to leave your comments if having any feedbacks or suggestions. If the post helped you please SHARE and give us a LIKE. Thank You 🙂
Hi, my name is Belal Khan and I am a Google Developers Expert (GDE) for Android. The passion of teaching made me create this blog. If you are an Android Developer, or you are learning about Android Development, then I can help you a lot with Simplified Coding.
Belal bhai …not working …my device is Lenovo A600 android 5.0 I was waiting for so long
I have an issue with notification ..
they occur only if app is in background or in foreground i.e service is stopped when i swipe right app from the list of the current running apps .
Please Help !!!!
I tested it on my Moto g5 it is working fine.. If I find a lenovo device then I will test it. Did you try testing it on emulator?
I’ll …
Please help me
Service is stopping whenever I swipe the app from running app.
I am not getting firebase notification if my app is not in background…
Everything is fine with my Moto turbo but in some mobile like Lenovo A600 and k5 service is stopping ..
Please help …
i have same device moto g4 plus but alarm not play..
I will post a video tutorial for this post. May be that will help you out. Lets see. Thanks for the feedback
I have posted the video tutorial as well. You can check it. Let me know whether you able to do this or not. Thank You 🙂
perhaps it is because you didn’t write in myalarm.java
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
MediaPlayer mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(context, Settings.System.DEFAULT_RINGTONE_URI);
mediaPlayer.start();
Log.d(“MyAlarmBelal”, “Alarm just fired”);
}
Have you worked on Android BLE.
Scheduling and Sending commands to BLE
03-14 10:22:32.180 4257-4274/chatapp.com.alarmdemo2 E/Surface: getSlotFromBufferLocked: unknown buffer: 0x7f80fe2280
whenever in click on set alarm button it gives this in logcat..
please help
Hi Belal, I am using your code, but the scheduled alarms are not firing if the application is killed or mobile rebooted. I am using asus zenfone m1 pro. and letv mobiles. Both are running on oreo and marshmallow respectively.
Hello,
I think BroadcastReceiver is not working properly after nougat OS, i.e alarm ,notifications.
please help me. I am new in android
Hi Developer, your code is not working. The scheduled alarms are not firing if the application is killed or mobile rebooted.Please give another solution..I am using huawei honor 6 marmallow.
did you find any solution on it.
Hi Bilal!
I am working with alarm manager. I have created alarm for 09:00 am. I want to run my broadcast receiver at that time but I face issue. When ever I run my app my broadcast receiver fired and if my app is running broadcast receiver fired again and again until the app is closed. Kindly help me to resolve this issue.
I am using alarm manager. I f my app is not getting remainder notification if application is in kill state.