'Show Popup' feature does not work anymore in Android 10 - New Solution

chrisonline

Please be aware that the "Show Popup" feature does not work anymore in Android 10!

Why?
Android 10 and higher place restrictions on when apps can start activities (the popup is an activity) when the app is running in the background.
These restrictions help minimize interruptions for the user and keep the user more in control of what's shown on their screen.

COL Reminder shows the notification and also starts an activity, the Popup Dialog, but the main app isn't visible/in foreground at this time.
This is now not allowed anymore.

Solution?
With version 3.6.3 there is now a new setting called "High Priority with Popup" on Android 10.
It's not exactly the same as the "Show Popup" but I think a good alternative and in some cases the better solution I think.

If the screen is on you see a "Heads Up" notification.
A "Heads Up" notification will stay on the screen at the top until you swipe it up. So you want miss a reminder if you are currently using the phone.

If the screen is off the phone will be automatically turned on and you see the popup again.

But be aware that the system choose to display either a heads-up notification or the popup.
But in most cases it should be as described above.

See the info on the official docs from Google:

chrisonline

Sad news on Android 10 :-(

I have now investigated some workarounds.

First way SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW:
This is an really old permission and will be removed from Android in the next release.

See here:
!!IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! [2019-05-08] We all SAW it coming (pun intended), but the Android team have finally given us an idea of where the out-of-app UI interaction that system-alert-window enabled is going. Confirmed at Google IO 2019: it's going away. Part of the flakily-recorded "Whats New In Android" talk mentions it here.

Google has decided to eventually deprecate SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW in a future Android release.
And Android Go devices will no longer grant this permission as of now.

So I can't use this event it would work (not tested it because of the deprecation) :-(

Second way FULL SCREEN INTENT:
https://developer.android.com/training/notify-user/time-sensitive

Seems promising but again not intended to use it as an "dialog popup".
I have changed my code and have tried to show it as "FullScreenIntent".

But it will not always show the intent/popup.
The system decides if it will show it or not (as mentioned also in the official developer docs linked above).

In my tests I have seen a heads up notification at the top, but not the COL Reminder Popup Dialog.

You can compare it like the same if you get a call if you are inside an another app.
You see a notification hanging from the top where you can "CALL" or "DISMISS".

And it looks the same for the notification from COL Reminder.

Only if the screen is off I see the COL Reminder Popup after I switch the screen on..

So this solution is also not exactly the same but I think the best.

Solution/Alternative for Android 10:
See first post for the currently available soltuion.

tbener

Any news on that? The pop-up is a MUST for this type of app. I keep missing reminders

chrisonline

tbener
I am currently testing the "Google way alternative" as described in the official docs.

This means:
If the screen is off and you turn it on you see the popup.
If the screen is on you only see the notification but it will stay until you swipe it up (the same as if someone calls you).

Let me know what you think about.

tbener

If the screen is off, then I would like it to be turned on when there is a reminder.
If the screen is on, and I see this notification, it's important that if I swipe it, it won't be marked as done. If, for example, i'm taking a photo, or playing a game, I just won't it out of of my screen, but I still need the reminder to stay in the notifications panel.
And once I tap the notification I get the normal popup of col-reminder? the one that lets me snooze and all?

chrisonline

tbener if the screen is on you don't swipe it away. You swipe it upwards.
It is shown at the top over the app you are using.

A normal swipe left or right does not Mark is as done. It can't be swiped left or right as before.

I will soon upload it to the beta channel to test this.
So if you don't be in the beta channel please join.

tbener

Joined!

chrisonline

tbener Just uploaded a new BETA with the new option "Priority High with Popup" inside "Notification Settings".
Please test it and let me know how it is working for you.

tbener

Hi there,
I got the update,
but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work.
I checked the Priority High with Popup. should I do anything else?
It doesn't matter if the screen is on or off, when the reminder goes off, I only hear the sound but I don't see anything.

BTW, if the screen is off and I missed a reminder, it is very important that I'll see the popup when I turn the screen on - this is how you designed it before and it was great. Otherwise, if it's gonna lie there in between the other notifications, I'm gonna miss it for sure.

chrisonline

tbener
Can you please enable "Debug Log" inside "Settings" / "General" and retry it.
Afterwards please send me the log.

BTW which Smartphone do you have?

tbener

Sent.
I created a "Test screen on" reminder for 12:16pm. The screen was on and no popup.
I created a "Test screen off" reminder for 12:17pm, turned the screen off and no popup.
Then I sent the debug log.
Hope it helps.

I'm using Samsung Galaxy S10+.
Let me know if you need more info.

chrisonline

tbener As of the logs it is all ok. I send the system the HIGH priority and the dialog.
Seems Samsung has again changed the default behaviour.

In the official docs there is a "note":

So this is why I firstly don't wanted to add this because I am out of control when the popup is shown and when not.

Anyway did you still see a "heads up" notification?
The notification should popup down and stays on the screen.

Should look like this, but with "Snooze" and "Dismiss" buttons (and it should stay on the screen and not go away until you swipe up:

tbener

It works man, it works!
I rechecked the permissions, and maybe from my playing I messed it.
I get the heads up and the pop up is there when I turn on the screen.
Now I'll continue with my real reminders but it looks great.
Thank you!

P.s. only one issue I still see - if the screen is of I don't see anything. Any way to change it?

chrisonline

tbener I rechecked the permissions, and maybe from my playing I messed it.

Which permission did you missing? There is no new permission. So I am wonder why this should not work.

tbener only one issue I still see - if the screen is of I don't see anything. Any way to change it?

You should at least see the notification on the lockscreen. Or is this also not shown?

tbener

chrisonline Nonthing new. That's so weird but the "Show as pop-up" toggle for the Default notification settings was off. I have no idea how it got to be off.
On the same screen, I have the "Lock screen" settings, which has the options: Show content | Hide content | Do not show notification.
The selected one is "Show content" but I dont see it. I see only one icon (which is the group of all the 10 active reminders I currently have)

chrisonline

tbener
If the system shows the dialog, behind the lock screen, it will not show a notification.
This is the cause why you don't see the notification on the lockscreen or only the notification icon but without text.

The system shows always the "heads up" OR the dialog.
And the dialog is behind the lockscreen.

So it seems this is also not an ideal solution :-(

chrisonline

tbener
I have now changed it again a little bit.
Now if the screen is off the screen will turn on AND will unlock your phone.
Now you see the popup directly. The same as if you are getting a phone call or an alarm from an alarm clock.

I will upload this change soon to the beta channel.
Please test and let me know what you think.

UPDATE: Is now uploaded!

tbener

chrisonline you're the man!

tbener

It works!
The screen was off, and the popup, well... popped up 🙂

chrisonline

tbener
Great.
So I will ship this version to the public and let's see the feedback from the other users.

Thanks for your help for testing this.