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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-18T13:50:59+00:00

I have a long running service which responds to multiple BroadcastReceivers (created in code,

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I have a long running service which responds to multiple BroadcastReceivers (created in code, not manifest). Most of the time the service is running well, but from time to time it gets somehow stopped (the BroadcastReceivers stop to work) – I guess the system pauses it somehow (when I look into the running processes on the device I can clearly see the service is still “runnning”).

I don’t know the right reason why the service is being paused, but I’d like to know whether in these cases the onDestroy() method is called or whether there’s a chance to handle this somehow.

I presume onDestroy() is not being called, because the service is still visible in the Running processes tab. I also have the service return the START_STICKY flag so the system should restart it whenever it’s killed for memory reasons. Also if it is “paused” somehow, is it possible to create a WakeLock for this not to occur?

I know that the best solution would be to put all the BroadcastReceivers into the manifest and create a one shot-service called from their onReceive() methods. However I have chosen to go with the way of long running service because the initialization stage is very intensive it’s better to initialize everything just once.

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  1. Editorial Team

    onDestroy() will be called only when service is being killed by lack of resources or when you explicitly stop it.

    The service can be “paused” when your phone goes idle (usually when screen is off) because the CPU stops. To make services run always you should use PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK – but use it wisely because it does not stop your CPU and thus draining the battery. You should never leave your apps running always. Just do what you need holding a WakeLock and then release it.

    http://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/PowerManager.html

    http://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/PowerManager.WakeLock.html

    You can use AlarmManager to “wake” your apps periodically and do something.

    http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/AlarmManager.html

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