Question

I have an app which updates the database whenever the phone is connected to WiFi. I have implemented a Service and BroadcastReceiver which will run the Service (it will tell me what network is in use), but the problem is I don’t know what to add in the manifest file to start BroadcastReceiver when the network state changes or when it connects to some kind of network

Answer 1

You need

<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.net.wifi.WIFI_STATE_CHANGED"/>
<action android:name="android.net.wifi.STATE_CHANGE"/>
</intent-filter>

In your receiver tag.

Or if you want more control over it, before registering BroadcastReceiver set these up:

final IntentFilter filters = new IntentFilter();
filters.addAction("android.net.wifi.WIFI_STATE_CHANGED");
filters.addAction("android.net.wifi.STATE_CHANGE");
super.registerReceiver(yourReceiver, filters);

WIFI_STATE_CHANGED

Broadcast <intent-action> indicating that Wi-Fi has been enabled, disabled, enabling, disabling, or unknown. One extra provides this state as an int. Another extra provides the previous state, if available.

STATE_CHANGE

Broadcast <intent-action> indicating that the state of Wi-Fi connectivity has changed. One extra provides the new state in the form of a NetworkInfo object. If the new state is CONNECTED, additional extras may provide the BSSID and WifiInfo of the access point. as a String

Also, you’ll need to specify the right permissions inside manifest tag:

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

To check connectivity, you can use ConnectivityManager as it tells you what type of connection is available.

ConnectivityManager conMngr = (ConnectivityManager)this.getSystemService(this.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
android.net.NetworkInfo wifi = conMngr.getNetworkInfo(ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI);
android.net.NetworkInfo mobile = conMngr.getNetworkInfo(ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE);