Question

I have an app which uses the ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON intent with a BroadcastReceiver to control a music player. The user pushes a button on external hardware and it controls the in-app music player. The user can also HOLD DOWN the button and change the volume.

I recently downloaded another app which uses the headset button, and it takes over the media button intent from my app! So when this other app is open and I press the button, the other app will start running, but my app will think that the button is still pressed down so it will cycle the volume.

To summarize,

• my app is open, supposed to be sole listener of media button intents
• other app gets opened, it also wants to be sole listener of media button intents
• button gets pressed with both apps open, control goes to other app
• my app thinks the button is being held down, as it lost control as the button was pressed in down mode (I think). It then launches functions I don’t want launched because it thinks the user has held down the button.

Is there any way I could make sure that while my app is open it’s the sole receiver of this media button intent? Could I at least check to see if another app has taken over, so I can prevent unexpected behaviour?

Thank you for any help, I’ve never had apps not play nicely before!

Answer 1

You can alter your BroadcastReceiver’s priority (make it something large, like 10000): it should then get the Intent first, and then you can pass it on to the other app.