How to implement Floating Window in Android?

In this Article ,We will discuss what is floating window, use of this and how to implement this in android.

Introduction:

A floating window in Android is a user interface element that appears on top of other apps and windows. It is also known as an overlay or a floating view. The floating window is not bound to any specific activity, and it can be moved, resized, and interacted with independently of the underlying app or activity.

Floating windows are often used to display persistent information, such as a music player, a chat head, or a navigation widget. They can also be used to provide quick access to app functionality, such as a shortcut button or a search box.

In order to display a floating window in Android, you need to use the WindowManager service, which allows you to create, manipulate, and remove windows programmatically. You also need to have the “SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW” permission, which allows your app to draw over other apps and windows.

Floating windows can be a useful feature for enhancing the user experience in your app, but they can also be misused if they interfere with the user’s ability to interact with other apps or if they display inappropriate or distracting content. Therefore, it is important to use floating windows responsibly and in accordance with Android’s best practices and design guidelines.

Uses of Floating Window:

The floating window feature in Android can be used for various purposes, some of which are listed below:

• Multi-tasking: A floating window can be used to display information, such as a calculator or notes, while the user is working in another app. This allows the user to quickly switch between tasks without losing context or having to switch back and forth between apps.
• Navigation: A floating window can be used to provide quick access to navigation controls, such as a back button, a home button, or a quick settings menu.
• Media playback: A floating window can be used to display media playback controls, such as play, pause, skip, and volume, while the user is using another app or browsing the web.
• Chat heads: Chat heads are a popular use of floating windows in messaging apps. They provide a persistent notification that allows the user to quickly respond to a message without having to switch to the messaging app.
• Quick actions: A floating window can be used to provide quick access to app functionality, such as a search box, a settings menu, or a shortcut button.

In general, the use of floating windows should be carefully considered, as they can be a distraction or an annoyance if not implemented properly. It is important to follow Android’s design guidelines and best practices when using floating windows in your app, and to ensure that they are used in a way that enhances the user experience and does not interfere with the user’s ability to interact with other apps.

To implement a floating window in Android, you can follow these general steps

1. Create a layout for your floating window: This layout should include any UI elements that you want to display in your floating window, such as buttons, text, images, or video.
2. Create a service class: A service is a component of Android that runs in the background and doesn’t have a user interface. Your service will be responsible for managing your floating window, including displaying, moving, resizing, and closing it.
3. Use the WindowManager class to display the floating window: The WindowManager class is a system service that allows you to display windows on top of other windows. You can use this class to display your floating window, set its position and size, and respond to touch events.
4. Add the necessary permissions: To display a floating window, your app needs the “SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW” permission. You can add this permission to your app’s manifest file.

Example:

Here is some sample code that demonstrates how to implement a basic floating window in Android:

• Create a new Android project in Android Studio.
• create a layout for your floating window. For example, you can create a file called “floating_window.xml” in your app’s “res/layout” directory:

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@android:color/white">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Hello, floating window!"
        android:textSize="20sp"
        android:padding="10dp" />

</RelativeLayout>

• Next, create a service class called “FloatingWindowService” that extends the Service class:

public class FloatingWindowService extends Service {

    private WindowManager windowManager;
    private View floatingView;

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        windowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
        floatingView = LayoutInflater.from(this).inflate(R.layout.floating_window, null);
    }

    @Override
    public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
        WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
                PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

        windowManager.addView(floatingView, params);

        return START_NOT_STICKY;
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy();
        if (floatingView != null) {
            windowManager.removeView(floatingView);
        }
    }

    @Nullable
    @Override
    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
        return null;
    }
}

• In this code, we create a WindowManager object and inflate our floating_window layout. In the onStartCommand() method, we create a WindowManager.LayoutParams object to set the floating window’s size, type, and flags, and then we use the addView() method to add the floating window to the window manager.
• Finally, add the necessary permissions to your app’s manifest file:

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

• You can then start your FloatingWindowService from your activity or fragment, like this:

Intent intent = new Intent(this, FloatingWindowService.class);
startService(intent);

Note that starting with Android Oreo (API level 26), you need to use a Notification to start a service. You can learn more about that here:

https://developer.android.com/guide/components/services#Foreground

That’s it! You now have a basic floating window implementation in your Android app.