Android 5.1.1 and above - getRunningAppProcesses() returns my
application package only
By Lior Iluz 26.6k1616 gold badges6868 silver badges116116 bronze badges
Published: 2015-06-03 · Archived: 2026-04-05 13:33:21 UTC
It seems Google finally closed all doors for getting the current foreground application package.
After the Lollipop update, which killed getRunningTasks(int maxNum) and thanks to this answer, I used this
code to get the foreground application package since Lollipop:
final int PROCESS_STATE_TOP = 2;
RunningAppProcessInfo currentInfo = null;
Field field = null;
try {
 field = RunningAppProcessInfo.class.getDeclaredField("processState");
} catch (Exception ignored) {
}
ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager) this.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
List<RunningAppProcessInfo> appList = am.getRunningAppProcesses();
for (RunningAppProcessInfo app : appList) {
 if (app.importance == RunningAppProcessInfo.IMPORTANCE_FOREGROUND &&
 app.importanceReasonCode == 0 ) {
 Integer state = null;
 try {
 state = field.getInt( app );
 } catch (Exception ignored) {
 }
 if (state != null && state == PROCESS_STATE_TOP) {
 currentInfo = app;
 break;
 }
 }
}
return currentInfo;
Android 5.1.1 and above (6.0 Marshmallow), it seems, killed getRunningAppProcesses() as well. It now returns
a list of your own application package.
UsageStatsManager
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 1 of 11

We can use the new UsageStatsManager API as described here but it doesn't work for all applications. Some
system applications will return the same package
com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
AccessibilityService (December 2017: Going to be banned for use by Google)
Some applications use AccessibilityService (as seen here) but it has some disadvantages.
Is there another way of getting the current running application package?
asked Jun 3, 2015 at 11:52
18
To get a list of running processes on Android 1.6 - Android 6.0 you can use this library I wrote:
https://github.com/jaredrummler/AndroidProcesses The library reads /proc to get process info.
Google has significantly restricted access to /proc in Android Nougat. To get a list of running processes on
Android Nougat you will need to use UsageStatsManager or have root access.
Click the edit history for previous alternative solutions.
answered Sep 3, 2015 at 3:27
Jared Rummler
38.2k21 gold badges137 silver badges149 bronze badges
32 Comments
@androiddeveloper no, I only used libsuperuser because it provides an easy way to run a shell command (non-root or root) and get the output. I can re-write it without libsuperuser if there is enough demand.
2015-09-11T14:57:36.97Z+00:00
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 2 of 11

Sorry for that. Was just being curious. :(
2015-09-12T16:37:21.64Z+00:00
@JaredRummler I'm currently in the process of implementing your solution into my app. Seems to be working
fine as far as I can tell
2015-09-21T06:03:08.15Z+00:00
@androiddeveloper, If you want to sort it based on a different attribute, make Process implement Comparable
and override the compareTo method. Then, when you use Collections.sort(processesList) , it will use the
order you specified.
2015-10-11T18:42:39.597Z+00:00
2015-10-21T17:40:30.96Z+00:00
 private String printForegroundTask() {
 String currentApp = "NULL";
 if(android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
 UsageStatsManager usm = (UsageStatsManager)this.getSystemService("usagestats");
 long time = System.currentTimeMillis();
 List<UsageStats> appList = usm.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_DAILY, time - 1000*1000, time
 if (appList != null && appList.size() > 0) {
 SortedMap<Long, UsageStats> mySortedMap = new TreeMap<Long, UsageStats>();
 for (UsageStats usageStats : appList) {
 mySortedMap.put(usageStats.getLastTimeUsed(), usageStats);
 }
 if (mySortedMap != null && !mySortedMap.isEmpty()) {
 currentApp = mySortedMap.get(mySortedMap.lastKey()).getPackageName();
 }
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 3 of 11

}
 } else {
 ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager)this.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
 List<ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo> tasks = am.getRunningAppProcesses();
 currentApp = tasks.get(0).processName;
 }
 Log.e("adapter", "Current App in foreground is: " + currentApp);
 return currentApp;
}
Use this method for getting foreground task. U will need an System Permission "android:get_usage_stats"
public static boolean needPermissionForBlocking(Context context){
 try {
 PackageManager packageManager = context.getPackageManager();
 ApplicationInfo applicationInfo = packageManager.getApplicationInfo(context.getPackageName(), 0);
 AppOpsManager appOpsManager = (AppOpsManager) context.getSystemService(Context.APP_OPS_SERVICE);
 int mode = appOpsManager.checkOpNoThrow(AppOpsManager.OPSTR_GET_USAGE_STATS, applicationInfo.uid, applic
 return (mode != AppOpsManager.MODE_ALLOWED);
 } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
 return true;
 }
}
IF user enable this in setting -> Security-> app with usage access. After that u will get foreground task. Similar
process Clean matser by Cheetahamobile google play link
answered Sep 1, 2015 at 11:28
Tarun Sharma
8321 gold badge11 silver badges24 bronze badges
11 Comments
As pointed out in the OP and the comments, there are major downsides of using UsageStatsManager . Samsung
has removed requests and it is quite annoying for a user to grant a system permission.
2015-09-01T11:32:48.363Z+00:00
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 4 of 11

I have tested in moto e2 device. It is working fine and yes, we need to implement this permission. we all facing
same issues. We all really need a better approach. Good luck dude
2015-09-01T12:02:24.72Z+00:00
This approach does not work at least on LG G3 because there is no "Settings -> Security-> App with usage
access" menu item
2015-09-01T14:45:21.217Z+00:00
That's not an answer to my question. Moreover, no new info is provided in this answer.
2015-09-05T06:55:14.947Z+00:00
Working fine but not properly in marshmallow. if notification came then current running process will be the
package notification received. actually app is not running in foreground or background :(. need solution.
2016-07-01T12:01:01.607Z+00:00
Take a look at https://github.com/ricvalerio/foregroundappchecker, it might be what you need. Provides sample
code, and takes away the pain of having to implement cross version foreground detector.
Here are two samples:
AppChecker appChecker = new AppChecker();
String packageName = appChecker.getForegroundApp();
Or regularly check:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 5 of 11

AppChecker appChecker = new AppChecker();
appChecker
 .when("com.other.app", new AppChecker.Listener() {
 @Override
 public void onForeground(String packageName) {
 // do something
 }
 )
 .when("com.my.app", new AppChecker.Listener() {
 @Override
 public void onForeground(String packageName) {
 // do something
 }
 )
 .other(new AppChecker.Listener() {
 @Override
 public void onForeground(String packageName) {
 // do something
 }
 )
 .timeout(1000)
 .start(this);
answered Aug 28, 2016 at 23:06
rvalerio
4975 silver badges5 bronze badges
2 Comments
Thanks but nothing's new here. He just wrapped UsageStatsManager API which is mentioned in OP. The user will
need to enable access, as other methods since Android 5.1.1
2016-08-29T04:52:17.22Z+00:00
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 6 of 11

@Jérémy did you request the required permissions?
2019-01-13T19:26:35.827Z+00:00
Google limited this functionality for system apps only. As been reported in a bug ticket, you will need the
REAL_GET_TASKS permission to access there.
Applications must now have ...permission.REAL_GET_TASKS to be able to get process information
for all applications. Only the process information for the calling application will be returned if the app
doesn't have the permission. Privileges apps will temporarily be able to get process information for all
applications if they don't have the new permission, but have deprecated ...permission.GET_TASKS
Also,only system apps can acquire the REAL_GET_TASKS permission.
answered Sep 2, 2015 at 15:09
Ilya Gazman
32.6k25 gold badges152 silver badges239 bronze badges
2 Comments
I saw applock is still working on 5.1.1, once the app get the permission in security->"apps with usage access"...
This is somewhat surprising
2015-09-22T01:06:49.647Z+00:00
"Permissions with the protection level signature, privileged or signatureOrSystem are only granted to system apps.
If an app is a regular non-system app, it will never be able to use these permissions. " say android studio.. Good
luck to negociate with Google to be accepted as a "system app".
2019-01-12T18:55:25.35Z+00:00
Just throwing out a potential optimization to what I imagine is a heavily copy-pasted bit of code for detecting the
top-most application on Android M.
This
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 7 of 11

if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
 UsageStatsManager usm = (UsageStatsManager)this.getSystemService("usagestats");
 long time = System.currentTimeMillis();
 List<UsageStats> appList = usm.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_DAILY, time - 1000*1000, time);
 if (appList != null && appList.size() > 0) {
 SortedMap<Long, UsageStats> mySortedMap = new TreeMap<Long, UsageStats>();
 for (UsageStats usageStats : appList) {
 mySortedMap.put(usageStats.getLastTimeUsed(), usageStats);
 }
 if (mySortedMap != null && !mySortedMap.isEmpty()) {
 currentApp = mySortedMap.get(mySortedMap.lastKey()).getPackageName();
 }
 }
}
Can be simplified to this
if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
 UsageStatsManager usm = (UsageStatsManager) context.getSystemService(
 Context.USAGE_STATS_SERVICE);
 long time = System.currentTimeMillis();
 List<UsageStats> appStatsList = usm.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_DAILY,
 time - 1000 * 1000, time);
 if (appStatsList != null && !appStatsList.isEmpty()) {
 currentApp = Collections.max(appStatsList, (o1, o2) ->
 Long.compare(o1.getLastTimeUsed(), o2.getLastTimeUsed())).getPackageName();
 }
}
I found myself using this code in a 2 second loop, and wondered why I was using a complex solution that was
O(n*log(n)) when a more simple solution was available in Collections.max() which is O(n).
answered Dec 1, 2017 at 1:07
bstar55
3,6643 gold badges23 silver badges25 bronze badges
Comments
public class AccessibilityDetectingService extends AccessibilityService {
@Override
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 8 of 11

protected void onServiceConnected() {
 super.onServiceConnected();
 //Configure these here for compatibility with API 13 and below.
 AccessibilityServiceInfo config = new AccessibilityServiceInfo();
 config.eventTypes = AccessibilityEvent.TYPE_WINDOW_STATE_CHANGED;
 config.feedbackType = AccessibilityServiceInfo.FEEDBACK_GENERIC;
 if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 16)
 //Just in case this helps
 config.flags = AccessibilityServiceInfo.FLAG_INCLUDE_NOT_IMPORTANT_VIEWS;
 setServiceInfo(config);
}
@Override
public void onAccessibilityEvent(final AccessibilityEvent event) {
 if (event == null ) {
 return;
 } else if(event.getPackageName() == null && event.getClassName() == null){
 return;
 }
 if (activityInfo != null){
 Log.d("CurrentActivity", componentName.flattenToShortString());
 }
}
private ActivityInfo tryGetActivity(ComponentName componentName) {
 try {
 return getPackageManager().getActivityInfo(componentName, 0);
 } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
 return null;
 }
}
@Override
public void onInterrupt() {
}
}
}//`enter code here`uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE" />
Then start the service and app accessibility on in your device setting->accessibility->App on that service.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 9 of 11

answered Feb 2, 2016 at 11:22
1 Comment
This is already covered in the question, and you've just copy-pasted the code from its original source on
StackOverflow.
2019-02-17T10:16:05.827Z+00:00
Please try to use getRunningServices() instead of getRunningAppProcesses() method.
 ActivityManager mActivityManager = (ActivityManager) getSy stemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
 List<ActivityManager.RunningServiceInfo> appProcessInfoList = mActivityManager.getRunningServices(Integer.MAX_V
soumya
3,8019 gold badges39 silver badges70 bronze badges
answered Oct 9, 2015 at 9:23
1 Comment
Welcome to Stack Overflow! I don't think this will work since the foreground app might not be running a service.
2015-10-23T21:05:31.85Z+00:00
Start asking to get answers
Find the answer to your question by asking.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 10 of 11

Ask question
Explore related questions
See similar questions with these tags.
Source: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30619349/android-5-1-1-and-above-getrunningappprocesses-returns-my-application-packag
Page 11 of 11