WindowManager$BadTokenException unable to add window

Question

I am developing app for background videorecording ,thats why i used WindowManager,but it did not worked for me.gives following errors:

08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200): java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to create service com.example.prankapp.BackgroundVideoRecorder: android.view.WindowManager$BadTokenException: Unable to add window android.view.ViewRootImpl$W@418c0b68 -- permission denied for this window type
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:2277)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1600(ActivityThread.java:128)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1215)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:4517)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:993)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:760)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200): Caused by: android.view.WindowManager$BadTokenException: Unable to add window android.view.ViewRootImpl$W@418c0b68 -- permission denied for this window type
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.view.ViewRootImpl.setView(ViewRootImpl.java:707)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.view.WindowManagerImpl.addView(WindowManagerImpl.java:301)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.view.WindowManagerImpl.addView(WindowManagerImpl.java:215)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.view.WindowManagerImpl$CompatModeWrapper.addView(WindowManagerImpl.java:140)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at com.example.prankapp.BackgroundVideoRecorder.onCreate(BackgroundVideoRecorder.java:53)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:2267)
    08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200):     ... 10 more

My windowManager code:

windowManager = (WindowManager) this.getSystemService(BackgroundVideoRecorder.WINDOW_SERVICE);
            surfaceView = new SurfaceView(this);
            LayoutParams layoutParams = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
                1, 1,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_WATCH_OUTSIDE_TOUCH,
                PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT
            );
            //layoutParams.gravity = Gravity.LEFT | Gravity.TOP;
            windowManager.addView(surfaceView, layoutParams);
            surfaceView.getHolder().addCallback(this);

Please help me.Thanks in advance.

Luckey

Answer 1

08-23 15:38:21.021: E/AndroidRuntime(4200): Caused by: android.view.WindowManager$BadTokenException: Unable to add window android.view.ViewRootImpl$W@418c0b68 -- permission denied for this window type

Problem: Permission missing in maifest file.

Solution: Use following permission in AndroidManifest.

android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW

Kitty

one activity,one service & following permissions <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera"/> <uses-permission android:name="SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"></uses-permission> – Luckey

Try android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW instead of android:name="SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" – Kitty

@MBH, maybe add permissions during runtime? #7570437 – Crunch

yup permissions has to be handled at runtime for marshmallow. This answer was posted for pre-marshmallow. Will update my answer in sometime. – Kitty

With marshmallo this issue persists. So to avoid please see the link #7570437 – Stith

here is the latest working answer #46209397 – Sanctified

Answer 2

if your application apiLevel >= 19, don't use

WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE or WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_SYSTEM_ALERT

you can use

LayoutParams.TYPE_TOAST

or

TYPE_APPLICATION_PANEL

now my code for LayoutParams is like,

WindowManager.LayoutParams params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
            WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
            WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
            WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_TOAST,
            WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
            PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

Muhammad

for Lollipop and lower I used WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE, but It didn't work for Android M, then I used WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_TOAST as you suggested and it works now, thanks! – Lohner

Yes, TYPE_TOAST works when you are not using to draw on lockscreen – Iceboat

I have to use android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW ? – Bestial

t0m: if you use the TYPE_TOAST, no permission needed – Dissentious

LayoutParams.TYPE_TOAST is deprecated from API 26. Use LayoutParams.TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY instead and it is requires android.Manifest.permission#SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission => See more – Bestial

I get android.view.WindowManager$BadTokenException: Unable to add window -- token null is not valid; is your activity running? when using WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_TOAST instead of WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_SYSTEM_OVERLAY on Pixel emulator API 25, though it works ok for Android 23 emulator, weird... – Selfseeking

Answer 3

Starting from marshmallow versions the permission approval is a little bit complex. So even after giving the above permission this issue is not resolved. Please see the following link.

Unable to add window android.view.ViewRoot$W@44da9bc0 -- permission denied for this window type

Stith