Open the native browser from an android app

Question

I have an android phone with multiple browsers installed and I might or might not set a browser to default.

So, my question is..

1. From my App, How do I force open a link only in the NATIVE android browser?
2. Is there a way I can know if there is a browser set to default or not?

Transformism

Answer 1

From my App, How do I force open a link only in the NATIVE android browser?

Intent intent = new Intent();
ComponentName comp = new ComponentName("com.google.android.browser","com.google.android.browser.BrowserActivity");
intent.setComponent(comp);
intent.setAction("android.intent.action.VIEW");
intent.addCategory("android.intent.category.BROWSABLE");
Uri uri = Uri.parse(url);
intent.setData(uri);
try
{
    startActivity(intent);
 }
 catch (Exception e)
 {
   e.printStackTrace();
 } 

Is there a way I can know if there is a browser set to default or not?

PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager();

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("URL"));

List<ResolveInfo> list = packageManager.queryIntentActivities(intent, 0);

if (list.size() > 0) {
    for (ResolveInfo resolveInfo : list) {
       resolveInfo.isDefault();// will let u know if the app is set to default
    }

} else {
    //No apps available
}

Kaye

The above code has failed to identify the default browser. On my device, I set Opera as default browser but when I run this code, I don't see resolveInfo.isDefault is ever true for any browser! Please help. – Transformism

Answer 2

You have to make the following for calling the native browser

  intent.setComponent(new    
  componentName("com.android.browser","com.android.browser.BrowserActivity"));

Friable

Answer 3

try something like this.

try {
      Intent i = new Intent();
      ComponentName comp = new ComponentName("com.google.android.browser","com.google.android.browser.BrowserActivity");
      i.setComponent(comp);
      i.setAction("android.intent.action.VIEW");
      i.addCategory("android.intent.category.BROWSABLE");
      ContentURI uri = new ContentURI(url);
      i.setData(uri);
      startActivityForResult(i, 2);
      } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
                       e.printStackTrace();
      } 

for your second question you can use PackageManager.

get instance of PackageManager

PackageManager packageManager = getPackageManager(); 

and query it for specific action, data and category of Intent.

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setData(Uri.parse("URL"));

List<ResolveInfo> list = packageManager.queryIntentActivities(intent, 0);

    for (ResolveInfo resolveInfo : list) {

       if(resolveInfo.isDefault())
        {
        //default browser
         }
    }

Refection

Thanks a lot @Refection The following code answered the first question. Intent ii = new Intent(); ComponentName comp = new ComponentName("com.android.browser","com.android.browser.BrowserActivity"); ii.setComponent(comp); ii.setAction("android.intent.action.VIEW"); ii.addCategory("android.intent.category.BROWSABLE"); ii.setData(Uri.parse("http://www.google.com")); startActivity(ii); For the second part of the question, Is there a way to know if there's a default browser set on the phone? – Transformism

I have set a browser to default but resolveInfo.isDefault doesn't seem to work. – Transformism

Answer 4

Finally figured it out. resolveActivity works with MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY flag on PackageManager instance..

Thruster

Answer 5

it might occur ActivityNotFoundException while the package name is different by manufacturer. Please refer to this answer, wish it would help.

https://mcmap.net/q/1010960/-android-activity-not-found-exception-on-some-devices-when-trying-to-open-local-html-file-in-browser

Forum

Answer 6

Check this code:

private final static List<ComponentName> browserComponents  = new ArrayList<ComponentName>() {{
    add(new ComponentName("com.google.android.browser", "com.google.android.browser.BrowserActivity"));
    add(new ComponentName("com.android.browser", "com.android.browser.BrowserActivity"));
    add(new ComponentName("com.android.chrome", "com.google.android.apps.chrome.IntentDispatcher"));
}};

public static void openInNativeBrowser(Context context, String url) {
    if (context == null || TextUtils.isEmpty(url)) {
        return;
    }

    PackageManager pm = context.getPackageManager();
    Intent intent = new Intent();
    intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_BROWSABLE);
    intent.setData(Uri.parse(url));

    for (ComponentName cn : browserComponents) {
        intent.setComponent(cn);
        ActivityInfo ai = intent.resolveActivityInfo(pm, 0);
        if (ai != null) {
            aLog.w(TAG, "browser:  " + ai);
            context.startActivity(intent);
            return;
        } else {
            aLog.w(TAG, "can't resolve activity for " + intent);
        }
    }

    // no native browser
    intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setData(Uri.parse(url));
    List<ResolveInfo> list = pm.queryIntentActivities(intent, 0);
    if (list.size() > 0) {
        for (ResolveInfo ri : list) {
            aLog.w(TAG, ri + " : " + ri.isDefault);
        }
        context.startActivity(intent);
    } else {
        aLog.w(TAG, "no browser apps");
    }
}

Haemostatic