Bring application to background and then to foreground

Question

What method should I use to move my app to background and then move it to foreground again? I tried using moveTaskToBack(true) and the activity is moved to background successfully but then I can't move it to foreground. I tried starting the activity again using startActivity() but with no success and there seems to be no method moveTaskToFront() or something similar.

Phoebephoebus

Answer 1

Use moveTaskToBack() to move your app to the background.

To move it to the foreground, use the following code:

Intent intent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(getPackageName());
startActivity(intent);

If you are trying to do this from a Service or BroadcastReceiver then you will need to do this before calling startActivity():

intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);

Steak

After Home button is pressed, it takes 5 seconds to bring the app back to foreground. How to make it fast and real time? – Oneida

@Oneida You should probably open a new question as this is only tangentially related to my answer. Also, if you are trying to force your app to the foreground when the user puts it in the background, I would imagine that Android is adding the delay to prevent rogue apps from bothering the user. If I had an app that did that I would throw my phone out the window. – Steak

No, sir. I don't want to bother any user at all. I want to make a kiosk exam browser which limits common button functionality. – Oneida

Answer 2

Thanks it worked for me by adding following intent

intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP);

Coronation

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