Error in Manifest.xml when adding PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS [Android Lollipop]

Question

I am trying to use "android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS" in my app. Here it says that NOTE: This API requires the permission android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS, which is a system-level permission and will not be granted to third-party apps. However, declaring the permission implies intention to use the API and the user of the device can grant permission through the Settings application.

It seems that I will need the user to explicitly give my app the permission to give access to the access the usage stats.

In addition, I used the intent code below to open the screen to allow user to give access to my app, but my app is not in the list. Code I used:

Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_USAGE_ACCESS_SETTINGS);
startActivity(intent);

When *startActivity(intent)' is fired (or going to *Settings>Security>Apps with Usage Access), a blank screen below pops up, my app is not part of it.

Bottom line question is -- How to use UsageStatsManager in Android Lollipop? Anyone tried it?

Fibered

Answer 1

The AndroidManifest.xml error can be fixed by disabling lint errors. Specifically

Security - SignatureorSystemPermissions 

I guess after that the settings app will show your app.

Lotty

I have ignored the above permission in my application but still I facing the same alert. How do I overcome? – Apeldoorn

@Rajsundar - the permission needs be ignored in Eclipse Settings in Lint. – Fibered

@Fibered Thanks for your response, yeah I have ignored the in lint. – Apeldoorn

Answer 2

This is what worked for me.

<uses-permission xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:name="android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS"
    tools:ignore="ProtectedPermissions" />

Piecemeal

Answer 3

You can simply make this on the manifest, ignoring just this permission error:

<uses-permission
    android:name="android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS"
    tools:ignore="ProtectedPermissions"/>

Cogitate