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javaandroidandroid-activity

Installing application without icon or activity

I had a discussion with a friend and he told me that some applications can be installed on android without any activity or icon showed in menu. Because i'm studying android too i was surprised because i never heard of that.

App's name is showed in "Manage Applications" section and its easy to uninstall it.

So now i'm asking as programmer. How is possible(if it is) to install that kind of application? (with no activity or launcher ).

Solution

  • Just remove all of the following intent filters from your manifest:

    <intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>

    Keep in mind though that from Android 3.1 onwards, your app will not receive any broadcasts, or be listed in any other places where an intent filter would make it available (like in the share menu) if the user hasn't manually opened your app UI (main Activity) at least once from the launcher.