Media Session Compat not showing Lockscreen controls on Pre-Lollipop

Question

I'm using MediaSessionCompat from AppCompat Support Library Revision 22. And on Lollipop I'm getting notification & also the background of lockscreen is the album art. And everything works cool.

While on Pre-Lollipop devices, the music controls on lockscreen are not at all shown. It's weird & I tried everything but it doesn't show up, not even the background changes.

I hope someone has solution to this issue.

Note: RemoteControlClient used to work on Lollipop & KitKat

/**
 * Initializes the remote control client
 */
private void setupMediaSession() {
    /* Activate Audio Manager */
    mAudioManager = (AudioManager) getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
    mAudioManager.requestAudioFocus(mAudioFocusListener, AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC,
            AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN);

    ComponentName mRemoteControlResponder = new ComponentName(getPackageName(),
            MediaButtonReceiver.class.getName());
    final Intent mediaButtonIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON);
    mediaButtonIntent.setComponent(mRemoteControlResponder);
    mMediaSessionCompat = new MediaSessionCompat(getApplication(), "JairSession", mRemoteControlResponder, null);
    mMediaSessionCompat.setFlags(MediaSessionCompat.FLAG_HANDLES_MEDIA_BUTTONS | MediaSessionCompat.FLAG_HANDLES_TRANSPORT_CONTROLS);
    PlaybackStateCompat playbackStateCompat = new PlaybackStateCompat.Builder()
            .setActions(
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_SEEK_TO |
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_SKIP_TO_PREVIOUS |
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_SKIP_TO_NEXT |
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY |
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PAUSE |
                    PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_STOP
            )
            .setState(
                    isPlaying() ? PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_PLAYING : PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_PAUSED,
                    getCurrentPosition(),
                    1.0f)
            .build();
    mMediaSessionCompat.setPlaybackState(playbackStateCompat);
    mMediaSessionCompat.setCallback(mMediaSessionCallback);
    mMediaSessionCompat.setSessionActivity(retrievePlaybackActions(5));
    mMediaSessionCompat.setActive(true);
    updateMediaSessionMetaData();
    mTransportController = mMediaSessionCompat.getController().getTransportControls();

---

Here's the updateMediaSessionMetaData() :

/**
 * Updates the lockscreen controls, if enabled.
 */
private void updateMediaSessionMetaData() {
            MediaMetadataCompat.Builder builder = new MediaMetadataCompat.Builder();
            builder.putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST, getArtistName());
            builder.putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ALBUM, getAlbumName());
            builder.putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, getTrackName());
            builder.putLong(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_DURATION, getDuration());
            builder.putBitmap(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ALBUM_ART, MusicUtils.getArtwork(this, getAlbumID(), true));
            mMediaSessionCompat.setMetadata(builder.build());

}

---

The Media Session Callback methods

private final MediaSessionCompat.Callback mMediaSessionCallback = new MediaSessionCompat.Callback() {

    @Override
    public boolean onMediaButtonEvent(Intent mediaButtonEvent) {
        final String intentAction = mediaButtonEvent.getAction();
        if (AudioManager.ACTION_AUDIO_BECOMING_NOISY.equals(intentAction)) {
            if (PrefUtils.isHeadsetPause(getBaseContext())) {
                Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Headset disconnected");
                pause();
            }
        } else if (Intent.ACTION_MEDIA_BUTTON.equals(intentAction)) {
            final KeyEvent event = mediaButtonEvent.getParcelableExtra(Intent.EXTRA_KEY_EVENT);
            if (event == null) return super.onMediaButtonEvent(mediaButtonEvent);
            final int keycode = event.getKeyCode();
            final int action = event.getAction();
            final long eventTime = event.getEventTime();
            if (event.getRepeatCount() == 0 && action == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
                switch (keycode) {
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK:
                        if (eventTime - mLastClickTime < DOUBLE_CLICK) {
                            playNext(mSongNumber);
                            mLastClickTime = 0;
                        } else {
                            if (isPlaying())
                                pause();
                            else resume();
                            mLastClickTime = eventTime;
                        }
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_STOP:
                        mTransportController.stop();
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE:
                        if (isMediaPlayerActive()) {
                            if (isPlaying()) mTransportController.pause();
                            else mTransportController.play();
                        }
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_NEXT:
                        mTransportController.skipToNext();
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PREVIOUS:
                        mTransportController.skipToPrevious();
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PAUSE:
                        mTransportController.pause();
                        break;
                    case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PLAY:
                        mTransportController.play();
                        break;
                }
            }
        }
        return super.onMediaButtonEvent(mediaButtonEvent);
    }

    @Override
    public void onPlay() {
        super.onPlay();
        resume();
    }

    @Override
    public void onPause() {
        super.onPause();
        pause();
    }

    @Override
    public void onSkipToNext() {
        super.onSkipToNext();
        playNext(mSongNumber);
    }

    @Override
    public void onSkipToPrevious() {
        super.onSkipToPrevious();
        playPrevious(mSongNumber);
    }

    @Override
    public void onSeekTo(long pos) {
        super.onSeekTo(pos);
        seekTo(pos);
    }

    @Override
    public void onStop() {
        super.onStop();
        pause();
        commitMusicData();
        updatePlayingUI(STOP_ACTION);
        stopSelf();
    }
};

---

Media Button Receiver Manifest Entry

<!-- Media button receiver -->
    <receiver android:name=".receiver.MediaButtonReceiver" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MEDIA_BUTTON" />
            <action android:name="android.media.AUDIO_BECOMING_NOISY" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>

---

I'm trying since couple of weeks to solve this issue with no success, and in desperate need of help.

Edit: A tutorial or example of MediaSessionCompat would also be fine

Answer 1

Finally I figured a solution for this. Thanks to @ianhanniballake & @user1549672

1. Add Audio Focus as suggested by @ianhanniballake
2. Add Music Intent BroadcastReceiver can be found if searched on Google & also on Official Android Docs
3. Write the setupMediaSession() given in my question above
4. VERY IMPORTANT Mention the Flags properly
5. Write MediaSessionCallbacks also available above
6. VERY IMPORTANT Update the MediaSession on MediaPlayer#onPause(), MediaPlayer#onStart() & finally when new song is played (also includes next & previous played) mentioned by @user1549672
7. Release the MediaSession object in onDestory()

Well that's all, most of the material (code) is available above. This question took couple of months to solve, finally it's done.