Activity Restarts when Orientation changes android?

Question

I have a application ,where I am using Landscape and potrait mode. I have used android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden" in my every activity. So When I run this on device 2.3 its completely working fine and the activity is not restarted. But When I open the same application in android 4.0 and above the activity gets restarted whenever a orientation is changed. Here is my xml file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.iconnect.collaborator"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >


    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="8"
        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />
    <supports-screens android:largeScreens="true"
        android:normalScreens="true" android:smallScreens="true"
        android:anyDensity="true" />
    <supports-screens android:smallScreens="true" />
    <supports-screens android:normalScreens="true" />
    <supports-screens android:largeScreens="true" />


   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera" />
    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera.autofocus" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FLASHLIGHT" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>


    <application

        android:icon="@drawable/cnlogomini"
        android:label="CollaborateNow"
        android:largeHeap="true"
      android:allowBackup="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity android:name="jim.h.common.android.zxinglib.CaptureActivity"
            android:screenOrientation="landscape" android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"
            android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar.Fullscreen"
            android:windowSoftInputMode="stateAlwaysHidden" />
        <activity android:name=".Register"
          android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden" ></activity>
        <activity android:name=".ppllogincopy"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>

<activity android:name=".Password"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".Camerascan"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".TabGroup1Activity"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".newtab"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".SubmitData"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".peoplelist"

         android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".GenerateQrcode"

        android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".contact"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".peoplelistlogin"

          android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
         <activity android:name=".Startnew"
             android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"

            ></activity>
          <activity android:name=".projectdetails"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
           <activity android:name=".Signup"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
          <activity android:name=".RegisterScan"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
          <activity android:name=".peoplelistscan"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".Profile"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".List"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".Logout"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".scanRegister"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name=".scanList"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name="scanCamera"

            android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
        <activity android:name="com.iconnect.collaborator.Camera"

         android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>
       <activity android:name=".collaborations"

           android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"></activity>


        <activity
            android:name="com.iconnect.collaborator.MainActivity"


            android:label="@string/app_name" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

Answered several times. You should save your state and restore it. — m0skit0, Jan 10 '14 at 11:46
No, I want both potrait and landscape, but the activity is getting restarted as orientation changes in 4.0 and above, but does not get restarted on 2.3. — user2699728, Jan 10 '14 at 11:46

score 12 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 28 '22 at 15:53

if your android:targetSdkVersion="12" or less

android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"

if your android:targetSdkVersion="13" or more

android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden|screenSize"

Quote from developer.android

Caution: Beginning with Android 3.2 (API level 13), the "screen size" also changes when the device switches between portrait and landscape orientation. Thus, if you want to prevent runtime restarts due to orientation change when developing for API level 13 or higher (as declared by the minSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion attributes), you must include the "screenSize" value in addition to the "orientation" value. That is, you must decalare android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize". However, if your application targets API level 12 or lower, then your activity always handles this configuration change itself (this configuration change does not restart your activity, even when running on an Android 3.2 or higher device).

From here: Handling Orientation Change

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 10 '14 at 11:46

You have to add screenSize too.

"The current available screen size has changed. This represents a change in the currently available size, relative to the current aspect ratio, so will change when the user switches between landscape and portrait. However, if your application targets API level 12 or lower, then your activity always handles this configuration change itself (this configuration change does not restart your activity, even when running on an Android 3.2 or higher device). Added in API level 13."

Activity Restarts when Orientation changes android?

2 Answers2