Android - How to make activity or layout over other apps?

Question

I want to show message to user. But I want to do that like MusiXMatch. I don't know what is component's name.

MusixMatch shows lyrics over the other apps till user close the app or click hide button. I can explain what I want with 2 Images.

When app starts, this mini icon will show always. If user clicks on it icon will expanded to Image 2:

The app shows user to music.

I hope that I can explain what I want.

Only voting up because of the squirrel – Michael Alan Huff Apr 21 '15 at 16:33 — Michael Alan Huff, Apr 21 '15 at 16:33
There's nothing wrong with this question. – blimpse Dec 01 '21 at 15:15 — blimpse, Dec 01 '21 at 15:15

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 21 '15 at 15:45

4

answered Apr 21 '15 at 15:45

MobileMon

1

It looks like floating view is more recently maintained so pick that one as a first choice – MobileMon Apr 21 '15 at 15:52

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

2

You are talking about system window overlay. A post for that is available here

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

answered Apr 21 '15 at 15:45

Bojan Kseneman

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 21 '15 at 15:45

2

You need to declare the SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission in your AndroidManifest:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"/>

You can find example code here.

answered Apr 21 '15 at 15:45

tony

Will it work without the main activity? – AlikElzin-kilaka Sep 03 '18 at 05:27
This example project is missing MainActivity file – Lê Vũ Huy Sep 25 '22 at 00:53

3 Answers3