Android share via Intent not working,

Question

I need to be able to send text to a whatsapp contact, stack overflow seems to unanimously agree that this works:

Uri uri = Uri.parse("smsto:" + "<number>"); 
Intent sendIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO, uri);
sendIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "YOOOH");
// sendIntent.setType("text/plain");
sendIntent.setPackage("com.whatsapp");
startActivity(sendIntent);

If .setType("text/plain"); is commented out, it just opens whatsapp to the chat of the number I gave it, but if I don't comment it out, nothing happens at all, any help appreciated.

because you have specifically mentioned to use whatsapp by doing this `sendIntent.setPackage("com.whatsapp");` — Pavneet_Singh, Oct 22 '16 at 14:50
refer to [this](http://stackoverflow.com/a/42186169/3952238) SO answer. — Deepti, May 05 '17 at 06:29

Emdad Hossain · Answer 1 · 2016-10-22T15:14:32.023

1

change and add the last line remove the comment of sendIntent.setType

Uri uri = Uri.parse("smsto:" + "<number>"); 
Intent sendIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SENDTO, uri);
sendIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "YOOOH");
sendIntent.setType("text/plain");

// this line helps to open the chooser dialog
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(sendIntent, getResources().getString(R.string.share)));

edited Oct 22 '16 at 15:14

answered Oct 22 '16 at 15:07

Emdad Hossain

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edited the answer **removed the line** sendIntent.setpackage("com.whatsapp"); – Emdad Hossain Oct 22 '16 at 15:10
R.string.share_using? – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 15:11
R.string.share doesnt exist by default, what should I make its value in the xml? – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 15:20
no, you have to type the R.string.share which will import the android system resources file to the project (not your projects R), **ex: android.support.v7.appcompat.R.string.abc_shareactionprovider_share_with_application** I am using target sdk 22 – Emdad Hossain Oct 22 '16 at 15:39
Im using sdk 19 as I have android 4.4.2, when I try build the project it says "cannot find symbol variable share" – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 15:58
Do I have to do Emdad's process of elimination? can I not just add a xml definiton in AndroidManifest? – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 17:23
Sorry that Im so confused, this is my first time coding for android – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 17:26
you can also look @QuokMoon's answer, but according to your need you can customize, and unfortunately sharing via intent is done only programmatically – Emdad Hossain Oct 22 '16 at 17:32
"and unfortunately sharing via intent is done only programmatically " but cant I hardcode whatsapp's string instead of R.string.share? – Sam Smith Oct 22 '16 at 17:46
add "share via" instead of R.string.share and let me know the feedback – Emdad Hossain Oct 23 '16 at 04:20

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 22 '16 at 16:04

Look at this code snippet that one also handled case if user not installed whatsApp.

PackageManager pm=getPackageManager();
                try {
                    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
                    intent.setType("text/plain");
                    String text = "YOUR TEXT HERE";
                    PackageInfo info=pm.getPackageInfo("com.whatsapp", PackageManager.GET_META_DATA);
                    //Check if package exists or not. If not then code
                    //in catch block will be called
                    intent.setPackage("com.whatsapp");
                    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, text);
                    startActivity(Intent.createChooser(intent, "Share with"));

                } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
                    Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "WhatsApp not Installed", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
                            .show();
                }

Android share via Intent not working,

2 Answers2