Implement keyboard wedge on Android

Asked Jan 07 '19 at 10:02

Active Jan 11 '19 at 12:15

Viewed 710 times

What is the best way to send global keyboard events to the currently active app on Android? Like a so-called keyboard wedge implementation - in this case barcode data that is received in another app (service) and should be sent to the active app as keyboard events.

I know that some USB or bluetooth scanners implement this, probably mostly by behaving as, and being recognized as, a keyboard. But I assume this can also be done from an Android Service?

Using Instrumentation should work, but requires a signed system app.

Implemting an InputMethod also works, but only when the caret is placed in a field (enabling input), and only when explicitly choosing this "keyboard"/input method.

What I need is general keyboard events to the currently open app - ultimately I need javascript keyboard events in a web browser (Chrome).

edited Jan 08 '19 at 08:56

asked Jan 07 '19 at 10:02

Dennis Thrysøe

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while it is properly detected as a keyboard; it will behave just alike a keyboard. – Martin Zeitler Jan 17 '19 at 01:55
Unfortunately it is not detected as a keyboard, and I don't have control over the hardware side. I receive the data in software, and wish to pass it to applications, like if it came from a keyboard. – Dennis Thrysøe Jan 17 '19 at 07:24
@DennisThrysøe Did you find the solution? – FK Khan Jul 15 '20 at 17:08
@FKKhan unfortunately not really. Ended up with a completely different solution. – Dennis Thrysøe Jul 17 '20 at 07:23

Implement keyboard wedge on Android

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