Check if an Android device has a certain hardware button in code

Question

I need to check if a certain android device has a hardware button in code. For example only some phones have the search button. So how do I check if a device has a hardware button(Search, camera, d-pad, etc) or not?

duplicated from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7269891/check-if-android-device-has-search-hardware-button — marcosbeirigo, Sep 05 '11 at 01:17
Well I was asking a general way to check hardware buttons, they was just asking for the search button. — Daniel Ryan, Sep 05 '11 at 01:32

score 9 · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-05T01:32:29.113

9

You can use PackageManager.hasSystemFeature().
Example:

boolean hasCamera = 
        getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA);

You can also get some of the features which are not testable by the PackageManager via the Configuration, e.g. the DPAD.

Configuration c = getResources().getConfiguration();
if(c.navigation == Configuration.NAVIGATION_DPAD)
      hasDpad = true;

The only exception is the search button. There was a question here a few days ago, asking basically the same. I don't remember any answer and I don't know a way to detect the search button, since it's not in the list of features. (Edit: There you go, possible duplicate thread is the one i mentioned here)

edited Sep 05 '11 at 01:32

answered Sep 05 '11 at 01:18

Awesome. Though shame about the search button, I'll tick this and just watch the other thread. – Daniel Ryan Sep 05 '11 at 01:34
1

I don't think this answer can be accepted, this will only check if there is a camera installed on the device and NOT if there is a camera hardware button installed. AFAIK there is no such feature in the SDK. – user961186 Sep 23 '11 at 12:55

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

5

Here's a good clean way of checking if the Hardware "Menu" button is present:

ViewConfiguration.get(context).hasPermanentMenuKey();

From: https://stackoverflow.com/a/9481965 See also: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/ViewConfiguration.html#hasPermanentMenuKey()

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

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1

answered Mar 13 '12 at 08:27

Jimmy

51
1
1

1

Good to know . For anyone who uses it , do note that it requires API14 and above . – android developer Feb 02 '13 at 23:11

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 12 '13 at 01:00

I know this post is over a year old, but with it still showing up in Google searches (on the first page). I figured, I would post a slight update or suggestion with what I am using in-case someone like me is searching for the same thing.

public boolean onKeyDown(int keyCode, KeyEvent event) { 
           if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_VOLUME_DOWN) { 
               Toast.makeText(this,"VOL Down", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
               return true;
           } else if(keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_SEARCH){
               Toast.makeText(this,"search", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
               return false;
           }else{
               Toast.makeText(this,"Vol Up", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
               return true;
               //return super.onKeyDown(keyCode, event); 
           }
    }

I have placed out side the onCreate().. This works fine on my Thunderbolt (Rooted running MikMik GingerGrits)

Originally, I needed to check if the device had a hardware button before the app is shown. This will only work once that hardware button is pressed. But thanks for sharing. — Daniel Ryan, Jul 15 '13 at 21:40
Ya this is a working solution. Ya I checked it with HTC ADR6300. This is the best way to detect a hardware search button stroke. — Jashan PJ, Aug 05 '13 at 05:53

Check if an Android device has a certain hardware button in code

3 Answers3