How to add the <queries> tag in the manifest?

Question

I have this code and I was told that for Android 11 I need to add the queries tag in manifest:

    final PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
    Intent main = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN, null);
    main.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER);
    List<ResolveInfo> packages = pm.queryIntentActivities(main, 0); //get a list of installed apps.

I was told it should be this:

  <queries>
    <intent>
      <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
      <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent>

  </queries>

Problem is I cannot add the <category> tag. Android Studio says that the element is not allowed there. I can only add the <action> and <data> tags inside <intent>. And it seems other people on SO have this problem too. It's strange because Android's own documentation instructs us to use the <category> tag there.

Answer 1

The <queries> section is introduced in API 30, so be sure you use it only if you target such version upward.

It is indeed needed when, for instance, you want to launch some other apps from yours, knowing only their package name. Otherwise, using the package manager will return you some null when using functions like packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage("com.yyy"). You can find more information here: Package visibility in Android 11

In your case, you can just write the section like this:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.xxx">

    ...

    <queries>
        <intent>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent>
    </queries>

    ...

</manifest>