Workmanager not working when app is in background

Question

I'm trying to periodically run a service even when the app is killed or is in the background using workManager.

My RequestService class is given below:-

public class RequestService extends Worker {

public RequestService(@NonNull Context context, @NonNull WorkerParameters workerParams) {
    super(context, workerParams);
}

@NonNull
@Override
public Result doWork() {

    displayNotification("MY Worker", "Background work Started");
    Log.i("BackJob","Running");
    return Result.SUCCESS;
}

private void displayNotification(String title, String task){

    NotificationManager notificationManager = (NotificationManager)getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);

    if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel("MyApp","My Notifications",
                                                    NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_HIGH);

        notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
    }

    NotificationCompat.Builder notification = new NotificationCompat.Builder(getApplicationContext(), "My Notifications").
                                                    setContentTitle(title).setContentText(task)
                                                            .setSmallIcon(R.mipmap.ic_launcher);

    notificationManager.notify(130, notification.build());

}}

This is the main activity code:-

        final PeriodicWorkRequest WorkReq = new PeriodicWorkRequest.Builder(RequestService.class,15,TimeUnit.MINUTES).build();
        WorkManager.getInstance().enqueue(WorkReq);

The issue is if the app is killed or is in the background then workmanager stops working. I'm testing this on a samsung device with android version pie.

P.S :- if the app is open then i see notifications continuously after 15 mins....however as soon as i close the app.....it stops working.....and there are no more notifications

Answer 1

You can use foreground Service for this , Foreground Service work when app is in background.

add this method in downork method

setForegroundAsync(createForegroundInfo(progress));

Override this method in workermanager class

 @NonNull
    private ForegroundInfo createForegroundInfo(@NonNull String progress) {

        Context context = getApplicationContext();

        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
            NotificationChannel chan = new NotificationChannel("1", "channelName", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_NONE);
            chan.setLockscreenVisibility(Notification.VISIBILITY_PRIVATE);
            NotificationManager manager = (NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
            assert manager != null;
            manager.createNotificationChannel(chan);
        }

        Notification notification = new NotificationCompat.Builder(context, "1")
                .setContentTitle("title")
                .setTicker("title")
                .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_launcher_background)
                .setOngoing(true)
                .build();

        return new ForegroundInfo(1,notification);
    }

Now you app will work in the background.

Answer 2

As Per the PeriodicWorkRequest.Builder official documentation available here

The intervalMillis must be greater than or equal to PeriodicWorkRequest.MIN_PERIODIC_INTERVAL_MILLIS

This value is currently set to 900000 ms i.e, 15 minutes.