In order to enable developers to create apps that deliver a consistent user experience, we’re introducing additional foreground service types along with a new set of related policy restrictions. This article explains upcoming foreground service requirements and how to declare foreground service information in Play Console. It also details requirements for using full-screen intent notifications.
Foreground service requirements for Android 14
To help you identify which use cases are appropriate for foreground services and clearly define the intent of the background work of your app, Android 14 and above requires you to do the following before you use a foreground service:
- Declare foreground service type(s) in your manifest. You must do this for each foreground service you intend to use.
- If applicable to the type selected, declare and request the foreground service permission that is appropriate for each foreground service type.
The Permissions for Foreground Services (FGS) section of our Device and Network Abuse policy outlines the criteria required for using foreground services in detail. You are required to declare foreground service types when you update to Android 14.
Declaring your foreground service information in Play Console
When your apps target Android 14 and above, you’ll need to declare any foreground service types that you use in a new declaration on the App content page (Policy > App content) in Play Console .
For each foreground service type you declare, you’ll need to do the following:
- Provide a description of the app functionality that is using each foreground service type.
- Describe the user impact if:
- the task is deferred by the system (does not start immediately); and/or
- the task is interrupted by the system (paused and/or restarted).
- Include a link to a video demonstrating each foreground service feature. The video should demonstrate the steps the user needs to take in your app in order to trigger the feature.
- Choose your specific use case for each foreground service type. A pre-set list of use cases will be provided for you to choose from. Select use cases mapped to foreground service types are listed in the chart below. This is a non-exhaustive list; if you do not see your use case listed, you can enter your use case manually.
For certain use cases, we suggest using alternative APIs. For a list of those use cases and their alternative recommended APIs, visit the Android Developers site.
Note: Below is a non-exhaustive list. To determine if access is FGS appropriate, refer to the Permissions for Foreground Services (FGS) policy for use cases that are not mentioned below.
| FGS Type | Use Cases | Descriptions and Examples |
|---|---|---|
TYPE_CAMERA |
Background Camera Streaming | Continue to access the camera from the background. For example, video chat apps that allow for multitasking. |
TYPE_CONNECTED_DEVICE |
Continuous Data Transfer to an External Device | Interactions with external devices including data transfer that require a Bluetooth, NFC, IR, USB, or network connection. For example, wearable, baby monitor, headset, car. |
TYPE_DATA_SYNC |
Network transfer: Backup and restore | Use for specifically user-initiated features. For example, selecting a specific photo to back up to cloud vs daily auto backup of all new photos. |
| Network transfer: Upload or download | For example, data fetch, server-side processing. | |
| Local processing: Media Transcoding | Process of converting media files, such as audio and video, from one format to another (for example, features like video editing). | |
| Local processing: Import or export | Includes migration of files from SD card. | |
| Local processing: Other | Use for specifically user-initiated work and not for regular system or server-initiated tasks. For example, encryption, resizing. | |
TYPE_HEALTH |
Health Data Sync | Syncing of health data for apps in the fitness category, which can be across apps or to gather data collected through on-device tracking. For example, step counter, exercise tracker. |
TYPE_LOCATION |
Background Location Updates: User-initiated location sharing | For example, Find My Friend feature, vehicle activity tracking. |
| Background Location Updates: Navigation | For example, continuing driving navigation in maps, ride tracking for ride share. | |
| Geofencing | Define parameters, which surround the areas of interest. | |
TYPE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK |
Media Playback | Continue audio or video playback from the background, including streaming. |
| Show Picture in Picture | When media is minimized format while playing in the background. | |
TYPE_MEDIA_PROJECTION |
Media or Content Projection and streaming or recording with MediaProjection API | Project media to non-primary display or external devices using the MediaProjection APIs, including streaming. |
TYPE_MICROPHONE |
Background Audio Access | Capture audio input, for example, voice commands for virtual assistant without saving, voice recording. |
TYPE_PHONE_CALL |
Calling: Cellular/VoiP/Telecom APIs | Support various calling dialer features. |
TYPE_REMOTE_MESSAGING |
Relay text communication to another device | Assists without continuity of a user's messaging tasks when they switch devices. For example, allow users to send text messages via a web client by scanning a QR code and establishing a connection between the web client and the phone. Not limited to SMS. |
The declaration will be available by November 2023, and we’ll provide you time to complete the declaration, receive feedback, and make adjustments if needed.
Full-screen intent requirements for Android 14
You may want to use full-screen intent notifications to share high-priority messages that require the user's immediate attention. To ensure that this permission is limited to the appropriate high-priority use cases, for Android 14, we're introducing restrictions to the usage of the USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT permission. Limiting notifications in this way helps ensure a better experience for users.
Frequently asked questions
What is changing for foreground services in Android 14?We’re introducing several new foreground service types, and it will be mandatory to declare a foreground service type along with its appropriate foreground service permission. For example, if you’re declaring the "camera" foreground service type, you must also declare the FOREGROUND_SERVICE_CAMERA permission. Your foreground usage must also comply with the other requirements outlined in our Device and Network Abuse policy.
Choose the foreground service type that best matches your intended foreground service usage. For example, an exercise app that tracks a user’s exercise can declare the "health" foreground service type. You may also choose multiple foreground service types if applicable to your app.
When apps that target Android 14 use a foreground service, developers must declare the appropriate foreground service permission for that specific foreground service type. For example, if your app uses the "location" foreground service type, you will need to declare the FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION permission. Foreground service permissions that refer to a specific foreground service type are defined as normal permissions and are granted by default at install time. Users cannot revoke these permissions.
Depending on the foreground service type, there may be additional system requirements. Some of these may be runtime permissions and require users to grant permission before they can be used. For example, if using the "location" foreground service type, the user must also grant either the ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission. Please refer to the documentation for the latest information.
In limited scenarios, if your use case meets the other characteristics required for foreground service usage (as described in the policy), you may declare the foreground service TYPE_SPECIAL_USE type. All foreground service types are subject to review.
User perceptible means that the user should be aware that a foreground service task is running on their device. Users can be considered aware if they initiate the action themselves; for example, the user might play a song or track a run. Your app can also make users aware of an ongoing foreground service by presenting a clear and accurate notification in the task bar on the device.
If you are targeting an Android version prior to Android 14, continue to use the android:foregroundServiceType attribute within the <service> element of your app’s manifest file.
User-initiated data transfer jobs are designed to simplify over-the-network data transfers. They have constraint tracking and automatically manage wakelocks. The dataSync foreground service type can include transferring data locally or over a network, and may include processing data locally on device. If your use case is for transferring data over a network (such as Wi-Fi, mobile, or Bluetooth) in response to an explicit user request, we recommend using the user-initiated data transfer job instead of the dataSync foreground service type.
For Android 14, USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT will switch from a normal permission to a special apps access permission, and only apps whose core functionality is a high-priority use case of setting an alarm or receiving phone or video calls will be automatically granted the USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT permission. You can think of core functionality as the main purpose of your app, without which, the app is broken or rendered unusable. Other apps may still use the permission, but only after they have been granted the permission from the user.
These changes will take effect on May 31, 2024.
When your app targets Android 14 and above, you'll have the option to declare that your app is a core functionality app for full-screen intent on the App content page (Policy > App content) in Play Console. The declaration will be available starting April 2024, and we'll provide you time to complete the declaration.