How to Detect if Any Other App is Running in Picture-in-Picture Mode While Your App is Running?

Methods for Detecting PiP Mode

Now that we’ve established the importance of detecting PiP mode, let’s explore the methods to do so:

Method 1: Using the `onPictureInPictureModeChanged` Callback

This method involves using the `onPictureInPictureModeChanged` callback, which is part of the `Activity` class in Android. This callback is triggered when the app enters or exits PiP mode.

@Override
public void onPictureInPictureModeChanged(
        boolean isInPictureInPictureMode, Configuration newConfig) {
    super.onPictureInPictureModeChanged(isInPictureInPictureMode, newConfig);
    if (isInPictureInPictureMode) {
        // App has entered PiP mode
    } else {
        // App has exited PiP mode
    }
}

However, this method only detects PiP mode for your own app, not for other apps. To detect PiP mode for other apps, we need to use a different approach.

Method 2: Using the `ActivityManager` Class

This method involves using the `ActivityManager` class to get a list of running tasks and checking if any of them are in PiP mode.

ActivityManager am = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
List tasks = am.getRunningTasks(1);

for (ActivityManager.RunningTaskInfo task : tasks) {
    if (task.configuration.windowConfiguration活動sInPictureInPictureMode()) {
        // Another app is running in PiP mode
    }
}

This method requires the `android.permission.GET_TASKS` permission, which was deprecated in Android 11. Unfortunately, this method is no longer reliable for detecting PiP mode in modern Android versions.

Method 3: Using the `UsageStatsManager` Class

This method involves using the `UsageStatsManager` class to get usage statistics for all apps and checking if any of them have entered PiP mode.

UsageStatsManager usm = (UsageStatsManager) getSystemService(Context.USAGE_STATS_SERVICE);
List stats = usm.queryUsageStats(UsageStatsManager.INTERVAL_BEST, 0, System.currentTimeMillis());

for (UsageStats stat : stats) {
    if (stat.getPictureInPictureMode()) {
        // Another app is running in PiP mode
    }
}

This method requires the `android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS` permission, which must be granted by the user. Additionally, this method only provides information about apps that have been used in the last 24 hours.

Challenges and Limitations

Detecting PiP mode for other apps is not a straightforward process. Here are some challenges and limitations you may encounter:

• Permission Issues**: Most detection methods require specific permissions, which can be difficult to obtain or may be deprecated in future Android versions.
• Android Version Compatibility**: Different Android versions have varying levels of support for PiP mode detection. Ensure that your detection method is compatible with the target Android version.
• App Restrictions**: Some apps may restrict access to their usage statistics or PiP mode status, making it difficult to detect their PiP mode status.