Android workmanager scheduled worker lost after task killed

Question

I'm trying to make a worker-run every 15 minutes using the new WorkManager API, 1.0.0-alpha06. If I'm not wrong, using Work manager with PeriodicWorkRequest should make the worker outlive task kills and phone reboots, but when I swipe the task from the Recent Apps the scheduled worker is lost (I've waited for around 45 minutes to see any logs of the worker scheduled for 15 minutes interval).

these are my files:

MyExampleWorker.java:

public class MyExampleWorker extends Worker{
    public static final String TAG = "MY_EXAMPLE_WORKER";

    @NonNull
    @Override
    public Result doWork() { 
        Log.i(TAG, "Starting background worker");
        // Getting configuration data
        long param1 = getInputData().getLong("param1", 60000);
        String param2 = getInputData().getString("param2");
        String param3 = getInputData().getString("param3");

        PackageManager pckMgr = mContext.getPackageManager();
        ...
        ..
        .
        return Result.SUCCESS;
    }

}

Main.java: this method fires as soon as the app is launched

@ReactMethod
public void execute() {
    Log.i(TAG, "inside execute, setting up periodic worker in workManager");

    Data inputData = new Data.Builder()
            .putLong("param1", 60000)
            .putString("param2", "something")
            .putString("param3", "something else")
            .build();

    PeriodicWorkRequest periodicWorkRequest = new PeriodicWorkRequest
            .Builder(MyExampleWorker.class, PeriodicWorkRequest.MIN_PERIODIC_INTERVAL_MILLIS, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS)
            .setInputData(inputData)
            .addTag(MyExampleWorker.TAG)
            .build();

    WorkManager.getInstance().enqueueUniquePeriodicWork(MyExampleWorker.TAG, ExistingPeriodicWorkPolicy.KEEP, periodicWorkRequest);
}

UPDATE: Not only that, but if I open the app once again I see the log for "inside execute, setting up a periodic worker in workManager" but seems the worker is not scheduled, it has been over an hour and no logs for the worker are present in logcat.

Am I missing something here?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!

Diego

Answer 1

This is the problem caused by Battery Optimization and/or Doze mode, occurs especially when you are using Chinese Rom like Oxygen OS, MIUI etc.

Test your app on Stock Rom's, this will work perfectly fine. There would be no issues at all. This is because these Chinese ROM enable their custom power saving techniques that prevent any background services from running.

Two things you can do:

1. Use the Ignore Battery Optimization and whitelist your app. When you enable this, a user will be asked like this,

You can ask programmatically

    Intent intent = new Intent();
    String packageName = context.getPackageName();
    PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) 
    context.getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE);
    if (pm.isIgnoringBatteryOptimizations(packageName))
        intent.setAction(Settings.ACTION_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATION_SETTINGS);
    else {
      intent.setAction(Settings.ACTION_REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS);
      intent.setData(Uri.parse("package:" + packageName));
    }
    context.startActivity(intent);

And in your manifest

<uses-permission 
android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS"/>

This way you can whitelist your app and work manager will work, but unfortunately, Google will remove your app from their play store if you request the above permission. No one knows why!!!

Read this article on Google's Anti Trust Issues

2. The Second method is you can ask the users to whitelist their app by not showing the above dialog. You can do this

startActivityForResult(new Intent(android.provider.Settings.ACTION_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATION_SETTINGS), 0);