Filter app for front camera devices only

Question

I am building an app that requires a front camera to work, I can check in runtime the list of available cameras with CameraManager.getCameraCharacteristics(cameraId) and compare with CameraCharacteristics.LENS_FACING_FRONT

But is there a way in the camera2 api or using the android manifest to filter the application so that it can only be installed on devices that have a front camera?

This is what I have declared in AndroidManifest

<uses-feature
        android:name="android.hardware.camera2"
        android:required="true" />

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" /> 
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> 
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> 
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" /> 
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

Xenolion · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-12T21:31:52.427

1

I think you need to add this feature:

<uses-feature
    android:name="android.hardware.camera.front"
    android:required="true" />

But this ALSO assumes that your app uses a android.hardware.camera. And that's usually not a problem and devices with front camera usually have the back camera. But if you do not want that then add:

<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera" android:required="false"/>

edited Jul 12 '18 at 21:31

answered Jul 12 '18 at 21:25

Xenolion

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But can you clarify the difference between using android.hardware.camera2 and android.hardware.camera on the uses-feature? I am using Camera2 API from android.hardware.Camera2 in my app. – adriandleon Jul 13 '18 at 12:47
You are using Camera2 Api, thats great. But that does not mean you have to use `android.hardware.camera2` in the manifest uses features. Actual it does not even exist in the list here in the documentation https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element#hw-features – Xenolion Jul 13 '18 at 19:39

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 12 '18 at 21:24

0

Add <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.camera.front" android:required="true"/> to your manifest.

See the <uses-feature> documentation for more about how to restrict your app to devices that have a front-facing camera, etc.

answered Jul 12 '18 at 21:24

CommonsWare

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Filter app for front camera devices only

2 Answers2