app_self_launcher

An Android Flutter plugin that asks the operating system to launch the consuming app and opens its Display over other apps settings when needed. Your application keeps ownership of notification handling, schedules, and all other business rules that decide when a launch should be requested.

Platform behavior

API	Android	Other platforms
`launchApp()`	Dispatches the host app's launcher intent	Returns `false`
`isOverlayPermissionGranted()`	Checks permission or settings availability	Returns `true`
`requestOverlayPermission()`	Opens settings when needed	Returns `true`

Android restricts background activity launches. A true value from launchApp() means the start request was dispatched; it cannot guarantee that Android displayed the activity. Review the Android background activity launch documentation before using this behavior.

Installation

dependencies:
  app_self_launcher: ^0.1.0

The plugin adds android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW to the merged Android manifest. Google Play applies special policies to apps that request this permission, so use it only when your app's core behavior requires it.

Launch the host app

import 'package:app_self_launcher/app_self_launcher.dart';

final dispatched = await AppSelfLauncher.launchApp(
  extras: <String, Object?>{
    'notification': true,
    'message_id': '42',
  },
);

Extra values may be null, bool, int, double, or String. The package resolves the launcher activity from the consuming app's package name, so no application ID or Android activity class is configured in Dart.

Request overlay permission

final isGranted = await AppSelfLauncher.isOverlayPermissionGranted();
if (!isGranted) {
  await AppSelfLauncher.requestOverlayPermission();
}

Opening settings is not proof that permission was granted. When settings are opened, requestOverlayPermission() returns false. Check again when the app resumes:

@override
void didChangeAppLifecycleState(AppLifecycleState state) {
  if (state == AppLifecycleState.resumed) {
    AppSelfLauncher.isOverlayPermissionGranted();
  }
}

On Xiaomi devices, the plugin shows a short explanation before opening MIUI's permission editor when a Flutter activity is attached. Customize that text per request when needed:

await AppSelfLauncher.requestOverlayPermission(
  prompt: const OverlayPermissionPrompt(
    title: 'Permission required',
    message: 'Enable the additional permission for incoming job alerts.',
    positiveButtonLabel: 'Open settings',
  ),
);

When called from a background Flutter engine without an attached activity, the plugin can still launch the host application. Overlay settings are opened directly because an Android dialog requires an activity.

License

MIT