flutter_background_service 2.3.5

A flutter plugin for executing dart code continously even application closed.

flutter_background_service

A flutter plugin for execute dart code in background.

Support me to maintain this plugin continously with a cup of coffee.

Android

• No additional setting is required.
• To change notification icon, just add drawable icon with name ic_bg_service_small.

WARNING: Starting from 2.3.0 the Service instance will be running on it's own android process (e.g com.package.your:background). It might be more difficult to debugging with breakpoints. Learn more about android process, read https://developer.android.com/guide/components/processes-and-threads.

Using custom notification for Foreground Service

You can make your own custom notification for foreground service. It can give you more power to make notifications more attractive to users, for example adding progressbars, buttons, actions, etc. The example below is using flutter_local_notifications plugin, but you can use any other notification plugin. You can follow how to make it below:

• Notification Channel

Future<void> main() async {
    WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
    await initializeService();

    runApp(MyApp());
}

// this will be used as notification channel id
const notificationChannelId = 'my_foreground';

// this will be used for notification id, So you can update your custom notification with this id.
const notificationId = 888;

Future<void> initializeService() async {
  final service = FlutterBackgroundService();

  const AndroidNotificationChannel channel = AndroidNotificationChannel(
    notificationChannelId, // id
    'MY FOREGROUND SERVICE', // title
    description:
        'This channel is used for important notifications.', // description
    importance: Importance.low, // importance must be at low or higher level
  );

  final FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin =
      FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin();

  await flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin
      .resolvePlatformSpecificImplementation<
          AndroidFlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin>()
      ?.createNotificationChannel(channel);

  await service.configure(
    androidConfiguration: AndroidConfiguration(
      // this will be executed when app is in foreground or background in separated isolate
      onStart: onStart,

      // auto start service
      autoStart: true,
      isForegroundMode: true,

      notificationChannelId: notificationChannelId, // this must match with notification channel you created above.
      initialNotificationTitle: 'AWESOME SERVICE',
      initialNotificationContent: 'Initializing',
      foregroundServiceNotificationId: notificationId,
    ),
    ...

• Update notification info

Future<void> onStart(ServiceInstance service) async {
  // Only available for flutter 3.0.0 and later
  DartPluginRegistrant.ensureInitialized();

  final FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin =
      FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin();

  // bring to foreground
  Timer.periodic(const Duration(seconds: 1), (timer) async {
    if (service is AndroidServiceInstance) {
      if (await service.isForegroundService()) {
        flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin.show(
          notificationId,
          'COOL SERVICE',
          'Awesome ${DateTime.now()}',
          const NotificationDetails(
            android: AndroidNotificationDetails(
              notificationChannelId,
              'MY FOREGROUND SERVICE',
              icon: 'ic_bg_service_small',
              ongoing: true,
            ),
          ),
        );
      }
    }
  });
}

iOS

• Enable background_fetch capability in xcode (optional), if you wish ios to execute IosConfiguration.onBackground callback.

• For iOS 13 (using BGTaskScheduler), insert lines below into your ios/Runner/Info.plist

<key>BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers</key>
<array>
    <string>dev.flutter.background.refresh</string>
</array>

Usage

• Call FlutterBackgroundService.configure to configure handler that will be executed by the Service.
• Call FlutterBackgroundService.start to start the Service if autoStart is not enabled.
• Since the Service using Isolates, You won't be able to share reference between UI and Service. You can communicate between UI and Service using invoke() and on(String method).

Migration

• sendData() renamed to invoke(String method)
• onDataReceived() renamed to on(String method)
• Now you have to use ServiceInstance object inside onStart method instead of creating a new FlutterBackgroundService object. See the example project.
• Only use FlutterBackgroundService class in UI Isolate and ServiceInstance in background isolate.

FAQ

Why the service not started automatically?

Some android device manufacturers have a custom android os for example MIUI from Xiaomi. You have to deal with that policy.

Service killed by system and not respawn?

Try to disable battery optimization for your app.

My notification icon not changed, how to solve it?

Make sure you had created notification icons named ic_bg_service_small and placed in res/drawable-mdpi, res/drawable-hdpi, res/drawable-hdpi, res/drawable-xxhdpi for PNGs file, and res/drawable-anydpi-v24 for XML (Vector) file (optional).