overlay_pop_up 1.0.6+4

A new Flutter plugin to display pop ups or screens over other apps in Android even when app is closed or killed.

overlay_pop_up

A new Flutter plugin to display pop ups or screens over other apps in Android even when app is closed or killed.

Demo

Android Setup

Required Permissions

Add these permissions to your AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />

Service Declaration

Note: Starting from version 1.0.6+4, the plugin automatically handles the service declaration. You no longer need to manually add the service to your AndroidManifest.xml as it's now included in the plugin's manifest and will be merged automatically.

If you were using an older version and had manually declared the service, you can safely remove it from your app's manifest.

Android 14+ (API 34+)

The plugin automatically uses foregroundServiceType="specialUse" which is appropriate for overlay services. No additional configuration is needed for Android 14+.

Important: Notification Permission (Android 13+)

Starting from Android 13 (API 33), you must request the POST_NOTIFICATIONS permission at runtime for the foreground service notification to be visible.

Add permission_handler to your pubspec.yaml:

dependencies:
  permission_handler: ^11.3.1

Request the permission in your app:

import 'package:permission_handler/permission_handler.dart';

// Request notification permission (Android 13+)
Future<void> requestNotificationPermission() async {
  final status = await Permission.notification.request();
  if (status.isGranted) {
    print('Notification permission granted');
  }
}

// Call this when your app starts or before showing the overlay
@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  requestNotificationPermission();
}

Note: Without granting this permission on Android 13+, the foreground service notification will not be visible (though the overlay will still work). The notification uses low priority and won't make sound or vibrate.

Flutter implementation

configure your main.dart entry point a widget to display (make sure to add @pragma('vm:entry-point'))

NOTE: Now you can pass as parameter the dart entry point method name when showOverlay is called

@pragma("vm:entry-point")
void overlayPopUp() {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
  runApp(const MaterialApp(
    debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
    home: Text('Hello Pub.dev!'),
  ));
}

Overlay Methods

returns true when overlay permission is alreary granted if permission is not granted then open app settings

await OverlayPopUp.requestPermission();

returns true or false according to permission status

await OverlayPopUp.checkPermission();

display your overlay and return true if is showed

PARAMS

• height is not required by default is MATCH_PARENT
• width is not required by default is MATCH_PARENT
• verticalAlignment is not required by default is CENTER for more info see: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/Gravity
• horizontalAlignment is not required by default is CENTER for more info see: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/Gravity
• backgroundBehavior by default is focusable flag that is you can take focus inside a overlay for example inside a textfield and [tapThrough] you can tap through the overlay background even if has MATCH_PARENT sizes.
• screenOrientation by default orientation is portrait.
• closeWhenTapBackButton by default when user presses back button the overlay no has any action if you pass true then back button will close overlay.
• isDraggable by default is false therefore the overlay can´t be dragged.
• swipeToDismiss by default is false. When enabled, users can drag the overlay to a drop zone (trash icon) at the bottom of the screen to dismiss it. Features include:
  • Drop zone with trash icon appears when dragging starts
  • Overlay shrinks when entering drop zone area
  • Pulse animation on drop zone when overlay is nearby
  • Smooth dismiss animation when released in drop zone
  • Works together with isDraggable for free movement in all directions
• entryPointMethodName by default is 'overlayPopUp' if you want you can change it
• notificationTitle customize the foreground service notification title (Android 8+). By default "Overlay Active"
• notificationText customize the foreground service notification text (Android 8+). By default "Overlay is running"

Note: The notification uses your app's icon automatically.

await OverlayPopUp.showOverlay(
  width: 300,
  height: 350,
  isDraggable: true,
  swipeToDismiss: true, // Enable swipe to dismiss
  notificationTitle: "My App Overlay", // Optional: customize notification
  notificationText: "Tap to return to app", // Optional: customize notification
);

returns true if overlay closed correctly or already is closed

await OverlayPopUp.closeOverlay();

returns the overlay status true = open, false = closed

await OverlayPopUp.isActive();

returns the last overlay position if drag is enabled

await OverlayPopUp.getOverlayPosition();

Bidirectional Messaging

Send Data from Main App to Overlay

// From main app - send to overlay
await OverlayPopUp.sendToOverlay({'data': 'hello from main app!'});
await OverlayPopUp.sendToOverlay('hello');

Send Data from Overlay to Main App

// From overlay widget - send to main app
await OverlayPopUp.sendToMainApp({'from': 'overlay', 'message': 'Hello!'});

Receive Data in Main App (from Overlay)

// In your main app - listen for messages FROM overlay
StreamSubscription? listener;

@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  // Initialize message handler early
  OverlayPopUp.initializeMessageHandler();

  // Listen for messages from overlay
  listener = OverlayPopUp.dataListener?.listen((data) {
    print('Received from overlay: $data');
  });
}

@override
void dispose() {
  listener?.cancel();
  super.dispose();
}

Receive Data in Overlay Widget (from Main App)

// In your overlay widget - listen for messages FROM main app
StreamBuilder(
  stream: OverlayPopUp.overlayDataListener,  // Use overlayDataListener here!
  builder: (context, snapshot) {
    return Text(snapshot.data?['message'] ?? 'No data');
  },
)

Summary

Location	Send Method	Receive Stream
Main App	sendToOverlay()	dataListener (receives from overlay)
Overlay Widget	sendToMainApp()	overlayDataListener (receives from main app)