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Why service is not working in Oreo android developer?
Why service is not working in Oreo android developer?

August 12, 2025

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Android 8.0 (Oreo) introduced significant changes to how services and other background tasks are handled. These changes were implemented to improve device performance, extend battery life, and provide a better user experience by preventing apps from running indefinitely in the background and consuming valuable system resources. 

Previously, developers could freely create and run background services. However, with Oreo, apps can no longer launch background services while the app is in the background. If you attempt to do so, the system will throw an IllegalStateException. This is the primary reason a service might not be working as expected in Android Oreo and newer versions.

Key Changes and Solutions

To ensure your app continues to function correctly on Oreo and beyond, you must adapt to these new limitations. Here are the main changes and the recommended alternatives:

1. Background Service Limitations

  • Problem: Background services are now subject to strict limitations. Once an app enters the background, it has a short window of a few minutes to complete its tasks. After this time, the system can stop the service as if stopSelf() was called.

  • Solution: For tasks that need to run in the background, you have a few options:

    • Foreground Services: If a task needs to continue running for an extended period and the user needs to be aware of it (e.g., music playback, navigation), you must use a foreground service. You start a foreground service using startForegroundService() and then must call startForeground() within five seconds to display a persistent notification to the user.

    • JobScheduler & WorkManager: For deferred, non-critical background tasks that don't need to run immediately, you should use JobScheduler (introduced in API 21) or the more flexible WorkManager (part of Android Jetpack). These APIs allow the system to batch tasks from different apps, optimizing resource usage.

2. Broadcast Limitations

  • Problem: Apps targeting Android Oreo or higher can't register for most implicit broadcasts in their manifest. This prevents a multitude of apps from being woken up simultaneously by a single system event, such as a change in network connectivity.

  • Solution: You can still register for explicit broadcasts (those that specifically target your app) in the manifest. For implicit broadcasts, you must register a broadcast receiver dynamically at runtime using Context.registerReceiver().

Modern Android Development

The limitations introduced in Android Oreo were a major shift in the platform's architecture. They emphasized the importance of being mindful of resource consumption and prioritizing a good user experience. For developers looking to build modern, efficient Android applications, understanding and implementing these new APIs is crucial.

If you're a business looking to upgrade your existing Android applications or create a new one that adheres to the latest standards, consider hiring android application development. They can help you navigate these complexities and build a high-performance, compliant app.


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