Floating Button like Facebook Chat in Android

By | June 20, 2017

Floating widgets float over the screen over any app that is currently running.

Here we will make a floating action button that you can drag around the screen to position and do actions on it.


Add Permission

For drawing over the other apps, you need “android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW” permission.

So add this entry in your manifest.

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

Our Manifest will look like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="floating_demo.coderzheaven.com.floatingdemo">

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

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
        <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <service
            android:name=".FloatingService"
            android:enabled="true"
            android:exported="false" />
    </application>

</manifest>

Layout

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="floating_demo.coderzheaven.com.floatingdemo.MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:text="Floating action Demo\n(coderzheaven.com)" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/createBtn"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Create Floating Button"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true"
        android:textColor="@android:color/white"
        android:layout_marginBottom="30dp"
        android:padding="10dp"
        android:background="@color/colorAccent"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"/>

</RelativeLayout>

The next layout is shown when the floating button is clicked.
We will name it floating_layout.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FrameLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/parentRel"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">

        <RelativeLayout
            android:id="@+id/r1"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content">

            <ImageView
                android:id="@+id/mainButton"
                android:layout_width="50dp"
                android:layout_height="50dp"
                android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
                android:src="@mipmap/ic_launcher" />

            <ImageView
                android:id="@+id/closeBtn"
                android:layout_width="30dp"
                android:layout_height="30dp"
                android:layout_marginLeft="30dp"
                android:src="@android:drawable/ic_dialog_info" />

        </RelativeLayout>

        <LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/showLin"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_margin="10dp"
            android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/r1"
            android:background="@color/colorAccent"
            android:gravity="center"
            android:padding="20dp"
            android:visibility="gone">

            <ImageView
                android:id="@+id/btnInfo"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                android:src="@android:drawable/ic_dialog_info" />

        </LinearLayout>
    </RelativeLayout>
</FrameLayout>

Activity and the Floating Service

MainActivity

package floating_demo.coderzheaven.com.floatingdemo;

import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.provider.Settings;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private static final int APP_OVERLAY_PERMISSION = 1000;
    private Context context;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        context = this;

        // Asking for permission from user...
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M && !Settings.canDrawOverlays(context)) {
            Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION, Uri.parse("package:" + getPackageName()));
            startActivityForResult(intent, APP_OVERLAY_PERMISSION);
        }

        findViewById(R.id.createBtn).setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {
                if (!(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M && !Settings.canDrawOverlays(context))) {
                    // Permission was already granted..starting service for creating the Floating Button UI...
                    startService(new Intent(context, FloatingService.class));
                    finish();
                }
            }
        });

        findViewById(R.id.createBtn).setVisibility(checkIfOverlayPermissionGranted() ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
    }

    Boolean checkIfOverlayPermissionGranted() {
        return Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M && Settings.canDrawOverlays(context);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy();
        if (!(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M && !Settings.canDrawOverlays(context))) {
            // Permission was already granted..starting service for creating the Floating Button UI...
            startService(new Intent(context, FloatingService.class));
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        if (requestCode == APP_OVERLAY_PERMISSION) {
            showMessage(checkIfOverlayPermissionGranted() ? "Overlay Permission Granted :)" : "Overlay Permission Denied :(");
            findViewById(R.id.createBtn).setVisibility(checkIfOverlayPermissionGranted() ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
        } else {
            super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        }
    }

    // Shows message to the user...
    void showMessage(String message) {
        Toast.makeText(context, message, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }

}

We will use a service to draw the floating button over other apps.
Create a java file named FloatingService.java which extends Service.

package floating_demo.coderzheaven.com.floatingdemo;

import android.app.Service;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.graphics.PixelFormat;
import android.os.IBinder;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
import android.view.Gravity;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.MotionEvent;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.view.WindowManager;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class FloatingService extends Service implements OnClickListener, View.OnTouchListener {

    private WindowManager mWindowManager;
    private View mFloatingView;
    private ImageView mainButton;
    private LinearLayout showLin;
    private ImageView btnInfo;
    private WindowManager.LayoutParams params;
    private ImageView btnClose;
    int initialX = 0;
    int initialY = 0;
    float initialTouchX = 0;
    float initialTouchY = 0;

    @Nullable
    @Override
    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();

        //Inflate the floating view layout we created
        mFloatingView = LayoutInflater.from(this).inflate(R.layout.floating_layout, null);

        //Add the view to the window.
        params = new WindowManager.LayoutParams(
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_PHONE,
                WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_NOT_FOCUSABLE,
                PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT);

        // Set the position to the top right corner of the screen
        params.gravity = Gravity.TOP | Gravity.LEFT;
        params.x = 50;
        params.y = 50;

        //Add the view to the window
        mWindowManager = (WindowManager) getSystemService(WINDOW_SERVICE);
        mWindowManager.addView(mFloatingView, params);

        mainButton = (ImageView) mFloatingView.findViewById(R.id.mainButton);
        btnClose = (ImageView) mFloatingView.findViewById(R.id.closeBtn);
        btnInfo = (ImageView) mFloatingView.findViewById(R.id.btnInfo);
        showLin = (LinearLayout) mFloatingView.findViewById(R.id.showLin);

        mainButton.setOnClickListener(this);
        btnInfo.setOnClickListener(this);
        btnClose.setOnClickListener(this);

        //Drag and move floating view using user's touch action.
        mainButton.setOnTouchListener(this);
    }

    @Override
    public void onClick(View view) {
        if (view == btnClose) {
            int vis = (showLin.getVisibility() == View.VISIBLE) ? View.GONE : View.VISIBLE;
            showLin.setVisibility(vis);
        }
        if (view == btnInfo) {
            Intent intent = new Intent(FloatingService.this, MainActivity.class);
            intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
            startActivity(intent);

            // Stop the service and Remove the Floating Button when our app opens...
            stopSelf();
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy();
        if (null != mFloatingView && null != mWindowManager)
            mWindowManager.removeView(mFloatingView);
    }

    // Shows message to the user...
    void showMessage(String message) {
        Toast.makeText(this, message, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onTouch(View view, MotionEvent motionEvent) {

        showLin.setVisibility(View.GONE);

        switch (motionEvent.getAction()) {
            case MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN:

                //remember the initial position.
                //initialX = params.x;
                //initialY = params.y;

                //get the touch location
                initialTouchX = motionEvent.getRawX();
                initialTouchY = motionEvent.getRawY();
                return true;
            case MotionEvent.ACTION_UP:
                return true;
            case MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE:
                //Calculate the X and Y coordinates of the view.
                params.x = (int) (motionEvent.getRawX() - initialTouchX) - initialX;
                params.y = (int) (motionEvent.getRawY() - initialTouchY) - initialY;

                //Update the layout with new X & Y coordinate
                mWindowManager.updateViewLayout(mFloatingView, params);
                return true;
        }
        return false;
    }

}


Source Code

You can download the complete source code from here.

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