device_apps_ng #

A plugin to list installed applications on an Android device (⚠️ iOS is not supported), get their details, and listen to app changes (eg: installations, updates…)

About this fork #

device_apps_ng is a fork of device_apps by g123k, which is no longer maintained.

This fork is actively maintained. Its first releases bring the plugin up to date:

• Builds on current Flutter / Dart 3 / Android Gradle Plugin, with no deprecated Android API left
• Much faster listing (parallel reads, lazily loaded and resized icons)
• New APIs: getAppIcon, getAppDetails (installer, permissions, signing certificates…), openAppInStore
• Many bug fixes

See the CHANGELOG for the full list. Issues and pull requests are welcome on GitHub.

The original code is © its authors and licensed under the Apache License 2.0, as are the changes made in this fork.

Migrating from device_apps #

The API is compatible. Replace the dependency:

dependencies:
  device_apps_ng: ^3.0.2

and the import:

import 'package:device_apps_ng/device_apps_ng.dart';

Note that it requires Dart 3, that icons are now Uint8List bytes directly, and that ApplicationCategory has a new accessibility value (update exhaustive switch statements).

Google Play and QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES #

May 5 2021 will mark a breaking change on how applications requesting QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES are accepted in the Google Play (and only this app store !). Quoting from the doc:

Permitted use involves apps that must discover any and all installed apps on the device, for awareness or interoperability purposes may have eligibility for the permission. Permitted use includes; device search, antivirus apps, file managers, and browsers.

Apps granted access to this permission must comply with the User Data policies, including the Prominent Disclosure and Consent requirements, and may not extend its use to undisclosed or invalid purposes.

More info here: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10158779

This plugin doesn't request the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission by default.

Change with Android 11 #

Starting with Android 11, Android applications targeting API level 30, willing to list "external" applications have to declare a new "normal" permission in their AndroidManifest.xml file called QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES. A few notes about this:

• A normal permission doesn't require the user consent

Since version 3.0.0, the plugin declares a <queries> entry for launcher activities: every app visible in a launcher (= onlyAppsWithLaunchIntent: true) is listed without any permission. QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES is only needed to also see packages without a launcher icon (background services, most system components…).

If you need it, simply add the following to your AndroidManifest.xml:

<manifest...>

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

</manifest>

Getting Started #

Add the dependency:

flutter pub add device_apps_ng

Then import the package in your dart file with:

import 'package:device_apps_ng/device_apps_ng.dart';

List of installed applications #

To list applications installed on the device:

List<Application> apps = await DeviceApps.getInstalledApplications();

You can filter system apps if necessary.

Note: The list of apps is not ordered! You have to do it yourself.

Get apps with a launch Intent #

A launch Intent means you can launch the application.

To list only the apps with launch intents, simply use the onlyAppsWithLaunchIntent: true attribute.

// Returns a list of only those apps that have launch intent
List<Application> apps = await DeviceApps.getInstalledApplications(onlyAppsWithLaunchIntent: true, includeSystemApps: true)

Get an application #

To get a specific application info, please provide its package name:

Application app = await DeviceApps.getApp('com.frandroid.app');

Check if an application is installed #

To check if an app is installed (via its package name):

bool isInstalled = await DeviceApps.isAppInstalled('com.frandroid.app');

Open an application #

To open an application (with a launch Intent)

DeviceApps.openApp('com.frandroid.app');

Open an application settings screen #

To open an application settings screen

DeviceApps.openAppSettings('com.frandroid.app');

Uninstall an application #

To open the screen to uninstall an application:

1. Add this permission to the AndroidManifest.xml file:

<manifest...>

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

</manifest>

2. Call this method:

DeviceApps.uninstallApp('com.frandroid.app');

Include application icon #

When calling getInstalledApplications() or getApp() methods, you can also ask for the icon. To display the image, just call:

Image.memory(app.icon);

Icons are rendered at their intrinsic size by default (often 300px+). Pass the size you display them at, in pixels, to make the call much faster and lighter:

final int iconSize = (40 * MediaQuery.devicePixelRatioOf(context)).round();
List<Application> apps = await DeviceApps.getInstalledApplications(includeAppIcons: true, iconSize: iconSize);

Lazy icons (recommended for lists) #

The fastest way to display a list is to fetch it without icons, and to load each icon when its row is built:

List<Application> apps = await DeviceApps.getInstalledApplications();

// In your list item
FutureBuilder<Uint8List?>(
  future: DeviceApps.getAppIcon(app.packageName, iconSize: iconSize), // or app.loadIcon()
  builder: (context, snapshot) => snapshot.hasData ? Image.memory(snapshot.data!) : const SizedBox(),
);

See example/lib/app_icon.dart for a version with a cache, and the "Fetch benchmark" screen of the example to compare the three strategies on your device.

Application attributes #

Besides the name, package name, version, paths and install/update times, each Application exposes:

• targetSdkVersion / minSdkVersion (Android 24+)
• apkSize: size in bytes of the base APK + split APKs
• launchable: whether the app has a launcher entrypoint
• category (Android 26+)

Application details #

getAppDetails() returns advanced information, fetched on demand (it is slower than a listing):

ApplicationDetails? details = await DeviceApps.getAppDetails('com.frandroid.app');

details.installerPackageName;      // eg: com.android.vending
details.installedFromPlayStore;    // true / false
details.sideloaded;                // installed from an APK file or adb
details.permissions;               // requested permissions, and whether they are granted
details.signingCertificatesSha256; // AA:BB:… fingerprints, eg: to check the app is genuine
details.splitNames;                // App Bundle split APKs
details.activitiesCount;           // also services, receivers & providers
details.debuggable;

Open an application in the store #

Opens the app page in a store app (eg: Play Store), or the Play Store website otherwise. The app doesn't need to be installed:

DeviceApps.openAppInStore('com.frandroid.app');

Listen to app changes #

To listen to applications events on the device (installation, uninstallation, update, enabled or disabled):

Stream<ApplicationEvent> apps = await DeviceApps.listenToAppsChanges();

If you only need events for a single app, just use the Stream API, like so:

DeviceApps.listenToAppsChanges().where((ApplicationEvent event) => event.packageName == 'com.frandroid.app')