android webview geolocation

I have to retrieve a user's location in a WebView. I do this with the following Javascript:

function getLocation() {
   navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(displayLocation, handleError);
}

But the permission request popup never opens.

I've set these settings:

ws.setJavaScriptEnabled(true);
ws.setGeolocationEnabled(true);
ws.setJavaScriptCanOpenWindowsAutomatically(true);

What is the correct way to access a user's location from within a WebView?

• JavaScript must be enabled in the WebView, using WebSettings.setJavaScriptEnabled(true);

• The app needs permission ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION

• The WebView must use a custom WebChromeClient which implements WebChromeClient.onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(). This method is called by the WebView to obtain permission to disclose the user's location to JavaScript. (In the case of the browser, we show a prompt to the user.) The default implementation does nothing, so permission is never obtained and the location is never passed to JavaScript. A simple implementation which always grants permission is ...

    webView.setWebChromeClient(new WebChromeClient() {
     public void onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(String origin, GeolocationPermissions.Callback callback) {
        callback.invoke(origin, true, false);
     }
    });
  

Geolocation uses databases to persist cached positions and permissions between sessions. The location of the database is set using WebSettings.setGeolocationDatabasePath(...). If the location of the database is not set, the persistent storage will not be available, but Geolocation will continue to function correctly otherwise. To set the location of the databases, use ...

webView.getSettings().setGeolocationDatabasePath( context.getFilesDir().getPath() );

Dialog to accept or decline user location is design by programmer :D. As Chris Cashwell said, you just use a callback like this:

webview.setWebChromeClient(new WebChromeClient(){
  public void onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(String origin, GeolocationPermissions.Callback callback) {
    // callback.invoke(String origin, boolean allow, boolean remember);
    callback.invoke(origin, true, false);
  }
});

In some cases, HTML5 requires the use of storage, therefore you must enable some properties so that webview has full access to run normal.

    // HTML5 API flags
    webView.getSettings().setAppCacheEnabled(true);
    webView.getSettings().setDatabaseEnabled(true);
    webView.getSettings().setDomStorageEnabled(true);

Sharing my Working activity class, this is a complete solution which can demonstrate

• Showing loading dialog while the web page is loading
• Ask for permission in marshmallow and above
• Handle webpage error
• Check for the internet connection and open setting page
• Handling Geolocation permission with and without dialog

Hope, it saves someone's time

    /**
     * Created by Hitesh.Sahu on 3/24/2017.
     */
    
    public class WebViewActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    
        final private int REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS = 124;
        private int webViewPreviousState;
        private final int PAGE_STARTED = 0x1;
        private final int PAGE_REDIRECTED = 0x2;
        private CoordinatorLayout rootView;
        private WebView webView;
    
    
        @Override
        protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            setContentView(R.layout.activity_webview);
            webView = (WebView) findViewById(R.id.webView);
            rootView = (CoordinatorLayout) findViewById(R.id.root_view);
    
            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 23) {
                // Marshmallow+ Permission APIs
                askRuntimePermission();
            }
    
            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.KITKAT) {
                if (0 != (getApplicationInfo().flags & ApplicationInfo.FLAG_DEBUGGABLE)) {
                    WebView.setWebContentsDebuggingEnabled(true);
                }
            }
            webView.setInitialScale(1);
            webView.getSettings().setLoadWithOverviewMode(true);
            webView.getSettings().setUseWideViewPort(true);
            webView.setScrollBarStyle(WebView.SCROLLBARS_OUTSIDE_OVERLAY);
            webView.setScrollbarFadingEnabled(false);
    
            webView.getSettings().setJavaScriptCanOpenWindowsAutomatically(true);
            webView.getSettings().setBuiltInZoomControls(true);
            webView.setWebViewClient(new GeoWebViewClient());
            // Below required for geolocation
            webView.getSettings().setJavaScriptEnabled(true);
            webView.getSettings().setGeolocationEnabled(true);
            webView.setWebChromeClient(new GeoWebChromeClient());
    
            webView.getSettings().setAppCacheEnabled(true);
            webView.getSettings().setDatabaseEnabled(true);
            webView.getSettings().setDomStorageEnabled(true);
    
            webView.getSettings().setGeolocationDatabasePath(getFilesDir().getPath());
    
            webView.loadUrl("file:///android_asset/index.html");
        }
    
        /**
         * WebChromeClient subclass handles UI-related calls
         * Note: think chrome as in decoration, not the Chrome browser
         */
        public class GeoWebChromeClient extends android.webkit.WebChromeClient {
            @Override
            public void onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(final String origin,
                                                           final GeolocationPermissions.Callback callback) {
                // Always grant permission since the app itself requires location
                // permission and the user has therefore already granted it
                callback.invoke(origin, true, false);
    
    //            final boolean remember = false;
    //            AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(WebViewActivity.this);
    //            builder.setTitle("Locations");
    //            builder.setMessage("Would like to use your Current Location ")
    //                    .setCancelable(true).setPositiveButton("Allow", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
    //                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
    //                    // origin, allow, remember
    //                    callback.invoke(origin, true, remember);
    //                }
    //            }).setNegativeButton("Don't Allow", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
    //                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
    //                    // origin, allow, remember
    //                    callback.invoke(origin, false, remember);
    //                }
    //            });
    //            AlertDialog alert = builder.create();
    //            alert.show();
            }
        }
    
        /**
         * WebViewClient subclass loads all hyperlinks in the existing WebView
         */
        public class GeoWebViewClient extends WebViewClient {
            @Override
            public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
                // When user clicks a hyperlink, load in the existing WebView
                view.loadUrl(url);
                return true;
            }
    
            Dialog loadingDialog = new Dialog(WebViewActivity.this);
    
            @Override
            public void onPageStarted(WebView view, String url, Bitmap favicon) {
                super.onPageStarted(view, url, favicon);
                webViewPreviousState = PAGE_STARTED;
    
                if (loadingDialog == null || !loadingDialog.isShowing())
                    loadingDialog = ProgressDialog.show(WebViewActivity.this, "",
                            "Loading Please Wait", true, true,
                            new DialogInterface.OnCancelListener() {
    
                                @Override
                                public void onCancel(DialogInterface dialog) {
                                    // do something
                                }
                            });
    
                loadingDialog.setCancelable(false);
            }
    
    
            @RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.M)
            @Override
            public void onReceivedError(WebView view, WebResourceRequest request,
                                        WebResourceError error) {
    
    
                if (isConnected()) {
                    final Snackbar snackBar = Snackbar.make(rootView, "onReceivedError : " + error.getDescription(), Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
                    snackBar.setAction("Reload", new View.OnClickListener() {
                        @Override
                        public void onClick(View view) {
                            webView.loadUrl("javascript:window.location.reload( true )");
                        }
                    });
                    snackBar.show();
                } else {
                    final Snackbar snackBar = Snackbar.make(rootView, "No Internet Connection ", Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
                    snackBar.setAction("Enable Data", new View.OnClickListener() {
                        @Override
                        public void onClick(View view) {
                            startActivityForResult(new Intent(Settings.ACTION_WIRELESS_SETTINGS), 0);
                            webView.loadUrl("javascript:window.location.reload( true )");
                            snackBar.dismiss();
                        }
                    });
                    snackBar.show();
                }
    
                super.onReceivedError(view, request, error);
    
            }
    
            @RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP)
            @Override
            public void onReceivedHttpError(WebView view,
                                            WebResourceRequest request, WebResourceResponse errorResponse) {
    
                if (isConnected()) {
                    final Snackbar snackBar = Snackbar.make(rootView, "HttpError : " + errorResponse.getReasonPhrase(), Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
    
                    snackBar.setAction("Reload", new View.OnClickListener() {
                        @Override
                        public void onClick(View view) {
                            webView.loadUrl("javascript:window.location.reload( true )");
                        }
                    });
                    snackBar.show();
                } else {
                    final Snackbar snackBar = Snackbar.make(rootView, "No Internet Connection ", Snackbar.LENGTH_INDEFINITE);
                    snackBar.setAction("Enable Data", new View.OnClickListener() {
                        @Override
                        public void onClick(View view) {
                            startActivityForResult(new Intent(Settings.ACTION_WIRELESS_SETTINGS), 0);
                            webView.loadUrl("javascript:window.location.reload( true )");
                            snackBar.dismiss();
                        }
                    });
                    snackBar.show();
                }
                super.onReceivedHttpError(view, request, errorResponse);
            }
    
            @Override
            public void onPageFinished(WebView view, String url) {
    
                if (webViewPreviousState == PAGE_STARTED) {
    
                    if (null != loadingDialog) {
                        loadingDialog.dismiss();
                        loadingDialog = null;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    
    
        /**
         * Check if there is any connectivity
         *
         * @return is Device Connected
         */
        public boolean isConnected() {
    
            ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager)
                    this.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
    
            if (null != cm) {
                NetworkInfo info = cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
                return (info != null && info.isConnected());
            }
    
            return false;
    
        }
    
        @Override
        public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, String[] permissions, int[] grantResults) {
            switch (requestCode) {
                case REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS: {
                    Map<String, Integer> perms = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
                    // Initial
                    perms.put(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED);
    
    
                    // Fill with results
                    for (int i = 0; i < permissions.length; i++)
                        perms.put(permissions[i], grantResults[i]);
    
                    // Check for ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
                    if (perms.get(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
    
    
                            ) {
                        // All Permissions Granted
    
                        // Permission Denied
                        Toast.makeText(WebViewActivity.this, "All Permission GRANTED !! Thank You :)", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
                                .show();
    
                    } else {
                        // Permission Denied
                        Toast.makeText(WebViewActivity.this, "One or More Permissions are DENIED Exiting App :(", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
                                .show();
    
                        finish();
                    }
                }
                break;
                default:
                    super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults);
            }
        }
    
        @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.M)
        private void askRuntimePermission() {
            List<String> permissionsNeeded = new ArrayList<String>();
    
            final List<String> permissionsList = new ArrayList<String>();
            if (!addPermission(permissionsList, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION))
                permissionsNeeded.add("Show Location");
    
            if (permissionsList.size() > 0) {
                if (permissionsNeeded.size() > 0) {
    
                    // Need Rationale
                    String message = "App need access to " + permissionsNeeded.get(0);
    
                    for (int i = 1; i < permissionsNeeded.size(); i++)
                        message = message + ", " + permissionsNeeded.get(i);
    
                    showMessageOKCancel(message,
                            new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
    
                                @Override
                                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                                    requestPermissions(permissionsList.toArray(new String[permissionsList.size()]),
                                            REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS);
                                }
                            });
                    return;
                }
                requestPermissions(permissionsList.toArray(new String[permissionsList.size()]),
                        REQUEST_CODE_ASK_MULTIPLE_PERMISSIONS);
                return;
            }
    
            Toast.makeText(WebViewActivity.this, "No new Permission Required- Launching App .You are Awesome!!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
                    .show();
        }
    
    
        private void showMessageOKCancel(String message, DialogInterface.OnClickListener okListener) {
            new AlertDialog.Builder(WebViewActivity.this)
                    .setMessage(message)
                    .setPositiveButton("OK", okListener)
                    .setNegativeButton("Cancel", null)
                    .create()
                    .show();
        }
    
        @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.M)
        private boolean addPermission(List<String> permissionsList, String permission) {
    
            if (checkSelfPermission(permission) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                permissionsList.add(permission);
                // Check for Rationale Option
                if (!shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(permission))
                    return false;
            }
            return true;
        }
    }

Are you declaring that permission in your manifest?

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

You may also need to declare other location permissions, like these:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_GPS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_ASSISTED_GPS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

I have recently come across this type of situation and have done below steps to achieve this:

Step 1: Add permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml file

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/> 

Step 2: Create an activity that would contain a WebView and ProgressBar (in my case)

xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">
    <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/progressBar"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleHorizontal"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_margin="0dp"
        android:minHeight="4dp"
        android:padding="0dp"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />
    <WebView
        android:id="@+id/webView"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/progressBar" />
</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

Step 3: In your activity class, add below code and make changes according to your need

class WebActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
    var pageUrl: String = "https://couponia.co/"
    var mGeoLocationRequestOrigin: String? = null
    var mGeoLocationCallback: GeolocationPermissions.Callback? = null
    val MAX_PROGRESS = 100
    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_web)
        initWebView()
        setWebClient()
        loadUrl(pageUrl)
    }


    @SuppressLint("SetJavaScriptEnabled")
    private fun initWebView() {
        webView.settings.javaScriptEnabled = true
        webView.settings.loadWithOverviewMode = true
        webView.settings.useWideViewPort = true
        webView.settings.domStorageEnabled = true
        webView.settings.databaseEnabled = true
        webView.settings.setAppCacheEnabled(true)
        webView.webViewClient = object : WebViewClient() {
            override
            fun onReceivedSslError(view: WebView?, handler: SslErrorHandler?, error: SslError?) {
                handler?.proceed()
            }
        }

    }

    private fun setWebClient() {

        webView.webChromeClient = object : WebChromeClient() {
            override fun onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(
                origin: String?,
                callback: GeolocationPermissions.Callback?
            ) {

                if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(
                        this@WebActivity,
                        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
                    )
                    != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
                ) {

                    if (ActivityCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(
                            this@WebActivity,
                            Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
                        )
                    ) {
                        AlertDialog.Builder(this@WebActivity)
                            .setMessage("Please turn ON the GPS to make app work smoothly")
                            .setNeutralButton(
                                android.R.string.ok,
                                DialogInterface.OnClickListener { dialogInterface, i ->
                                    mGeoLocationCallback = callback
                                    mGeoLocationRequestOrigin = origin
                                    ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(
                                        this@WebActivity,
                                        arrayOf(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION), 1001
                                    )

                                })
                            .show()

                    } else {
                        //no explanation need we can request the locatio
                        mGeoLocationCallback = callback
                        mGeoLocationRequestOrigin = origin
                        ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(
                            this@WebActivity,
                            arrayOf(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION), 1001
                        )
                    }
                } else {
                    //tell the webview that permission has granted
                    callback!!.invoke(origin, true, true)
                }

            }

            override fun onProgressChanged(view: WebView?, newProgress: Int) {
                super.onProgressChanged(view, newProgress)
                progressBar.progress = newProgress
                if (newProgress < MAX_PROGRESS && progressBar.visibility == ProgressBar.GONE) {
                    progressBar.visibility = ProgressBar.VISIBLE
                }
                if (newProgress == MAX_PROGRESS) {
                    progressBar.visibility = ProgressBar.GONE
                }
            }


        }
    }

    override fun onKeyDown(keyCode: Int, event: KeyEvent?): Boolean {
        // Check if the key event was the Back button and if there's history
        if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_BACK && webView.canGoBack()) {
            webView.goBack()
            return true
        }
        // If it wasn't the Back key or there's no web page history, exit the activity)
        return super.onKeyDown(keyCode, event)
    }

    private fun loadUrl(pageUrl: String) {
        webView.loadUrl(pageUrl)
    }


    override fun onRequestPermissionsResult(
        requestCode: Int,
        permissions: Array<out String>,
        grantResults: IntArray
    ) {
        super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults)

        when (requestCode) {
            1001 -> {
                //if permission is cancel result array would be empty
                if (grantResults.size > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
                    //permission was granted
                    if (mGeoLocationCallback != null) {
                        mGeoLocationCallback!!.invoke(mGeoLocationRequestOrigin, true, true)
                    }
                } else {
                    //permission denied
                    if (mGeoLocationCallback != null) {
                        mGeoLocationCallback!!.invoke(mGeoLocationRequestOrigin, false, false)
                    }
                }
            }

        }
    }
}

This is an example of showing alert dialog to promote for user permission to use his/her location:

    final Context context = this;

     @Override
     public void onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(final String origin, final GeolocationPermissions.Callback callback) {
        Log.i(TAG, "onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt()");

        final boolean remember = false;
        AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(context);
        builder.setTitle("Locations");
        builder.setMessage("Would like to use your Current Location ")
        .setCancelable(true).setPositiveButton("Allow", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
           public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
              // origin, allow, remember
              callback.invoke(origin, true, remember);
           }
        }).setNegativeButton("Don't Allow", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
           public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
              // origin, allow, remember
              callback.invoke(origin, false, remember);
           }
        });
        AlertDialog alert = builder.create();
        alert.show();
     }

Posting as a new answer for updated Android with everything in one post, because you no longer need to use setWebChromeClient.

With android 6+ you just to ask for the GPS permissions at runtime using ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(context, new String[]{Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION}, 123);.