Pass data from Activity to Service using an Intent

How do I get data within an Android Service that was passed from an invoking Activity?

For a precise answer to this question on "How to send data via intent from an Activity to Service", Is that you have to override the onStartCommand() method which is where you receive the intent object:

When you create a Service you should override the onStartCommand() method so if you closely look at the signature below, this is where you receive the intent object which is passed to it:

  public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId)

So from an activity you will create the intent object to start service and then you place your data inside the intent object for example you want to pass a UserID from Activity to Service:

 Intent serviceIntent = new Intent(YourService.class.getName())
 serviceIntent.putExtra("UserID", "123456");
 context.startService(serviceIntent);

When the service is started its onStartCommand() method will be called so in this method you can retrieve the value (UserID) from the intent object for example

public int onStartCommand (Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
	String userID = intent.getStringExtra("UserID");
	return START_STICKY;
}

Note: the above answer specifies to get an Intent with getIntent() method which is not correct in context of a service

First Context (can be Activity/Service etc)

For Service, you need to override onStartCommand there you have direct access to intent:

Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {

You have a few options:

1. Use the Bundle from the Intent:

   Intent mIntent = new Intent(this, Example.class); Bundle extras = mIntent.getExtras(); extras.putString(key, value);

2. Create a new Bundle

   Intent mIntent = new Intent(this, Example.class); Bundle mBundle = new Bundle(); mBundle.extras.putString(key, value); mIntent.putExtras(mBundle);

3. Use the putExtra() shortcut method of the Intent

   Intent mIntent = new Intent(this, Example.class); mIntent.putExtra(key, value);

New Context (can be Activity/Service etc)

Intent myIntent = getIntent(); // this getter is just for example purpose, can differ
if (myIntent !=null && myIntent.getExtras()!=null)
     String value = myIntent.getExtras().getString(key);
}

NOTE: Bundles have "get" and "put" methods for all the primitive types, Parcelables, and Serializables. I just used Strings for demonstrational purposes.

If you bind your service, you will get the Extra in onBind(Intent intent).

Activity:

 Intent intent = new Intent(this, LocationService.class);                                                                                     
 intent.putExtra("tour_name", mTourName);                    
 bindService(intent, mServiceConnection, BIND_AUTO_CREATE); 

Service:

@Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
    mTourName = intent.getStringExtra("tour_name");
    return mBinder;
}

Another posibility is using intent.getAction:

In Service:

public class SampleService inherits Service{
	static final String ACTION_START = "com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.ACTION_START";
	static final String ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_1 = "com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.DO_SOMETHING_1";
	static final String ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_2 = "com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.DO_SOMETHING_2";
	static final String ACTION_STOP_SERVICE = "com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.STOP_SERVICE";

	@Override
	public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
		String action = intent.getAction();
		//System.out.println("ACTION: "+action);
		switch (action){
			case ACTION_START:
				startingService(intent.getIntExtra("valueStart",0));
				break;
			case ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_1:
				int value1,value2;
				value1=intent.getIntExtra("value1",0);
				value2=intent.getIntExtra("value2",0);
				doSomething1(value1,value2);
				break;
			case ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_2:
				value1=intent.getIntExtra("value1",0);
				value2=intent.getIntExtra("value2",0);
				doSomething2(value1,value2);
				break;
			case ACTION_STOP_SERVICE:
				stopService();
				break;
		}
		return START_STICKY;
	}

	public void startingService(int value){
		//calling when start
	}

	public void doSomething1(int value1, int value2){
		//...
	}

	public void doSomething2(int value1, int value2){
		//...
	}

	public void stopService(){
		//...destroy/release objects
		stopself();
	}
}

In Activity:

public void startService(int value){
	Intent myIntent = new Intent(SampleService.ACTION_START);
	myIntent.putExtra("valueStart",value);
	startService(myIntent);
}

public void serviceDoSomething1(int value1, int value2){
	Intent myIntent = new Intent(SampleService.ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_1);
	myIntent.putExtra("value1",value1);
	myIntent.putExtra("value2",value2);
	startService(myIntent);
}

public void serviceDoSomething2(int value1, int value2){
	Intent myIntent = new Intent(SampleService.ACTION_DO_SOMETHING_2);
	myIntent.putExtra("value1",value1);
	myIntent.putExtra("value2",value2);
	startService(myIntent);
}

public void endService(){
	Intent myIntent = new Intent(SampleService.STOP_SERVICE);
	startService(myIntent);
}

Finally, In Manifest file:

<service android:name=".SampleService">
	<intent-filter>
		<action android:name="com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.ACTION_START"/>
		<action android:name="com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.DO_SOMETHING_1"/>
		<action android:name="com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.DO_SOMETHING_2"/>
		<action android:name="com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.STOP_SERVICE"/>
	</intent-filter>
</service>

Activity:

int number = 5;
Intent i = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
i.putExtra("MyNumber", number);
startService(i);

Service:

@Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
    if (intent != null && intent.getExtras() != null){
        int number = intent.getIntExtra("MyNumber", 0);
    }
}

This is a much better and secured way. Working like a charm!

   private void startFloatingWidgetService() {
        startService(new Intent(MainActivity.this,FloatingWidgetService.class)
                .setAction(FloatingWidgetService.ACTION_PLAY));
    }

instead of :

 private void startFloatingWidgetService() {
        startService(new Intent(FloatingWidgetService.ACTION_PLAY));
    }

Because when you try 2nd one then you get an error saying : java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Service Intent must be explicit: Intent { act=com.floatingwidgetchathead_demo.SampleService.ACTION_START }

Then your Service be like this :

static final String ACTION_START = "com.floatingwidgetchathead_demo.SampleService.ACTION_START";
    static final String ACTION_PLAY = "com.floatingwidgetchathead_demo.SampleService.ACTION_PLAY";
    static final String ACTION_PAUSE = "com.floatingwidgetchathead_demo.SampleService.ACTION_PAUSE";
    static final String ACTION_DESTROY = "com.yourcompany.yourapp.SampleService.ACTION_DESTROY";

 @SuppressLint("LogConditional")
@Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
    String action = intent.getAction();
    //System.out.println("ACTION: "+action);
    switch (action){
        case ACTION_START:
            Log.d(TAG, "onStartCommand: "+action);
            break;
        case ACTION_PLAY:
            Log.d(TAG, "onStartCommand: "+action);
           addRemoveView();
           addFloatingWidgetView();
            break;
        case ACTION_PAUSE:
            Log.d(TAG, "onStartCommand: "+action);
            break;
        case ACTION_DESTROY:
            Log.d(TAG, "onStartCommand: "+action);
            break;
    }
    return START_STICKY;

}

Pass data from Activity to IntentService

This is how I pass data from Activity to IntentService.

One of my application has this scenario.

MusicActivity ------url(String)------> DownloadSongService

1) Send Data (Activity code)

  Intent intent  = new Intent(MusicActivity.class, DownloadSongService.class);
  String songUrl = "something"; 
  intent.putExtra(YOUR_KEY_SONG_NAME, songUrl);
  startService(intent);

2) Get data in Service (IntentService code)
You can access the intent in the onHandleIntent() method

public class DownloadSongService extends IntentService {

    @Override
    protected void onHandleIntent(@Nullable Intent intent) {

        String songUrl = intent.getStringExtra("YOUR_KEY_SONG_NAME");

        //  Download File logic
    
    }

}

Service: startservice can cause side affects,best way to use messenger and pass data.

private CallBackHandler mServiceHandler= new CallBackHandler(this);
private Messenger mServiceMessenger=null;
//flag with which the activity sends the data to service
private static final int DO_SOMETHING=1;
        
private static class CallBackHandler extends android.os.Handler {

private final WeakReference<Service> mService;

public CallBackHandler(Service service) {
	mService= new WeakReference<Service>(service);
}

public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
	//Log.d("CallBackHandler","Msg::"+msg);
	if(DO_SOMETHING==msg.arg1)
	mSoftKeyService.get().dosomthing()
}
}

Activity:Get Messenger from Intent fill it pass data and pass the message back to service

private Messenger mServiceMessenger;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
mServiceMessenger = (Messenger)extras.getParcelable("myHandler");
}


private void sendDatatoService(String data){
Intent serviceIntent= new 
Intent(BaseActivity.this,Service.class);
Message msg = Message.obtain();
msg.obj =data;
msg.arg1=Service.DO_SOMETHING;
mServiceMessenger.send(msg);
}

If you are using kotlin you can try the following code,

In the sending activity,

  val intent = Intent(context, RecorderService::class.java);
  intent.putExtra("filename", filename);
  context.startService(intent)

In the service,

override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
    super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId)

    if (intent != null && intent.extras != null)
       val filename = intent.getStringExtra("filename")

}