How to Launch Wear OS App from Phone App to Start a Workout Even When the App is Killed?

Are you tired of manually starting your workout on your Wear OS smartwatch every time you want to exercise? Do you wish there was a way to launch your Wear OS app from your phone app, even when the app is killed? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that.

Why Launch Wear OS App from Phone App?

Launching your Wear OS app from your phone app can be incredibly convenient. For one, it saves you the hassle of having to manually start your workout on your smartwatch every time you want to exercise. Additionally, it allows you to start your workout quickly and easily, without having to navigate through multiple screens on your smartwatch.

But that’s not all. Launching your Wear OS app from your phone app can also help you to stay focused on your workout. When you’re able to start your workout with just a few taps on your phone, you’re less likely to get distracted by notifications or other apps on your smartwatch.

How to Launch Wear OS App from Phone App

To launch your Wear OS app from your phone app, you’ll need to use a feature called Android Intent. An Intent is a message object that requests a specific action from an app component. In this case, we’ll use an Intent to request that the Wear OS app start a workout.

Step 1: Add the Wear OS App to Your Phone App

The first step is to add the Wear OS app to your phone app. To do this, you’ll need to add the Wear OS app’s package name to your phone app’s AndroidManifest.xml file.

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.example.phoneapp">

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity
            android:name=".MainActivity"
            android:exported="true">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <activity
            android:name="com.example.wearosapp.MainActivity"
            android:exported="true">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

    </application>

</manifest>

In the code above, we’ve added the Wear OS app’s package name (com.example.wearosapp) to the AndroidManifest.xml file. We’ve also added an Intent filter that specifies the action (com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT) that we want to perform.

Step 2: Create an Intent to Launch the Wear OS App

The next step is to create an Intent that launches the Wear OS app. To do this, you’ll need to use the Intent class in your phone app’s code.

Intent intent = new Intent("com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT");
intent.setPackage("com.example.wearosapp");

In the code above, we’ve created an Intent that specifies the action (com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT) and the package name (com.example.wearosapp) of the Wear OS app.

Step 3: Launch the Wear OS App

Finally, you can launch the Wear OS app by calling the startActivity method and passing in the Intent.

startActivity(intent);

In the code above, we’ve launched the Wear OS app by calling the startActivity method and passing in the Intent.

Handling the Case Where the App is Killed

But what happens if the Wear OS app is killed? In this case, we need to ensure that the app is restarted when the user tries to start a workout. To do this, we can use a Service in the Wear OS app.

Step 1: Create a Service in the Wear OS App

The first step is to create a Service in the Wear OS app that will restart the app when it’s killed. To do this, you’ll need to create a new class that extends the Service class.

public class WorkoutService extends Service {
    @Override
    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
        if (intent != null) {
            String action = intent.getAction();
            if (action.equals("com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT")) {
                // Start the workout
                startWorkout();
            }
        }
        return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
    }
}

In the code above, we’ve created a Service that listens for the com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT action. When this action is received, the Service starts the workout.

Step 2: Register the Service in the AndroidManifest.xml File

The next step is to register the Service in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

<service
    android:name=".WorkoutService"
    android:enabled="true"
    android:exported="true">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT" />
    </intent-filter>
</service>

In the code above, we’ve registered the Service in the AndroidManifest.xml file and specified the action (com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT) that it listens for.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve shown you how to launch a Wear OS app from a phone app, even when the app is killed. By using an Intent to request that the Wear OS app start a workout, and by creating a Service that restarts the app when it’s killed, you can provide a seamless workout experience for your users.

Remember to add the Wear OS app’s package name to your phone app’s AndroidManifest.xml file, create an Intent to launch the Wear OS app, and launch the Wear OS app using the startActivity method. Additionally, create a Service in the Wear OS app that listens for the com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT action and starts the workout when it’s received.

By following these steps, you can provide a convenient and focused workout experience for your users, and help them to achieve their fitness goals.

Step	Description
1	Add the Wear OS app’s package name to the phone app’s AndroidManifest.xml file
2	Create an Intent to launch the Wear OS app
3	Launch the Wear OS app using the startActivity method
4	Create a Service in the Wear OS app that listens for the com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT action
5	Register the Service in the AndroidManifest.xml file

• Use an Intent to request that the Wear OS app start a workout
• Create a Service in the Wear OS app that restarts the app when it’s killed
• Launch the Wear OS app using the startActivity method
• Provide a convenient and focused workout experience for your users

1. Start by adding the Wear OS app’s package name to the phone app’s AndroidManifest.xml file
2. Next, create an Intent to launch the Wear OS app
3. Then, launch the Wear OS app using the startActivity method
4. After that, create a Service in the Wear OS app that listens for the com.example.wearosapp.START_WORKOUT action
5. Finally, register the Service in the AndroidManifest.xml file

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to sweat with these Wear OS app launch tips!