How to launch another app from your app

If you ever need to launch another app from your own it’s actually easier than you think.
The PackageManager class provides some handy methods that make this a snap.
All you need to know is the package name of the app you want to launch and then use the code below:

protected void launchApp(String packageName) {
		Intent mIntent = getPackageManager().getLaunchIntentForPackage(
				packageName);
		if (mIntent != null) {
			try {
				startActivity(mIntent);
			} catch (ActivityNotFoundException err) {
				Toast t = Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
						R.string.app_not_found, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT);
				t.show();
			}
		}
	}

You can use http://www.cyrket.com/ to get the package name of individual apps by looking at the url in the browser.

If you need to automate you can get a list of installed apps like this:

final PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();

		List packages = pm
				.getInstalledApplications(PackageManager.GET_META_DATA);

		for (ApplicationInfo packageInfo : packages) {

			Log.d(TAG, "Installed package :" + packageInfo.packageName);
			Log.d(TAG,
					"Launch Activity :"
							+ pm.getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageInfo.packageName));

		}

Hope this helps!

18 comments on “How to launch another app from your app”

Dympy 04/22/2011

In your second example (for the app list), do you really have to use the tag?

Dympy
noslen 04/26/2011

Hi Dympy,
The tag is just used with Debug.log it just prints a trace output to the Logcat.
The tag parameter can be any string you want, it merely serves to help you categorize your traces.
You can get more info about it here: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/util/Log.html

Hope that helps!
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Dympy 04/29/2011

I didn’t mean that tag, I meant the tag.
You don’t really need it.

Dympy
Lacra 09/18/2011

Hi! I’m new to android so I have a question that is kind of related to your post. I have a list of all the installed apps on my phone. I used your code so as to when click on one item in the list it launches the application. My problem is that it works for some of the apps in the list ( I mean that it launches them)…but for some it tells me that the application has stopped unexpectedly and it is forced to close and it doesn’t launch it. Some of the apps that don’t work are Calculator, Contacts, Dialer, Example Wallpapers and some of the apps that work are Browser, Search, Music, Custom Locale a.s.o. I don’t know what the problem might be and maybe you have already encountered this problem and can enlighten me, I would be grateful!
Pranay 12/21/2011

I used the same technique, but it throws exception for Map and Camera application.

I’ve posted my question in detail here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8586299/camera-and-map-crashes-when-launched-from-my-custom-home-screen/8586324

will be glad if you can help. thanks in advance.
Edward Granados 01/01/2012

@Lacra & Pranay
look under your manifest.xml
u need to give android permission to use those features
ex.

there are a lot of others but i thought this would be of help
Edward Granados 01/01/2012

uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.CALL_PHONE”
uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.GET_TASKS”
uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.READ_CONTACTS”
uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.SET_WALLPAPER”
uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.INTERNET”
uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.EXPAND_STATUS_BAR”
Nadia 01/17/2012

In the first code, nothing happens when i run it?
PCC 03/02/2012

Hi all, my prob: I have a group of apps, when I launch each app in it, a message will appear and show the list of all of the other apps. I can click any app in this list and install it (if it isn’t installed) or launch it(if it is installed). I’m new to android, so, you can give me some advices?
Harshal 02/05/2013

Thanks a lot. It is really helpful.
deepa 06/04/2014

It is showing default apps present in your device for example: html viewer(com.android.htmlviewer),input device(com.android.inputdevices),key chain(com.android.keuchain) etc can you please help me
purva 07/30/2014

Its giving me this error please help I am learning android and not able to figure it out
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: Didn’t find class “com.ibc.android.demo.appslist.app.AppData” on path: /data/app/com.ibc.android.demo.appslist.activity-2.apk
Nitish 09/06/2014

it is very helpfull thanks.
but now i want to launch facebook and youtube like apps.
I want to ask

Are facebook and Youtube like app have different package names with different versions ?
Chitra 09/17/2014

where should i exactly put this code ,should i make new .java file or in Main.java file i have to add the above code.
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CarpeVitam 12/08/2014

Hi, is it possible to run an app in another app? I want to use the first app to chance the Display Mode of the other app.
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How to launch another app from your app

18 comments on “How to launch another app from your app”

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