Implement a media session

Create a MediaSession when your app is preparing to play media. The following code snippet is an example of how to set the appropriate callback and flags:

Kotlin

session = MediaSession(this, "MusicService").apply {
    setCallback(MediaSessionCallback())
    setFlags(
            MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_MEDIA_BUTTONS or MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_TRANSPORT_CONTROLS
    )
}

Java

session = new MediaSession(this, "MusicService");
session.setCallback(new MediaSessionCallback());
session.setFlags(MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_MEDIA_BUTTONS |
        MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_TRANSPORT_CONTROLS);

Start a media session

Be sure to also call setActive(true) when playback begins. Your app must also request audio focus, as described in Manage audio focus. These steps are shown in the following example:

Kotlin

private fun handlePlayRequest() {

    tryToGetAudioFocus()

    if (!session.isActive) {
        session.isActive = true
    }
    ...
}

Java

private void handlePlayRequest() {

    tryToGetAudioFocus();

    if (!session.isActive()) {
        session.setActive(true);
    }
    ...
}

Update the playback state

Update the playback state in the MediaSession to reflect the state of the current media:

Kotlin

private fun updatePlaybackState() {
    val position: Long =
            mediaPlayer
                    ?.takeIf { it.isPlaying }
                    ?.currentPosition?.toLong()
                    ?: PlaybackState.PLAYBACK_POSITION_UNKNOWN

    val stateBuilder = PlaybackState.Builder()
            .setActions(getAvailableActions()).apply {
                setState(mState, position, 1.0f)
            }
    session.setPlaybackState(stateBuilder.build())
}

private fun getAvailableActions(): Long {
    var actions = (PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_PAUSE
            or PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_MEDIA_ID
            or PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_SEARCH)

    playingQueue?.takeIf { it.isNotEmpty() }?.apply {
        actions = if (mState == PlaybackState.STATE_PLAYING) {
            actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_PAUSE
        } else {
            actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY
        }
        if (currentIndexOnQueue > 0) {
            actions = actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_PREVIOUS
        }
        if (currentIndexOnQueue < size - 1) {
            actions = actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_NEXT
        }
    }
    return actions
}

Java

private void updatePlaybackState() {
    long position = PlaybackState.PLAYBACK_POSITION_UNKNOWN;
    if (mediaPlayer != null && mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) {
        position = mediaPlayer.getCurrentPosition();
    }
    PlaybackState.Builder stateBuilder = new PlaybackState.Builder()
            .setActions(getAvailableActions());
    stateBuilder.setState(mState, position, 1.0f);
    session.setPlaybackState(stateBuilder.build());
}

private long getAvailableActions() {
    long actions = PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_PAUSE |
            PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_MEDIA_ID |
            PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_SEARCH;
    if (playingQueue == null || playingQueue.isEmpty()) {
        return actions;
    }
    if (mState == PlaybackState.STATE_PLAYING) {
        actions |= PlaybackState.ACTION_PAUSE;
    } else {
        actions |= PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY;
    }
    if (currentIndexOnQueue > 0) {
        actions |= PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_PREVIOUS;
    }
    if (currentIndexOnQueue < playingQueue.size() - 1) {
        actions |= PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_NEXT;
    }
    return actions;
}

Update the media metadata

Set the MediaMetadata with the setMetadata() method. This method is only called once per object that is played. It lets you provide information to the media session about the media, including its title, subtitle, artist, artwork, etc. The following example is tailored toward music and assumes the track's data is stored in a custom data class, MediaData:

Kotlin

private fun updateMetadata(myData: MediaData) {
    val metadataBuilder = MediaMetadata.Builder().apply {
        // To provide most control over how an item is displayed set the
        // display fields in the metadata
        putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_TITLE, myData.displayTitle)
        putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_SUBTITLE, myData.displaySubtitle)
        putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_ICON_URI, myData.artUri)
        // And at minimum the title and artist for legacy support
        putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, myData.title)
        putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST, myData.artist)
        // A small bitmap for the artwork is also recommended
        putBitmap(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ART, myData.artBitmap)
        // Add any other fields you have for your data as well
    }
    session.setMetadata(metadataBuilder.build())
}

Java

private void updateMetadata(MediaData myData) {
    MediaMetadata.Builder metadataBuilder = new MediaMetadata.Builder();
    // To provide most control over how an item is displayed set the
    // display fields in the metadata
    metadataBuilder.putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_TITLE,
            myData.displayTitle);
    metadataBuilder.putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_SUBTITLE,
            myData.displaySubtitle);
    metadataBuilder.putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_ICON_URI,
            myData.artUri);
    // And at minimum the title and artist for legacy support
    metadataBuilder.putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE,
            myData.title);
    metadataBuilder.putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST,
            myData.artist);
    // A small bitmap for the artwork is also recommended
    metadataBuilder.putBitmap(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ART,
            myData.artBitmap);
    // Add any other fields you have for your data as well
    session.setMetadata(metadataBuilder.build());
}

Playback controls on TV

Background playback in a Now Playing card