Fatal Exception: java.lang.IllegalStateException - Not allowed to start service Intent (app is in background)

[ReneFerrari]

DFU Bootloader version (please complete the following information):

• SDK version: 31
• Library version: 1.12.0

Device information (please complete the following information):

• Device: Any device running Android 8 or higher

Describe the bug
From time to time we are facing this crash (Android 8 and up due to changes with services). Basically the App is in background and tries to start a service.

The affected LOC is: no.nordicsemi.android.dfu.DfuBaseService.onHandleIntent (DfuBaseService.java:1413)

(Note: It crashes on all startService calls, so not only the one I picked here)

I think changing it to:

if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
    startForegroundService(intent);
} else {
    startService(intent);
}

would probably solve it.

Is there anything speaking against it?

I just checked for Android 12 and up there are unfortunately more restrictions: https://developer.android.com/about/versions/12/behavior-changes-12#foreground-service-launch-restrictions
So startForegroundService won't work there, rather WorkManager should be used

[junebeans]

To add a note - we need to add permission FOREGROUND_SERVICE on the consumer to start the foreground service. Here are the additional reference https://developer.android.com/guide/components/foreground-services#request-foreground-service-permissions. It would be nice if we have permission added in the library 👀

Ran this on v2.3.0 at android 13.

[philips77]

So startForegroundService won't work there, rather WorkManager should be used

Indeed, WorkManager should be used. The library was created long before the first WorkManager existed in a way that it would have to be rewritten separating transport and runner.

You may also disable starting service as foreground at all by setting this to false:

Android-DFU-Library/lib/dfu/src/main/java/no/nordicsemi/android/dfu/DfuServiceInitiator.java

Line 152 in 9123f8b

public DfuServiceInitiator setForeground(final boolean foreground) {