keyevent - Android - Listener for hard keys press at background -

android provides callback methods our handle key event inside apps. if want listen key events when app running @ background? eg. want listen long press event on search button special feature.

keyevents can handled activities interface user pressing keys , when in foreground. services run in background not intended react on user input.

but using service can have workaround. can create service responds hard key press events registering broadcastreceiver. example in aosp music app, have service (mediaplaybackservice) responds volume key events registering broadcastreceiver (mediabuttonintentreceiver).

here's code registers receiver:

maudiomanager = (audiomanager) getsystemservice(context.audio_service); componentname rec = new componentname(getpackagename(),         mediabuttonintentreceiver.class.getname()); maudiomanager.registermediabuttoneventreceiver(rec); 

this works if music app not in foreground. code snippet this answer.