Bug 411018

Summary:	Running a command from the Android app using a URL, does not work anymore on the background from Android 10 (Q) and up.
Product:	[Applications] kdeconnect	Reporter:	Jolan <jolanrensen>
Component:	android-application	Assignee:	Albert Vaca Cintora <albertvaka>
Status:	RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Severity:	normal	CC:	aristsakas
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Android
OS:	Other
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Jolan 2019-08-17 18:11:45 UTC

SUMMARY
Running a command from the Android app using a URL, does not work anymore on the background from Android 10 (Q) and up.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Have an Android device running Android Q beta 6 (or higher when available)
2. Connect to a pc, add a command, long press the command to copy the URL
3. Have an automation app like "Tasker" open the copied URL in automated manner

OBSERVED RESULT
When Tasker is opened, the URL works, KDE Connect opens and the command is executed.
When Tasker is not opened in the direct foreground, the URL can not be opened as Android Q now prohibits apps from opening activities from the background.

EXPECTED RESULT
On older Android versions, opening an activity from the background (as is the case here) worked fine, but on Q nothing happens when the URL should open.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Android: 10.0 (Q)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A good and working solution would be to implement the Takser (Locale) API which allows a couple of automation apps (where Tasker is simply the most popular one) to send commands in automated manner to KDE Connect.
Information can be found here: https://tasker.joaoapps.com/developers.html

What is required, is an "action plugin", which broadly requires an activity where the user can choose which command to execute and a broadcast receiver, to execute a set-up command when Tasker sends the signal.
https://tasker.joaoapps.com/plugins.html

What works even faster (but is Tasker specific) is using an IntentService in addition to a broadcast receiver.
This is explained here: https://tasker.joaoapps.com/pluginsservicesmigration.html

Comment 1 Jolan 2019-09-12 11:11:59 UTC

I just found out a temporary workaround. Background activity launches are not prohibited for apps running an accessibility service (as described here https://developer.android.com/guide/components/activities/background-starts). This means that granting for instance Tasker accessibility access, will allow the app to launch a url from the background and thus execute the remote KDE Connect command.

Comment 2 aristsakas 2025-06-11 22:45:00 UTC

Thank you for the bug report, and I'm sorry we didn't manage to get to it before. KDE Connect depends on the specifics of the device and network configuration. We recommend that you first try the troubleshooting steps at https://userbase.kde.org/KDEConnect#Troubleshooting, and if these do not work, try asking at discuss.kde.org or your distibution's support forums. Bug reports are only actionable for developers if the cause can be clearly identified and is something that can be fixed on our end, and at those places you can get help with narrowing this down and making it actionable for developers.
I am closing this bug report, but please do not hesitate to file a new one if you can narrow down the issue to a particular cause that can be fixed in KDE Connect.
KDEConnect - KDE UserBase Wiki

Comment 3 Bug Janitor Service 2025-06-26 03:48:01 UTC

🐛🧹 ⚠️ This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 15 days. Please provide the requested information, then set the bug status to REPORTED. If there is no change for at least 30 days, it will be automatically closed as RESOLVED WORKSFORME.

For more information about our bug triaging procedures, please read https://community.kde.org/Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Bug_triaging.

Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!

Comment 4 Bug Janitor Service 2025-07-11 03:47:46 UTC

🐛🧹 This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 30 days. Closing as RESOLVED WORKSFORME.