Have you ever wondered how to show a badge on your Android app icon? It’s a great way to notify users about new updates or messages without them even having to open the app. In this tutorial, we’ll explore different ways to add badges to your Android app icon.
What is a Badge?
A badge is a small icon that appears on the top-right corner of an app’s icon. It serves as an indicator of new notifications, messages, or updates.
Method 1: Using Notification Badges
The easiest way to add a badge to your Android app icon is by using notification badges. These are built-in features in most Android devices that display a badge whenever there’s an unread notification.
1. First, create a notification using the NotificationCompat.Builder class. You can customize the notification with different styles and icons. 2.
Set the number of notifications using setNumber() method. 3. Finally, use setBadgeIconType() method and pass in BADGE_ICON_SMALL flag to display the badge on the app icon.
Here’s an example code:
“`
NotificationCompat.Builder builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(this)
.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.notification_icon)
.setContentTitle(“My notification”)
.setContentText(“Hello World!”)
.setNumber(2)
.setBadgeIconType(NotificationCompat.BADGE_ICON_SMALL);
“`
This code will display a badge with the number ‘2’ on your app icon.
Method 2: Using Third-Party Libraries
If you want more control over how your badges look or need additional features like custom animations, you can use third-party libraries like ShortcutBadger or NotificationBadger. First, add the library dependency in your build.gradle file.
Then, initialize the library in your activity or application class. Finally, use setBadgeCount() method to display the badge count on your app icon.
Here’s an example code using ShortcutBadger library:
“`
dependencies {
implementation ‘me.leolin:ShortcutBadger:1.1.22@aar’
}
ShortcutBadger.applyCount(context, badgeCount); // badgeCount is an integer value
“`
This code will display a badge with the given integer value on your app icon.
Method 3: Using Launcher Apps
Another way to add badges to your Android app icon is by using launcher apps like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. These apps offer customization options for app icons, including badges. First, download and install a launcher app from the Google Play Store.
Then, open the launcher settings and navigate to the ‘Badge Count’ or ‘Notification Badges’ option. Finally, enable the option and customize the look of your badges.
Note that this method may not work on all devices and may require additional permissions.
Conclusion
Adding badges to your Android app icon can enhance user engagement and improve user experience. Whether you use notification badges, third-party libraries, or launcher apps, there are multiple ways to achieve this feature. Experiment with different methods and choose what works best for your app.