What are the strict requirements for running a foreground service on modern Android versions (Android 14+)?

Short answer

You must declare a specific service type (foregroundServiceType) in the manifest, request its specific permission, and launch a persistent notification visible to the user through startForeground within a few seconds.

Explanation

Since Android 14, it has become mandatory to specify the service type precisely (such as location, mediaPlayback, dataSync); and the system does not allow the service to launch if it does not match the declared permissions. In addition, if you do not call startForeground(id, notification) within 10 seconds of calling startForegroundService(), the app will crash immediately with a ForegroundServiceDidNotStartInTimeException.

Code example

<!-- In the file AndroidManifest.xml -->
<service
    android:name=".PlaybackService"
    android:foregroundServiceType="mediaPlayback" />

// In the class code:
override fun onCreate() {
    super.onCreate()
    val notification = createNotification()
    startForeground(1001, notification)
}

Common mistakes

• Delaying the call to startForeground() after launching the service, causing an immediate app crash.
• Using a generic service type without clear justification under Google Play store policies.

Follow-up questions

• What are the types of services in Android and what is the essential difference between them?

Sources

• Android Developers — Foreground services