Android Activity Shortcuts: Launch App Screens Directly
Deep Linking Within Android Apps Using Shortcuts
The Android operating system provides a mechanism for creating app shortcuts. Beyond standard shortcuts, it’s possible to establish links that navigate directly to specific screens contained within an application.
These specialized shortcuts can, for instance, bypass the main application interface and lead directly to the navigation functionality within Maps, or to any particular screen found in the Settings application.
Leveraging Android Activities
This functionality is achieved through Android’s underlying activities system. Activities can be understood as the individual screens that comprise an application’s user interface.
To illustrate, each panel visible within the Android Settings app is implemented as a distinct activity.
Examples in Popular Applications
The concept extends to other commonly used applications as well. Consider Evernote and Gmail; the "New Note" and "Compose Email" screens, respectively, are each realized as separate activities.
Therefore, shortcuts can be configured to directly launch these specific activities, offering users quicker access to frequently used features.
- Activities represent individual screens within an Android app.
- Shortcuts can bypass the app's main screen and go directly to an activity.
- This improves user experience by providing faster access to key features.
Leveraging Third-Party Launchers for Activity Shortcuts
Many third-party launchers incorporate features that simplify the creation of activity shortcuts. This guide will demonstrate the process using Nova Launcher, a widely-used option, though similar functionality is available on numerous other launchers.
For users employing the default launcher or a custom launcher lacking native activity shortcut support, an alternative method is detailed further below.
It’s important to note that this technique is limited to creating shortcuts directly on your home screen; placement within the app drawer is not possible.
Creating Shortcuts with Nova Launcher
Begin by performing a long press on an empty area of Nova Launcher’s home screen. From the menu that appears, select the “Shortcuts” option. The procedure should be analogous on other popular launchers.
Choose “Activities” to initiate the creation of an activity shortcut.
Browse the alphabetically sorted list of installed applications and tap the app for which you wish to generate a shortcut. This will reveal the available activities.
For instance, to create a shortcut directly to the navigation function, select the Maps application and then identify the “Navigation” activity.
Identifying Specific Activities
If you intend to create a shortcut for initiating a new Evernote note, choose the Evernote app and locate the “New Note” activity. The descriptive text displayed beneath each activity’s name provides insight into its function.
Uncertain about the destination of a particular activity? A long press on the activity within Nova Launcher’s list will immediately launch that screen. This allows you to preview the shortcut’s target before committing – simply use the Back button to return to the activity list.
Once you’ve selected the desired activity, a single tap will create the corresponding shortcut on your home screen. You can then reposition and manage this shortcut as you would any other application icon.
Utilizing Activity Shortcuts Without a Custom Launcher
The standard Android launcher typically lacks the functionality found in many third-party alternatives. While installing a launcher like Nova Launcher provides this capability, allowing you to designate it as your default, some users prefer to retain the default launcher and avoid additional installations.
For these users, a third-party application capable of generating shortcuts to specific app activities is necessary. QuickShortcutMaker serves this purpose, offering a straightforward and cost-free solution. Recent feedback on the Google Play Store suggests potential issues for some users, however, it functioned reliably on a Nexus 4 device running Android 4.3. Should problems arise, xShortcut Free presents a viable alternative.
Following installation, access your Widgets drawer and perform a long-press on the Activities widget. Then, place the widget onto your home screen. Technically a widget, its 1x1 size mirrors that of a conventional app shortcut.
Upon placement, the shortcut creation interface will appear. Browse through your installed applications and select them to view the available activities for shortcut creation. Utilize the search function to quickly locate a specific application if needed.
Selecting an activity will lead you to the Edit Shortcut screen. Press the Try button to launch the activity and confirm its correctness. Return to the Edit Shortcut interface using the back button. Prior to saving, customize the shortcut's name and icon. The icon can be sourced from any image within your Gallery.
Confirm your settings by tapping OK. The activity shortcut will then be added to your home screen. Additional shortcuts can be created by repeating these steps.
The number of directly launchable activities varies between applications. Furthermore, some apps may restrict external activity launches for security purposes. Therefore, this method may not function universally for all desired app screens.