Android Live Updates: how to qualify for a promoted notification

Notification.FLAG_PROMOTED_ONGOING tells you whether a notification is promoted. Notification.hasPromotableCharacteristics() checks whether the system can promote it, but ignores whether the user turned Live Updates off for your app. NotificationManager.canPostPromotedNotifications() checks that user setting, and Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_APP_PROMOTED_NOTIFICATIONS opens the settings screen where the user can turn it back on. Users can also dismiss a Live Update or demote it to a standard notification.

Google’s usage criteria: the activity must be ongoing, with a distinct start and end, user-initiated, such as starting a workout or hailing a ride, and time-sensitive, needing attention throughout. Appropriate: active navigation, ongoing phone calls, rideshare tracking and food delivery tracking. Inappropriate: ads, promotions, chat messages, alerts, upcoming calendar events and quick access to app features. Package tracking doesn’t qualify, because users don’t need to watch it constantly. For a future event the user signed up for, such as a flight or concert, a Live Update can start when the event is imminent. Don’t repost a Live Update the user dismissed; use setDeleteIntent to detect dismissal, since unwanted ones can lead users to revoke your posting permission.

The status bar chip always shows an icon and optionally text, with a maximum width of 96dp. Text under 7 characters shows in full; if less than half would fit, only the icon shows. Use setShortCriticalText or setWhen for the chip’s state. A when time at least 2 minutes ahead shows as a countdown, such as “5min”; a past when time shows no text. A chronometer can run in the chip with setUsesChronometer and setChronometerCountdown. While an ETA is still calculating, show placeholder text such as “Rerouting…” rather than an empty state.

Notification.ProgressStyle, added in API level 36 with Android 16, builds progress-centric notifications with segments, points and a custom tracker icon for rideshare, delivery and navigation. Android 17 adds Notification.MetricStyle (API level 37), which shows up to three metrics such as steps, timers or weather; when promoted, one metric may appear in the status bar chip. Android 17 also adds semantic colors for Live Updates, green for safe, orange for caution, red for danger and blue for information, through Notification.createSemanticStyleAnnotation. Some Live Updates are bridged to connected Wear OS devices. More in the Android 17 behavior changes checklist; background playback rules are in Android 17 background audio.

A Live Update keeps an engaged user close; being found brings the user in the first place. Censuus ranks apps by the visits they draw, and adding your app is free on the List my app form. Placement comes from traffic and sponsorship: apps climb on the visits they draw, and a sponsor can pay to rise higher.