I just spent two days trying to puzzle out how to get some user details (first name and email) from the device, so that I don't have to ask them to enter it (and possibly enter the wrong account's email or mistype it).
There are several old forum posts about this, but they're tedious to wade through and cross-reference, so I thought my solution (a mash-up of existing ones) might be easier to grab here in a single snippet.
Background
I wanted the first name of the user and their account's email address, so I could use them in my app for sharing data between devices. I hoped that I could just ask Android for this (for the current user) so it would save them some typing (and mis-typing).
Methods
There are several ways to do this, but after lots of experimenting, I found that:
Here's a code excerpt that should get you most of the way there:
There's a bit of additional jiggerypokery to handle the activity being paused and resumed, but this is the main bit. Seems to work well on my range of test devices from Android 5 to 12.
Hope this helps!
There are several old forum posts about this, but they're tedious to wade through and cross-reference, so I thought my solution (a mash-up of existing ones) might be easier to grab here in a single snippet.
Background
I wanted the first name of the user and their account's email address, so I could use them in my app for sharing data between devices. I hoped that I could just ask Android for this (for the current user) so it would save them some typing (and mis-typing).
Methods
There are several ways to do this, but after lots of experimenting, I found that:
- Using ContentResolver gave me the full name but not a reliable email address (often nothing).
- Devices before Android 6 needed a manifest permission (android.permission.READ_CONTACTS), which might spook some users as a dangerous permission. Silent after that.
- Devices with Android 6+ needed the same as a runtime permission, a bit less spooky because you can tell them what you need it for just beforehand. Silent after that.
- Using AccountManager.getAccountsByType got me the email address, but not the name, and only worked on devices before Android 8.
- Devices before Android 6 needed a manifest permission (android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS), which might spook some users as a dangerous permission. Silent after that.
- Devices with Android 6-7 needed the same as a runtime permission, a bit less spooky because you can tell them what you need it for just beforehand. Silent after that.
- Using AccountManager.newChooseAccountIntent got me the email address, but not the name, and works on Android 6+.
- No permission needed (yay!), but pops up an account picker each time.
Here's a code excerpt that should get you most of the way there:
B4X:
sub getAccountEmail
If sdkVersion < 23 Then '< Android 6 - permission already granted in manifest file
userEmail = getAccountsForOlderDevices.Get(0)
else If sdkVersion < 26 Then 'Android 6-7 - need runtime permission
warnAboutGetAccountPermission
Else '>= Android 8 - use account picker (no permission needed)
warnAboutPickingAccount
End If
end sub
'https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/owner-accounts-with-all-field.41101/
'for devices less than Android 8, return a list of account email addresses. (newer devices get an empty list)
Sub getAccountsForOlderDevices As List
Dim wAccounts As List
wAccounts.Initialize
If sdkVersion < 26 Then
Dim r As Reflector
r.Target = r.RunStaticMethod("android.accounts.AccountManager", "get", Array As Object(r.GetContext), Array As String("android.content.Context"))
Dim accounts() As Object
accounts = r.RunMethod2("getAccountsByType", "com.google", "java.lang.String")
For i = 0 To accounts.Length - 1
r.Target = accounts(i)
wAccounts.Add(r.GetField("name")) 'actually email address
Next
Else
LogColor("getAccounts: empty list for Android 8+", Colors.Yellow)
End If
Return wAccounts
End Sub
'check/request permission, then get their email from their Google account on this device
Sub warnAboutGetAccountPermission
MsgboxAsync("This app needs your permission to get your account's email for sharing.", "Heads up!")
wait for Msgbox_Result(result As Int)
askAndGetAccountInfo
End Sub
Sub askAndGetAccountInfo
rp.CheckAndRequest(c.rp.PERMISSION_GET_ACCOUNTS)
wait for Activity_PermissionResult(Permission As String, result As Boolean)
If result = True Then
userEmail = getAccountsForOlderDevices.Get(0)
Else
MsgboxAsync("Sorry, can't continue without your account details", "No sharing")
End If
End Sub
'ask the user to pick their Google account, then get their name and email from their Google account on this device
Sub warnAboutPickingAccount
MsgboxAsync("Please pick your current account so the app can get your email address.", "Heads up!")
wait for Msgbox_Result(result As Int)
pickAccountToGetEmail
End Sub
'https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/get-email-accounts-returns-empty-list.105275/post-659474
Sub pickAccountToGetEmail
Dim jo As JavaObject
jo.InitializeStatic("android.accounts.AccountManager")
StartActivityForResult(jo.RunMethod("newChooseAccountIntent", Array(Null, Null, Array As String("com.google"), Null, Null, Null, Null)))
Wait For ion_Event(MethodName As String, Args() As Object)
If -1 = Args(0) Then 'resultCode = RESULT_OK
Dim i As Intent = Args(1)
userEmail = i.GetExtra("authAccount") 'email address of account
Else
userEmail = ""
MsgboxAsync("Sorry, could not get your account details", "Error")
End If
End Sub
Sub StartActivityForResult(i As Intent)
Dim jo As JavaObject = GetBA
ion = jo.CreateEvent("anywheresoftware.b4a.IOnActivityResult", "ion", Null)
jo.RunMethod("startActivityForResult", Array As Object(ion, i))
End Sub
Sub GetBA As Object
Dim jo As JavaObject
Dim cls As String = Me
cls = cls.SubString("class ".Length)
jo.InitializeStatic(cls)
Return jo.GetField("processBA")
End SubThere's a bit of additional jiggerypokery to handle the activity being paused and resumed, but this is the main bit. Seems to work well on my range of test devices from Android 5 to 12.
Hope this helps!
Last edited: