22 May 2024 Leave a comment Tech-Help
Encountering the “Activity has leaked window that was originally added” error in Android development can be perplexing. This error typically occurs when a dialog is shown after the activity has exited. Let’s delve into the common causes and solutions for this issue.
Understanding the Error
The error message usually looks something like this:
05-17 18:24:57.069: ERROR/WindowManager(18850): Activity com.mypkg.myP has leaked window com.android.internal.policy.impl.PhoneWindow$DecorView@44c46ff0 that was originally added here
This indicates that a window (typically a dialog) was added to the activity but was not removed before the activity was destroyed.
Common Causes
The primary reasons for this error include:
- Showing a dialog after the activity has exited.
- An unhandled exception in an
AsyncTaskcausing the activity to shut down prematurely. - Forgetting to dismiss the dialog before the activity is destroyed.
Solution Approaches
1. Dismiss Dialogs Properly
Ensure you call dismiss() on any dialog before the activity exits. You can do this in lifecycle methods like onPause() or onDestroy():
@Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
if (progressDialog != null && progressDialog.isShowing()) {
progressDialog.dismiss();
}
}
2. Handle AsyncTask Exceptions
If an unhandled exception in an AsyncTask causes the activity to shut down, make sure to handle exceptions properly within the doInBackground() method:
@Override
protected String doInBackground(String... args) {
try {
// Your background task code
} catch (Exception e) {
// Handle the exception
}
return null;
}
3. Check Activity State Before Showing Dialog
Ensure the activity is not finishing or destroyed before showing a dialog:
if (!isFinishing() && !isDestroyed()) {
dialog.show();
}
Practical Example
Consider the following scenario where a progress dialog is shown during a background task. The correct approach would be to check the activity state before showing the dialog and dismiss it appropriately:
@Override
protected void onPreExecute() {
super.onPreExecute();
if (!activity.isFinishing() && !activity.isDestroyed()) {
progressDialog = new ProgressDialog(activity);
progressDialog.setMessage("Loading...");
progressDialog.show();
}
}
@Override
protected void onPostExecute(String result) {
if (progressDialog != null && progressDialog.isShowing()) {
progressDialog.dismiss();
}
}
Leveraging Repeato for Automated Testing
While addressing this issue manually is crucial, automating your testing process can save significant time and effort. Our product, Repeato, offers a no-code test automation solution for iOS and Android. It allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests effortlessly, ensuring that such errors are caught early in the development cycle.
Repeato’s computer vision and AI-based approach make it particularly fast to edit and run tests. This ensures that mobile developers can focus on creating great products rather than spending excessive time on testing. Additionally, it empowers non-technical colleagues or QAs to handle test automation, streamlining the development workflow.
For more information on how Repeato can enhance your testing process, visit our documentation or contact us.
