How to detect shake event in Android app?

This example demonstrates how to do I in android.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:padding="8dp"
   android:orientation="vertical"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <TextView
      android:text="Shake the phone to detect to shake event"
      android:textSize="24sp"
      android:textStyle="bold"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
</LinearLayout>

Step 3 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.content.Context;
import android.hardware.Sensor;
import android.hardware.SensorEvent;
import android.hardware.SensorEventListener;
import android.hardware.SensorManager;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.Toast;
import java.util.Objects;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   private SensorManager mSensorManager;
   private float mAccel;
   private float mAccelCurrent;
   private float mAccelLast;
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      mSensorManager = (SensorManager) getSystemService(Context.SENSOR_SERVICE);
      Objects.requireNonNull(mSensorManager).registerListener(mSensorListener, mSensorManager.getDefaultSensor(Sensor.TYPE_ACCELEROMETER),
      SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_NORMAL);
      mAccel = 10f;
      mAccelCurrent = SensorManager.GRAVITY_EARTH;
      mAccelLast = SensorManager.GRAVITY_EARTH;
   }
   private final SensorEventListener mSensorListener = new SensorEventListener() {
      @Override
      public void onSensorChanged(SensorEvent event) {
         float x = event.values[0];
         float y = event.values[1];
         float z = event.values[2];
         mAccelLast = mAccelCurrent;
         mAccelCurrent = (float) Math.sqrt((double) (x * x + y * y + z * z));
         float delta = mAccelCurrent - mAccelLast;
         mAccel = mAccel * 0.9f + delta;
         if (mAccel > 12) {
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Shake event detected", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
         }
      }
      @Override
      public void onAccuracyChanged(Sensor sensor, int accuracy) {
      }
   };
   @Override
   protected void onResume() {
      mSensorManager.registerListener(mSensorListener, mSensorManager.getDefaultSensor(Sensor.TYPE_ACCELEROMETER),
      SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_NORMAL);
      super.onResume();
   }
   @Override
   protected void onPause() {
      mSensorManager.unregisterListener(mSensorListener);
      super.onPause();
   }
}

Step 4 − Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   package="app.com.sample">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from the android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run  icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −

Click here to download the project code.