The simplest way to get the user's current location on Android


This example demonstrates how do I get the user’s current location on android in the simplest way.

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"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:orientation="vertical"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
<TextView
   android:layout_marginTop="20dp"
   android:layout_width="fill_parent"
   android:layout_height="wrap_content"
   android:text="Get Current Location and City Name"
   android:textAlignment="center"
   android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
   android:textSize="20sp" />
<TextView
   android:layout_width="wrap_content"
   android:layout_height="wrap_content"
   android:id="@+id/textView"
   android:layout_centerInParent="true"
   android:textSize="16sp"
   android:textStyle="bold"/>
</RelativeLayout>

Step 3 − Add the following dependency in Gradle

implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:17.0.0'

Step 4 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat;
import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat;
import android.Manifest;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.location.Geocoder;
import android.location.Location;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Handler;
import android.os.ResultReceiver;
import android.util.Log;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;
import com.google.android.gms.location.FusedLocationProviderClient;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationCallback;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationRequest;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationResult;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationServices;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   private FusedLocationProviderClient fusedLocationClient;
   private static final int LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE = 2;
   private LocationAddressResultReceiver addressResultReceiver;
   private TextView currentAddTv;
   private Location currentLocation;
   private LocationCallback locationCallback;
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      addressResultReceiver = new LocationAddressResultReceiver(new Handler());
      currentAddTv = findViewById(R.id.textView);
      fusedLocationClient = LocationServices.getFusedLocationProviderClient(this);
      locationCallback = new LocationCallback() {
         @Override
         public void onLocationResult(LocationResult locationResult) {
            currentLocation = locationResult.getLocations().get(0);
            getAddress();
         }
      };
      startLocationUpdates();
   }
   @SuppressWarnings("MissingPermission")
   private void startLocationUpdates() {
      if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) !=
      PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
         ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new
         String[]{Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION},
         LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE);
      }
      else {
         LocationRequest locationRequest = new LocationRequest();
         locationRequest.setInterval(2000);
         locationRequest.setFastestInterval(1000);
         locationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
         fusedLocationClient.requestLocationUpdates(locationRequest, locationCallback, null);
      }
   }
   @SuppressWarnings("MissingPermission")
   private void getAddress() {
      if (!Geocoder.isPresent()) {
         Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Can't find current address, ",
         Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
         return;
      }
      Intent intent = new Intent(this, GetAddressIntentService.class);
      intent.putExtra("add_receiver", addressResultReceiver);
      intent.putExtra("add_location", currentLocation);
      startService(intent);
   }
   @Override
   public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull
int[] grantResults) {
   if (requestCode == LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE) {
      if (grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
         startLocationUpdates();
      }
       else {
         Toast.makeText(this, "Location permission not granted, " + "restart the app if you want the
         feature", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
      }
   }
}
private class LocationAddressResultReceiver extends ResultReceiver {
   LocationAddressResultReceiver(Handler handler) {
      super(handler);
   }
   @Override
   protected void onReceiveResult(int resultCode, Bundle resultData) {
      if (resultCode == 0) {
         Log.d("Address", "Location null retrying");
         getAddress();
      }
      if (resultCode == 1) {
         Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Address not found, ", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
      }
      String currentAdd = resultData.getString("address_result");
         showResults(currentAdd);
      }
   }
   private void showResults(String currentAdd) {
      currentAddTv.setText(currentAdd);
   }
   @Override
   protected void onResume() {
      super.onResume();
      startLocationUpdates();
   }
   @Override
   protected void onPause() {
      super.onPause();
      fusedLocationClient.removeLocationUpdates(locationCallback);
   }
}

Step 5 − Create a new java class GetaddressIntentService.java and add the following code

package app.com.sample;
import android.app.IntentService;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.location.Address;
import android.location.Geocoder;
import android.location.Location;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.ResultReceiver;
import android.util.Log;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Locale;
import java.util.Objects;
import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
public class GetAddressIntentService extends IntentService {
   private static final String IDENTIFIER = "GetAddressIntentService";
   private ResultReceiver addressResultReceiver;
   public GetAddressIntentService() {
      super(IDENTIFIER);
   }
   @Override
   protected void onHandleIntent(@Nullable Intent intent) {
      String msg;
      addressResultReceiver = Objects.requireNonNull(intent).getParcelableExtra("add_receiver");
      if (addressResultReceiver == null) {
         Log.e("GetAddressIntentService", "No receiver, not processing the request further");
         return;
      }
      Location location = intent.getParcelableExtra("add_location");
      if (location == null) {
         msg = "No location, can't go further without location";
         sendResultsToReceiver(0, msg);
      return;
   }
   Geocoder geocoder = new Geocoder(this, Locale.getDefault());
   List<Address> addresses = null;
   try {
      addresses = geocoder.getFromLocation(location.getLatitude(), location.getLongitude(), 1);
   }
   catch (Exception ioException) {
      Log.e("", "Error in getting address for the location");
   }
   if (addresses == null || addresses.size() == 0) {
      msg = "No address found for the location";
      sendResultsToReceiver(1, msg);
   }
   else {
      Address address = addresses.get(0);
      String addressDetails = address.getFeatureName() + "
" + address.getThoroughfare() + "
" +       "Locality: " + address.getLocality() + "
" + "County: " + address.getSubAdminArea() + "
" +       "State: " + address.getAdminArea() + "
" + "Country: " + address.getCountryName() + "
" +       "Postal Code: " + address.getPostalCode() + "
";       sendResultsToReceiver(2, addressDetails);    } } private void sendResultsToReceiver(int resultCode, String message) {    Bundle bundle = new Bundle();    bundle.putString("address_result", message);    addressResultReceiver.send(resultCode, bundle);    } }

Step 6 − 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>
   <service android:name=".GetAddressIntentService" />
</application>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
</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 the RunPlay Icon icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −

Updated on: 07-Jul-2020

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