How to Request Permissions in Jetpack Compose: A Step-by-Step Guide

User in front of a paper signing a paper, like giving permission to something.

Hello there, my fellow Kotlin enthusiasts!

Thank you to everyone who reached out with polite requests for an update to this post. I appreciate your patience and am grateful for the heads-up about the outdated libraries. Your feedback is invaluable, and it’s heartening to see such an engaged and thoughtful community. Here’s the updated content, reflecting the latest in Jetpack Compose.

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Requesting permissions is a fundamental aspect of Android app development, and with Jetpack Compose, handling permissions has become even more straightforward and intuitive. In this step-by-step guide, we will explore how to request permissions in Jetpack Compose and ensure a smooth user experience.

Understanding Permission Requests in Jetpack Compose

Before diving into the implementation, it’s essential to understand the permission system in Android. Android requires apps to request user consent to access sensitive data or perform certain actions that may affect the user’s privacy or device functionality. Jetpack Compose allows you to integrate the permission request flow seamlessly into your app.

Important Notice: We will work with the Accompanist Permissions library from Google. Add it to your Gradle file with the latest version number:

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.google.accompanist:accompanist-permissions:<latest_version>'
}

Step 1: Add Required Permissions to Manifest

First, ensure that you have declared the necessary permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml file. For example, if your app requires access to the device’s camera, you should add the following line to your manifest:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

Step 2: Check Permission Status

In your Jetpack Compose composable, you can use the rememberPermissionState function to check the status of the required permission. This function returns a PermissionState object that contains information about the permission status (granted, denied, or not requested yet).

import androidx.activity.compose.rememberPermissionState
import android.Manifest

@Composable
fun MyComposable() {
    val cameraPermissionState = rememberPermissionState(Manifest.permission.CAMERA)

    // Your UI code and permission handling here
}

Step 3: Request Permission

Next, you can use the LaunchedEffect composable along with the permissionState to request the required permission when necessary. If the permission has not been granted yet, the permission request dialog will be shown to the user.

import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
import androidx.compose.material.Text
import androidx.compose.material.Button
import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalLifecycleOwner
import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
import androidx.lifecycle.Lifecycle
import androidx.lifecycle.flowWithLifecycle
import androidx.lifecycle.lifecycleScope
import kotlinx.coroutines.launch

@Composable
fun MyComposable() {
    val cameraPermissionState = rememberPermissionState(Manifest.permission.CAMERA)

    val requestPermissionLauncher = rememberLauncherForActivityResult(
        ActivityResultContracts.RequestPermission()
    ) { isGranted ->
        if (isGranted) {
            // Permission granted
        } else {
            // Handle permission denial
        }
    }

    LaunchedEffect(cameraPermissionState) {
        if (!cameraPermissionState.status.isGranted && cameraPermissionState.status.shouldShowRationale) {
              // Show rationale if needed
        } else {
              requestPermissionLauncher.launch(Manifest.permission.CAMERA)
        }
    }
}

Key Points:

• Accessing isGranted and shouldShowRationale: Use permissionState.status.isGranted and permissionState.status.shouldShowRationale to check for permission status and rationale need.
• Import Statements: Ensure you have the correct import statements for the Accompanist Permissions library.

Conclusion

With Jetpack Compose, requesting permissions in your Android app has become more streamlined and user-friendly. By using the rememberPermissionState function and integrating it with the LaunchedEffect composable, you can ensure that your app follows the permission request flow seamlessly. Now you have the tools to build apps that handle permissions effectively, providing a secure and privacy-conscious user experience. Happy composing and permission handling!