App Icon disappeared! — Strange App launcher behavior (part 1)

As an Android Developer for several years, I’m still surprised by these unbeknown to me Android launcher behavior. When I faced them, I struggled to find information related to it. So share it here with you as earlier learning.

App Launcher Icon — Disappeared!!

During one development, as I was experimenting the relaunch of App, making some code changes etc. Then unknown to me, the App Icon gone missing!! I search the entire Apps in the device, can’t find it.

I try reinstalling it, but it is not allowed, complaining the App is already there. But when I run it (using Android Studio), that could be launched. Just the App Icon is no where to be seen.

In the Setting’s Application Manager, it is there, I could uninstall from there. But it’s so bizarre!!

My Finding

After hunting a while, I realize it’s due to some modification I’ve done in AndroidManifest. You could experiment this interesting behavior using a simple App as well.

When you create an App, you’ll have the below AndroidManifest defined for you

<activity android:name=".MainActivity">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />…