android - Controlling the Alarm icon in status bar

Question

This question relates to Android versions pre-Lollipop. For Lollipop API, check related question:

• Lollipop API for controlling the Alarm icon in status bar

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I would like to know how to turn on / off the system Alarm icon in the status bar as shown in this image:

From what I understand about the system, and what I've read in the past, it is controlled by the built in system alarm clock app. And 3rd party apps have no control over it on an unrooted device. There is no reason we should be able to control it.

• Android, the alarm icon on the right side of notification area?

However, Timely v1.2.7 controls this icon on my unrooted Galaxy Nexus v4.2.1, & Nexus 5 v4.4.2. So it is possible.

I wonder what the technique is to do this on an unrooted device. I suspect a hack or undocumented code but still interested if anyone can shed some light.

Answer 1

v5 Lollipop

Lollipop finally removed those private API features. This technique no longer works from v5.

I have posted a new question about Lollipop specifically, which has an answer on it:

• Lollipop API for controlling the Alarm icon in status bar

Pre-Lollipop

This is how it is done, using private api properties:

protected void setStatusBarIcon(boolean enabled)
{
    Intent alarmChanged = new Intent("android.intent.action.ALARM_CHANGED");
    alarmChanged.putExtra("alarmSet", enabled);
    sendBroadcast(alarmChanged);
}

Thanks to Andy Savage on this Google Groups thread:

• AlarmManager with alarm icon
• direct link to archived post

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Important note: as stated above, this uses private, undocumented properties. All the usual warnings apply around this, as pointed out by Dianne Hackborn on the same thread:

Note that when you see a raw string like that ("android.intent.action.ALARM_CHANGED" and "alarmSet"), warning bells should be going off in your head that this is using private APIs.

And indeed this is.

If you use this, don't be surprised if it breaks in the future on randomly doesn't work on some devices.