Android foreground service types declared correctly

Android 14 (API 34) made android:foregroundServiceType a hard requirement — a service that starts as a foreground service without a declared type throws a MissingForegroundServiceTypeException at runtime and crashes immediately on all Android 14+ devices. As of 2026, Android 14+ accounts for the majority of active Android installs. This is not a review rejection issue; it is a production crash that manifests the moment a user's device upgrades to Android 14. Libraries that depend on foreground services — audio players (react-native-track-player), background location (react-native-background-geolocation), and background sync (expo-background-fetch) — are all affected.

Add android:foregroundServiceType to each foreground service in android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<service
  android:name=".TrackPlayerService"
  android:foregroundServiceType="mediaPlayback"
  android:exported="false" />

Add the corresponding permission declaration above <application>:

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

For Expo Managed Workflow, use a config plugin in app.config.ts to inject the service type attribute, since app.json does not expose this field directly. Test on an Android 14 emulator (API 34) or physical device after making the change — foreground service crashes reproduce immediately in development.

• ID: foreground-services
• Severity: low
• What to look for: Check android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml for <service> elements. Starting with Android 14 (API 34), foreground services require an explicit android:foregroundServiceType attribute. Also check for the corresponding <uses-permission> for each service type (e.g., FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_CAMERA, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MICROPHONE). In React Native projects with Expo, check app.json for expo.android.permissions that include foreground service permissions. Common libraries that use foreground services: expo-background-fetch, expo-task-manager, react-native-background-actions, react-native-track-player, react-native-background-geolocation. If these libraries are present, verify that android:foregroundServiceType is declared. Valid types: camera, connectedDevice, dataSync, health, location, mediaPlayback, mediaProjection, microphone, phoneCall, remoteMessaging, shortService, specialUse, systemExempted. Count all instances found and enumerate each.
• Pass criteria: All <service> elements with foreground service behavior have an explicit android:foregroundServiceType attribute matching their use case; required permissions are declared; or no foreground services are used. At least 1 implementation must be confirmed.
• Fail criteria: A <service> element is present that starts as a foreground service (evident from the library type) but lacks android:foregroundServiceType when targetSdkVersion is 34 or higher.
• Skip (N/A) when: iOS-only project; or Android project with no foreground service libraries or <service> elements in the manifest.
• Detail on fail: "react-native-track-player detected but no android:foregroundServiceType='mediaPlayback' declared in AndroidManifest.xml — required for targetSdkVersion 34+".
• Remediation: Missing foregroundServiceType causes a crash on Android 14+ devices when the service is started.
  1. Add android:foregroundServiceType to each foreground service declaration in AndroidManifest.xml:

     <service
       android:name=".TrackPlayerService"
       android:foregroundServiceType="mediaPlayback"
       android:exported="false" />
     

  2. Add the corresponding permission above the <application> tag:

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

  3. For Expo Managed Workflow, add the permission to app.json and use a config plugin to set the service type