The ShortcutBadger makes your Android App show the count of unread messages as a badge on your App shortcut
If you're developing an Android application and want to display unread notification counts directly on your app icon, ShortcutBadger is one of the most popular open-source libraries available. It allows Android apps to show badge counts on supported launchers, helping users quickly identify unread messages, notifications, and pending updates.
What is ShortcutBadger?
ShortcutBadger is an Android library developed by Leo Lin that enables developers to display notification badge counts on app launcher icons. Since Android does not provide a universal badge API across all devices and launchers, ShortcutBadger implements manufacturer-specific and launcher-specific solutions to provide broad compatibility.
Key Features
- Display unread message counts on Android app icons
- Support for multiple Android manufacturers and launchers
- Easy integration with Android Studio projects
- Lightweight and open-source
- Free to use
- Supports both stock and third-party launchers
Installation
Add the ShortcutBadger dependency to your Android project:
dependencies {
implementation "me.leolin:ShortcutBadger:1.1.22@aar"
}How to Show Badge Count
To display a notification badge on your app icon:
int badgeCount = 5;
ShortcutBadger.applyCount(context, badgeCount);This will attempt to show the number "5" on supported launchers.
How to Remove Badge Count
To clear the badge count:
ShortcutBadger.removeCount(context);Or:
ShortcutBadger.applyCount(context, 0);Supported Launchers
ShortcutBadger supports the following Android launchers:
| Launcher | Support Status |
|---|---|
| Sony | Supported |
| Samsung | Supported |
| LG | Supported |
| HTC | Supported |
| Xiaomi | Supported |
| ASUS | Supported |
| ADW Launcher | Supported |
| Apex Launcher | Supported |
| Nova Launcher | Supported |
| Huawei | Not Fully Supported |
| ZUK | Supported (v1.1.7+) |
| OPPO | Not Fully Supported (v1.1.10+) |
| EverythingMe | Supported |
| ZTE | Supported |
| KISS Launcher | Supported (v1.1.17+) |
| LaunchTime | Supported (v1.1.18+) |
| Yandex Launcher | Supported |
Download: ShortcutBadger
Important Notes
- Android does not have a single universal badge API.
- Badge support depends on the device manufacturer and launcher implementation.
- Some manufacturers, such as Huawei and OPPO, only provide partial support.
- Results may vary depending on Android version and launcher updates.
Why Use ShortcutBadger?
ShortcutBadger remains one of the easiest and most widely used solutions for implementing unread notification badges on Android applications. With support for numerous Android launchers and manufacturers, it provides developers with a simple way to improve user engagement and notification visibility.
Conclusion
If you want to add unread message counts or notification badges to your Android app icons, ShortcutBadger is an excellent solution. It offers broad launcher compatibility, easy implementation, and active community support, making it one of the best choices for Android badge notifications.
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