How to Use Media Controls on Wear OS

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Google Wear OSMedia ControlsSmartwatchMusicPlaybackControlEntertainmentConnectivityMediaApps

Wear OS is a powerful platform for wearable devices, providing smartwatches with various features aimed at making life more convenient and connected. One of these features is the ability to control media playback directly from your wrist. Whether you are jogging in the park or traveling on a train, you don't have to take money out of your pocket to manage the media playing on your smartphone. This document provides a comprehensive guide on how to use media controls on a Wear OS device. We will cover all the functionality such as playing, pausing, skipping tracks, and adjusting the volume. We will also explore how these controls integrate with various media apps and services, and how developers can enhance their applications with Wear OS media controls.

Understanding Wear OS media controls

Wear OS media controls are essentially a set of functions that allow users to manage audio or video playback from an application running on their smartphone or media device. These controls are accessible from any Wear OS device, such as a smartwatch, and provide a streamlined interaction through a simple interface. The controls are typically available in apps that support media playback, such as music streaming apps, podcast players, video players, or any app that streams audio or video content.

Basic media controls

Essentially, media controls include basic functionalities, such as:

• Play/Pause: Allows you to start or pause media playback.
• Next track: Goes to the next track in a playlist or album.
• Previous Track: Returns to the previous track.
• Volume control: Increases or decreases the volume of media playback.

Accessing the media controls

To access media controls on a Wear OS device, just follow these steps:

1. Make sure your smartwatch is paired with your smartphone. Media controls only work when there's an active connection between the two devices.
2. Play the media file on your smartphone using your favorite media application.
3. On your Wear OS device, swipe down from the top of the screen to access the quick settings panel.
4. If your watch face supports this feature, tap the "Now Playing" option.
5. Wear OS will display the media controls, allowing you to manage the media currently playing on your phone.

Advanced media playback features

Some Wear OS devices integrate additional media features that go beyond basic play, pause, and track navigation. For example:

• Playlist browsing: Depending on the app, you can scroll through and select different playlists directly from your smartwatch.
• Media information: Information about the currently playing track, such as song title, artist, and album art, may be displayed.
• Custom actions: Some apps include custom actions like “Thumbs Up,” “Add to Favorites,” or “Shuffle Playlist.”

Media control compatibility

Most popular media streaming apps, such as Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music and Google Podcasts, are compatible with Wear OS media controls. It's important to make sure you're using the latest version of both Wear OS and your media apps to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. As more and more apps integrate Wear OS capabilities, the variety and functionality of media apps you can control from your smartwatch continues to grow.

Developing media controls on Wear OS

For developers interested in integrating media controls into their Wear OS applications, Google's Wearable APIs provide extensive support. These APIs are designed to help developers create seamless media control experiences across devices. Below is a simple example of initiating a media control notification using the Wear OS APIs:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <android.support.wearable.view.WatchViewStub xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:id="@+id/stub" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent"> <FrameLayout android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent"> <!-- Your media control components here --> </FrameLayout> </android.support.wearable.view.WatchViewStub>

Developers can create more advanced setups including media browsing, session callbacks, and remote control handling to give their users full control over the media playback experience.

Integration with apps

To integrate media controls into an app, developers need to use MediaSession API, which ensures that media controls are properly handled and integrated into Wear OS's notification system. Whether your app is a simple media player or a full-featured music service, using MediaSession API provides the infrastructure needed for a robust, integrated media experience.

Example: A basic media control implementation

Here's an example of a simple media control mechanism for Wear OS using MediaControllerCompat and MediaSessionCompat classes:

MediaSessionCompat mediaSession = new MediaSessionCompat(context, "SampleMediaSession"); MediaControllerCompat mediaController = new MediaControllerCompat(context, mediaSession.getSessionToken()); // Sets the media session as active mediaSession.setActive(true); // Setup the media controller transport controls MediaControllerCompat.TransportControls transportControls = mediaController.getTransportControls(); transportControls.play(); // Initiates media playback transportControls.pause(); // Pauses media playback

To complete the integration, developers must handle various media actions by implementing callbacks in MediaSessionCompat.Callback class, thereby providing a responsive and interactive media control interface.

Conclusion

Media controls on Wear OS provide users with an easy way to interact with their favorite music and video apps, without the need to constantly handle their smartphones. This capability enhances the usability of wearable devices, allowing users to focus on their activities while maintaining control over their media experience. By leveraging the Wear OS platform and its capabilities, developers can create immersive and powerful media applications that provide users with greater convenience and enjoyment.

Whether you're a casual listener or a developer focused on extending your app's functionality, understanding and using Wear OS media controls can greatly enrich the wearable technology experience.

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