Know which packages are visible automatically

The system automatically makes some apps visible so that your app can interact with them without needing to declare the <queries> element. This behavior helps support basic functionality and common use cases.

Note: You can start another app's activity using either an implicit or explicit intent regardless of whether that app is visible to your app. Also, if your app targets Android 10 (API level 29) or lower, all apps are visible to your app automatically.

Types of apps that are visible automatically

The following types of apps are always visible to your app, even when your app targets Android 11 (API level 30) or higher:

• Your own app.
• Certain system packages, such as the media provider, that implement core Android functionality.
• The app that installed your app.
• Any app that launches an activity in your app using the startActivityForResult() method, as described in the guide about getting a result from an activity.
• Any app that starts or binds to a service in your app.
• Any app that accesses a content provider in your app.
• Any app that has a content provider that your app has been granted URI permissions to access.
• Any app that receives input from your app. This case applies only when your app provides input as an input method editor.

System packages that are visible automatically

Some system packages that implement core Android functionality are automatically visible to your app, even when your app targets Android 11 or higher. The specific set of packages depends on the device that runs your app.

To view the full list of packages for a specific device, run the following command in a terminal on your development machine:

adb shell dumpsys package queries

In the command output, find the forceQueryable section. This section includes the list of packages that the device has made visible to your app automatically.