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more detailed problem description including relevant code: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45960265/android-o-oreo-8-media-buttons-issue

I created a trivial working app project demonstrating this problem at https://github.com/gregko/PlayerServiceSample. In the LogCat output one can see a message when a media button is pressed on a headset, when running on Android 5.x through 7.x. However it fails completely on Android 8 "Oreo".

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The device I'm testing on is Nexus 6P, purchased directly from Google Play. The Android 8 build number that I currently have is OPR6.170623.013. Same issue was observed before on beta test build starting with OPP.

Steps to reproduce:

Build and install the trivial sample from https://github.com/gregko/PlayerServiceSample.

While sample is running, connect a Bluetooth or wired headset with media buttons (Play/Pause button is tested in the sample).

Observe LogCat output. If run under Android 5 to 7 you will see that LogCat output indicating that MediaSessionCompat.Callback method onMediaButtonEvent() received the button event. On Android 8 there is nothing, no matter what one does. The media buttons are sent to previously used music player for example.

Frequency: 100%

Expected output: KEYCODE_MEDIA_PLAY output in LogCat window (with "MPS" log tag) every time the headset "Play/Pause" button is pressed. This works on Android 5 to 7 inclusive, fails on Android 8.

Current output: nothing on Android 8.

I solved the problem upon re-reading the "Android 8 behavior changes" Google post:  "the system routes the event to the app that most recently played audio locally. The active status, flags, and playback state of a media session are not considered when determining which app receives media button events." I had to play a very brief silent sound with Media Player to route media buttons to my app.

THERE IS A PROBLEM HOWEVER: playing sound with Text-to-speech API does not make media player buttons active for a TTS app. I consider this a bug, as TTS app plays audio locally as well. Should I submit a separate bug report on this, or can you redirect the issue reported here to solve the TTS problem? Please advise.

Please raise new bug for TTS issue.

We will close the current issue.

The new bug report with updated app sample demonstrating it is filed under https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/65344811