Animating Splash Screen in Newer Android Versions
I’m working on a budget tracking app and want to make the splash screen more engaging. I’ve heard that Android 12 and up don’t allow animations at the start of splash screens anymore. But some big apps like Gmail seem to pull it off somehow.
Is there a way to work around this limitation? I’d love to add some animation to my splash screen right from the beginning. Does anyone know how popular apps manage to do this? Are there any tricks or alternatives I should look into?
I’m using Android Studio for development. Any tips or examples would be super helpful!
While it’s true that Android 12+ introduced restrictions on splash screen animations, you can still achieve a similar effect using the SplashScreen API. I have implemented a custom animation that immediately follows the system splash and gives the impression of a fully animated screen. First, set up a standard splash using the API and then create a custom view for the transition. Trigger this animation with SplashScreen.setOnExitAnimationListener() as soon as the system splash ends.
This approach complies with Android 12+ guidelines and provides a smooth user experience. It is important to keep the animation brief and aligned with your app’s branding to avoid user frustration on repeat launches.
tried a custum view right after the system splash.
it isn’t exactly the same but mimics the effect.
ensure the animation is brief & smooth.
i used it in my app with good results.
check SplashScreen API docs for details.
I’ve been wrestling with this issue in my own app development journey. While Android 12+ does limit initial splash screen animations, I found a workaround that’s been working well for me.
After the system splash screen, I immediately transition to a custom ‘loading’ screen. This screen mimics the splash screen design but allows for animations. I use Lottie for smooth, eye-catching animations that start as soon as this screen loads.
The trick is to make the transition seamless. I match the background color and initial layout to the splash screen, so users don’t notice the switch. Then I animate elements sliding in or fading in.
It’s not a perfect solution, but it gives that animated feel without breaking Android guidelines. Just keep it quick - I aim for under 2 seconds total. Users appreciate a bit of flair, but they want to get into the app fast.