Android System overlay window

First, there is no permission named SYSTEM_OVERLAY_WINDOW. It is SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW.

Second, if your targetSdkVersion is 23 or higher, and you are running on Android 6.0+ devices, your app will not get this permission at the outset. Call Settings.canDrawOverlays() to see if you have the permission, and use ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION to lead the user over to Settings if you do not.

In AndroidManifest (for version < 23)

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"/>


public static int ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE= 5469;
//Random value

    public void testPermission() {
        if (!Settings.canDrawOverlays(this)) {
            Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION,
                    Uri.parse("package:" + getPackageName()));
            startActivityForResult(intent, ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE);
        }
    }

Result :

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
    if (requestCode == ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE) {
        if (Settings.canDrawOverlays(this)) {
            // You have permission
        }
    }
}