How to display unread count to the android app icon?

Unfortunately, You can't do that on application icon. Android doesn't allow that.

But you can do that using widget. There are many question related this, check it first.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Widget Example

Widget Link

Update : 24/04/2015

Now this is possible for some launcher app.

Check this ShortcutBadger and BadgeUtils

Update

Android allow Modify a Notification Badge from Android 8.0 (PI level 26).

Showing Badge in application icon is not allowed by default in Android. We can do this in some of the customized devices available in android: Below are the links how we can show on some Device like Sony,Samsung etc.

https://github.com/leolin310148/ShortcutBadger

Utility Class I found on git:- will be helpful also

https://gist.github.com/Tadas44/cdae2f5995f21bf1c27f

And for rest of the Non customized devices we can create a custom widget to reflect this same behaviour.

See How to create Widget: https://looksok.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/android-complete-widget-tutorial-including-source-code/

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