FlutterActivity.configureStatusBarForFullscreenFlutterExperience() uses deprecated API and doesn’t work on Android 15 (API 35+)

[alexskobozev]

Use case

In FlutterActivity.java, there is a private method:

/**
 * @deprecated This method is outdated because it calls {@code setStatusBarColor}, which is
 *     deprecated in Android 15 and above. Consider using the new WindowInsetsController or other
 *     Android 15+ APIs for system UI styling.
 */
@Deprecated
private void configureStatusBarForFullscreenFlutterExperience() {
  Window window = getWindow();
  window.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_DRAWS_SYSTEM_BAR_BACKGROUNDS);
  window.setStatusBarColor(0x40000000);
  window.getDecorView().setSystemUiVisibility(PlatformPlugin.DEFAULT_SYSTEM_UI);
}

This method relies on window.setStatusBarColor, which is deprecated in Android 15. On API 35 devices the method does nothing – the status bar remains transparent.
✅ Screenshot on API 27: status bar has semi-transparent color

❌ Screenshot on API 35: status bar is fully transparent, color not applied

React Native is facing the same problem: facebook/react-native#51928.

Despite the breakage, the current fullscreen behavior actually looks quite good (more immersive). But Flutter should make an explicit decision here, rather than silently keeping a broken, deprecated method

Proposal

There are three possible directions

1. Implement a proper workaround for API 35+
Use the officially recommended WindowInsets APIs. Example:

@RequiresApi(API_LEVELS.API_35)
private void configureStatusBarForFullscreenFlutterExperienceApi35(View flutterView) {
  ViewCompat.setOnApplyWindowInsetsListener(flutterView, (v, windowInsets) -> {
    Insets insets = windowInsets.getInsets(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.statusBars());
    int height = insets.top;

    View statusBarView = new View(flutterView.getContext());
    statusBarView.setLayoutParams(new ViewGroup.LayoutParams(
        ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
        height
    ));
    statusBarView.setBackgroundColor(0x40000000);

    addContentView(statusBarView, statusBarView.getLayoutParams());
    return WindowInsetsCompat.CONSUMED;
  });
}

2. Document a temporary manifest workaround

Advise users to add:

<item name="android:windowOptOutEdgeToEdgeEnforcement">true</item>

This restores old behavior on API 35+. But Google’s docs state it’s only temporary and may be removed.

3. Conditionalize + remove deprecation
Keep setStatusBarColor for API <35, and no-op for API ≥35.
Remove the @Deprecated annotation since this remains the simplest and most consistent option with iOS (where the fullscreen status bar already looks transparent).

<img width="603" height="1311"alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0ab3116a-dc97-4acc-8c18-6821623b49fd" />

Suggested Resolution
Option 3 seems the best compromise:
Keeps consistent behavior with iOS fullscreen experience
Avoids introducing heavy custom view hacks
Leaves room for users to override if they want stricter edge-to-edge styling

I've added PR for this #175501