---
title: "Use surface app switch"
slug: "use-surface-app-switch"
updated: 2025-06-23T12:09:52Z
published: 2025-06-23T12:09:52Z
canonical: "docs.grassfish.com/use-surface-app-switch"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.grassfish.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use surface app switch

Use the surface app switch feature on the Android Player to bring a background app to the surface on touch. This feature is especially useful on interactive displays, such as vending machines with built-in touchscreens.

**How to use it**

Consider a vending machine with a built-in touchscreen. By default, the player displays dynamic content, such as advertisements or special offers. When a user interacts with the screen, the player pauses and switches to an app, such as a product selection interface. After the user stops interacting with the screen, the player automatically switches back to the original content and resumes the playlist or next advertisement.

## System requirements

Ensure that you meet the following system requirements:

- Android Player version 11.18.1 or later
- IXM Server version 11.14.0 or later with the latest player configuration

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> You don’t need to change the screen off interval, the player adjusts it automatically to the app switch inactivity delay.

## Configure the player

To use the surface app switch feature on the Android Player, perform the following steps:

1. Open the player configuration or the configuration group:
  - For an individual player, go to **Channels > Location**. Double-click on your player and select **Edit** next to **Configuration** in the **Edit player** window.
  - For a configuration group, go to **Administration > Player > Configuration groups** and double-click on the configuration group.
2. In the **Edit configuration group** window, select **Display extended modules**.
3. Under **Modules**, select **Player > Surface App Switch**.
4. In **Settings**, select **Surface app switch** **enabled**.
5. As **Surface app switch package name**, enter the package name of the app that you want the player to switch. The package name uniquely identifies your app on a device and looks like this: `com.example.myapplication`
6. In the **Surface app switch inactivity delay** field, specify after how many seconds the player switches back to the surface.
7. Click **Save** to save your changes.

![Android player configuration window with surface switch app settings](https://cdn.document360.io/e2b87f73-d9f5-43cb-8182-2641762664fd/Images/Documentation/appswitch.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T20%3A21%3A38Z&se=2026-11-06T21%3A21%3A38Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HoRMrsX03c%2FLSCSj23%2FA1emYlwp7HSY5zYy6WUZJURE%3D)