permission.READ_CONTACTS does not seem to work

Question

I'm working on a simple app that browses through the user's contacts. Unfortunately I keep getting the following error:

java.lang.SecurityException: Permission Denial: reading com.android.providers.contacts.HtcContactsProvider2 uri content://com.android.contacts/contacts from pid=27455, uid=10171 requires android.permission.READ_CONTACTS

My manifest file looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.android.helloMaps"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0">
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />   
    <application android:icon="@drawable/icon" 
        android:label="@string/app_name" 
        android:debuggable="true">
        <uses-library android:name="com.google.android.maps" />
        <activity android:name=".MapsActivity"
                  android:label="@string/app_name"
                  android:theme="@android:style/Theme.NoTitleBar">            
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>

        </activity>
    </application>
</manifest>

I'm trying to look at my contacts by:

 Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(ContactsContract.Contacts.CONTENT_URI,null, null, null, null);  

I've tried to add <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" /> or android:permission="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" to <application> or <activity>, but both didn't work.

I'm running out of options, does anybody know what I'm missing here?

Answer 1

the <uses-permission> should be contained in the <manifest> element. See Structure of the Manifest File. So trying putting it into <application> or <activity>, won't work. Desperation move: try to move <uses-sdk> before <application>

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />

Also if you can test without the other permissions, remove them.

EDIT: Can you please check if this is your TOP line in your manifest file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>