What is Intents Kit in HarmonyOS Next? What Does It Offer Differently Compared to Android?

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Introduction

In this article, I will talk about the HarmonyOS NEXT Intent Kit, Huawei’s next-generation operating system. HarmonyOS NEXT is not only an alternative to Android, but it also brings a whole new approach to app interactions: the Intents Kit.
Unlike the traditional Intent structure, it analyzes user behavior and provides AI-powered guidance, providing a smarter and more intuitive way to manage application workflows.

📌 What is Intents Kit?

Intents Kit allows applications or atomic services in HarmonyOS Next to expose their capabilities to the system. Once shared, these capabilities can be intelligently recognized and distributed by the system to various access points — such as Celia Chat, search results, or smart suggestions. This enables users to access specific app features without directly opening the app, creating a smoother, more seamless experience. In essence, Intents Kit acts as a smart bridge between app functionality and system-level intelligence, making the overall ecosystem more responsive and user-friendly.

⚙️ How Does It Work?

Within the HarmonyOS ecosystem, the user’s intent is detected by the system through various channels:

Voice commands (Celia Chat)
Search (Celia Search)
User habits (Celia Suggestions)
Notifications

Based on the detected intent, your app’s specific function can be triggered accordingly.

🧠 Here's the key point:
The app is no longer called directly — it’s triggered indirectly through user intent.

🧠 How Is an Intent Defined?

As an app developer:

You define an intent schema (for example: “search flight”, “recommend movie”, “track order”).

You register this intent with the system using the Intents Kit API.
The system then suggests or directly triggers this intent at the right moments for the user.

💡 What's the Difference From Android?

📦 Deployment Categories (Smart Distribution)

Intents Kit can be deployed according to different contexts:

🔁 Intent Modes

🚀 Future Vision

HarmonyOS Next and Intents Kit together provide:

User’s seamless cross-device experience
Intent-based application interaction
AI-powered, context-based recommendations
System-level accessibility of application content

🎯Conclusion

Intents Kit changes the paradigm of app development:
It paves the way for systems that understand the user’s intention and take the first step, instead of applications that “wait for the user to push the button.”