DateTime.Now returns UTC Time if we build Xamarin.Android app with azure pipeline.

Question

Hi, Team,

We have currently one project associated with Xamarin.Android. DateTime.Now returns UTC Time instead of returning local time only when we build Xamarin.Android app with azure pipeline. It is working fine if we create build using visual studio 2022. Our device time and time zone is also properly set. Issue is coming in android 14 devices only.

Looking forward to your response.

Thank you!

Answer 1

    /// <summary>

    /// !!! REPLACES DateTime.Now - Gets the current local date and time, including the correct UTC offset from the Android time zone.

    /// </summary>

    /// <returns>A DateTime object representing the current local time.</returns>

    public static DateTime GetCurrentDateTime()

    {

        // Step 1: Get the current UTC time

        DateTime utcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;

        try

        {

            // Step 2: Retrieve the Android device's default time zone

            var javaTimeZone = Java.Util.TimeZone.Default;

            // Step 3: Create a Java.Util.Date object using the current UTC time in milliseconds

            long currentTimeMillis = (long)(DateTime.UtcNow - new DateTime(1970, 1, 1)).TotalMilliseconds;

            var javaDate = new Java.Util.Date(currentTimeMillis);

            // Step 4: Calculate the raw offset (standard time) and daylight saving adjustment

            int rawOffsetMillis = javaTimeZone.RawOffset; // Base offset in milliseconds

            int dstOffsetMillis = javaTimeZone.DSTSavings; // Daylight saving time adjustment in milliseconds (if applicable)

            // Step 5: Determine if daylight saving is currently active

            bool isDstActive = javaTimeZone.InDaylightTime(javaDate);

            // Step 6: Calculate the total offset in hours

            int totalOffsetMillis = rawOffsetMillis + (isDstActive ? dstOffsetMillis : 0);

            TimeSpan totalOffset = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(totalOffsetMillis);

            //System.Console.WriteLine($"Raw Offset (ms): {rawOffsetMillis}, DST Active: {isDstActive}, Total Offset: {totalOffset}");

            // Step 7: Apply the offset to UTC time

            return utcNow + totalOffset;

        }

        catch (System.Exception ex)

        {

            // Log and fallback to UTC in case of errors

            GetLogger("Utils").Error($"Error calculating local time: {ex.Message}");

            return utcNow;

        }

    }