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[Q] GPS static navigation on Desire S

I found that my HTC desire S has static navigation enabled.
It means: If stop walking, gps get fixed to actual position. After it, if I go walking, gps stay in this fixed position. I must run (speed up) to cancel this fixation and normal measuring actual position.
Does anybody know, how to disable static navigation and makes it so useable (for tourism and geocaching)?
I don't know, what chip is inside (any software to detect it)?

yesterday i used Emdomondo for my walk and then saw the route in google maps without having any problems. maybe it's the software you used to find your position.

Yeah I've had no similar issues using gps. Sounds like could be software issue.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App

SGH-T989 SGS2 from T-Mobile has same issue
mixalakis32 said:
yesterday i used Emdomondo for my walk and then saw the route in google maps without having any problems. maybe it's the software you used to find your position.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not a SW issue, static navigation is disable by default and it cause to hold GPS updates even using Endomondo, must be a way to enable/disable, any help?

GPS force fixed with CleanRomRom/ClemsyKernel

Hello, In my case where GPS stopped working after I installed CleanRom. If your GPS is working you don't need to read this thread. If you want to help out, please welcome. After tried many tricks and trades in the book, I found one solution that may resolved this issue, It works for me but may not work for you, just give it a try and report back. Here is the issue: when "GPS satellites" option is checked in Settings->Location Services and then you try to open maps and tab on the gps icon on the most top, it's trying to locate your location using GPS satellites. You also going to see the GPS icon in the notification, but it's not blinking (meaning it's not working). Here is what I did to force it to work:
1. Make sure your wifi is working.(you have internet connectivity)
2. In Settings->Location Services-> put a check to "Google's location service" (the top option), but leave the other two options UNCHECKED. Tab "agree" button when prompted for.
3. Open "Maps" app and tab on the GPS icon on the top (next to the microphone icon). At this time you should able to have a lock on your location. Try to find any addresses to verify it's can locate them.
4. Now go back to Location Services and put a check to "GPS satellite", now you should have both top options checked, and the last bottom option, which is "Location & Google search is UNCHECKED)
5. Go back to your Maps app and hit the GPS icon located on top next to the microphone icon again, now take a look at the gps icon in the notification bar (all way at the bottom), you should see it's blinking.(meaning the GPS is now working)
6. Go back to Location Services and uncheck the "Google's location service", so now should only have the "GPS satellites" checked (the middle option).
7. Go back to Maps and hit the GPS icon you should see the GPS icon in the notification is blinking and working.
Now your GPS should be working as normal. You can reboot, turn it off, turn it back on anyway you like. Please report back if it indeeds fixed your issue. Good luck.
-------------
Also try hard reset (push the reset button or do a cold boot).

Thanks for the detailed walkthrough.

buhohitr said:
Hello, In my case where GPS stopped working after I installed CleanRom. If your GPS is working you don't need to read this thread. If you want to help out, please welcome. After tried many tricks and trades in the book, I found one solution that may resolved this issue, It works for me but may not work for you, just give it a try and report back. Here is the issue: when "GPS satellites" option is checked in Settings->Location Services and then you try to open maps and tab on the gps icon on the most top, it's trying to locate your location using GPS satellites. You also going to see the GPS icon in the notification, but it's not blinking (meaning it's not working). Here is what I did to force it to work:
1. Make sure your wifi is working.(you have internet connectivity)
2. In Settings->Location Services-> put a check to "Google's location service" (the top option), but leave the other two options UNCHECKED. Tab "agree" button when prompted for.
3. Open "Maps" app and tab on the GPS icon on the top (next to the microphone icon). At this time you should able to have a lock on your location. Try to find any addresses to verify it's can locate them.
4. Now go back to Location Services and put a check to "GPS satellite", now you should have both top options checked, and the last bottom option, which is "Location & Google search is UNCHECKED)
5. Go back to your Maps app and hit the GPS icon located on top next to the microphone icon again, now take a look at the gps icon in the notification bar (all way at the bottom), you should see it's blinking.(meaning the GPS is now working)
6. Go back to Location Services and uncheck the "Google's location service", so now should only have the "GPS satellites" checked (the middle option).
7. Go back to Maps and hit the GPS icon you should see the GPS icon in the notification is blinking and working.
Now your GPS should be working as normal. You can reboot, turn it off, turn it back on anyway you like. Please report back if it indeeds fixed your issue. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
still no luck with mine anyone has other suggestions on how to fix the GPS problems?

You may need to flash the mod gps file then try my method again.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

buhohitr said:
You may need to flash the mod gps file then try my method again.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where can i get that mod gps file?

You can install the gps file using pimp my rom. Just flash pimp my rom zip file using recovery and select gps file for your country.
Just wondering when you select Google option, is the gps find your location?
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

buhohitr said:
You can install the gps file using pimp my rom. Just flash pimp my rom zip file using recovery and select gps file for your country.
Just wondering when you select Google option, is the gps find your location?
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do u have a link of the pimp my rom zip file? sorry for being such a noob... nope, the gps keeps on locking to the previous city that i was into and won't find my current location... i wonder what's wrong
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 PM ----------
got pimp my rom..will try in a while and will post back here

shadow071506 said:
do u have a link of the pimp my rom zip file? sorry for being such a noob... nope, the gps keeps on locking to the previous city that i was into and won't find my current location... i wonder what's wrong
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 PM ----------
got pimp my rom..will try in a while and will post back here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1908269
download the XHDPI version.

still no progress for me :'( i hope someone can help me on this one...

Thanks! That worked great!

A simple hardware reset fixed GPS for me, worth trying.

buhohitr said:
gps file for your country
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having a similar problem and using search brought me here.
I do not think that my GPS not functioning is a ROM issue, but I am wondering :
-I purchased the device in Germany and it was working well there
-I brought it to Russia and it is not showing any GPS fix since
-I unlocked bootloader and rooted today, still no GPS difference
Is a 'German' device not able to find a lock 'abroad' ?
I did give it more than 30 minutes outside to try, my HTC oneX+ was able to spot 18 sat's being inside the house
regards,
Ruud

Ruud Westerhout said:
Having a similar problem and using search brought me here.
I do not think that my GPS not functioning is a ROM issue, but I am wondering :
-I purchased the device in Germany and it was working well there
-I brought it to Russia and it is not showing any GPS fix since
-I unlocked bootloader and rooted today, still no GPS difference
Is a 'German' device not able to find a lock 'abroad' ?
I did give it more than 30 minutes outside to try, my HTC oneX+ was able to spot 18 sat's being inside the house
regards,
Ruud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What firmware version do you have? (look in settings->about tablet-> build number). Do you know that Germany and Russia using the same rom SKU?

buhohitr said:
What firmware version do you have? (look in settings->about tablet-> build number). Do you know that Germany and Russia using the same rom SKU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received the device and did an OTA upgrade to 10.4.4.23 which was WW.
The GPS receipt was OK at that moment, it showed my whereabouts at times I received my internet through a phone (thethering).
I now did change to : CleanROM 3.1 Inheritance
But the 'no GPS fix' problem occurred right after I arrived in Russia, not connecting with my flashing of a new ROM.
It was showing the weather for a German town for days, even though I was walking outside looking for GPS receipt for a long time.

Ruud Westerhout said:
I received the device and did an OTA upgrade to 10.4.4.23 which was WW.
The GPS receipt was OK at that moment, it showed my whereabouts at times I received my internet through a phone (thethering).
I now did change to : CleanROM 3.1 Inheritance
But the 'no GPS fix' problem occurred right after I arrived in Russia, not connecting with my flashing of a new ROM.
It was showing the weather for a German town for days, even though I was walking outside looking for GPS receipt for a long time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try go into settings->apps and clear "data" for Google framework service" and maps then reboot, see if that help?

buhohitr said:
Try go into settings->apps and clear "data" for Google framework service" and maps then reboot, see if that help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clear data was done for 'Google Services Framework', 'GPS Status', 'Maps' & '2GIS'. After that a short press on the power button and 'reboot' was chosen.
A quick look in GPS Status shows no satellite at all.
Ruud

Ruud Westerhout said:
Clear data was done for 'Google Services Framework', 'GPS Status', 'Maps' & '2GIS'. After that a short press on the power button and 'reboot' was chosen.
A quick look in GPS Status shows no satellite at all.
Ruud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you open maps and tap on the "gps" icon on the top, did you see the "gps" icon in your dock lid up (not hollow)?

buhohitr said:
When you open maps and tap on the "gps" icon on the top, did you see the "gps" icon in your dock lid up (not hollow)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I open maps, it is first asking for permissions, that because I was playing around with that Yesterday based on the recommendations here. I gave these (locations are all tapped on now)
After that I see maps with a accuracy of 20m correctly showing where I am but I am afraid that is because of WiFi connection, not GPS.
I do not know which is the GPS symbol, the first one changes 2D to 3D,the rest is also not showing any reaction connected with GPS. The GPS icon is blinking, also GPS Status icon is showing that it is looking for a connection.
Regards,
Ruud

Ruud Westerhout said:
If I open maps, it is first asking for permissions, that because I was playing around with that Yesterday based on the recommendations here. I gave these (locations are all tapped on now)
After that I see maps with a accuracy of 20m correctly showing where I am but I am afraid that is because of WiFi connection, not GPS.
I do not know which is the GPS symbol, the first one changes 2D to 3D,the rest is also not showing any reaction connected with GPS. The GPS icon is blinking, also GPS Status icon is showing that it is looking for a connection.
Regards,
Ruud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, atleast everything is working excepted for locking onto any Sat. Have you try this sequence yet?
1. Make sure your wifi is working.(you have internet connectivity)
2. In Settings->Location Services-> put a check to "Google's location service" (the top option), but leave the other two options UNCHECKED. Tab "agree" button when prompted for.
3. Open "Maps" app and tab on the GPS icon on the top (next to the microphone icon). At this time you should able to have a lock on your location. Try to find any addresses to verify it's can locate them.
4. Now go back to Location Services and put a check to "GPS satellite", now you should have both top options checked, and the last bottom option, which is "Location & Google search is UNCHECKED)
5. Go back to your Maps app and hit the GPS icon located on top next to the microphone icon again, now take a look at the gps icon in the notification bar (all way at the bottom), you should see it's blinking.(meaning the GPS is now working)
6. Go back to Location Services and uncheck the "Google's location service", so now should only have the "GPS satellites" checked (the middle option).
7. Go back to Maps and hit the GPS icon you should see the GPS icon in the notification is blinking and working.
Now your GPS should be working as normal. You can reboot, turn it off, turn it back on anyway you like. Please report back if it indeeds fixed your issue. Good luck.
*** If not working I will send you a zip file to flash using recovery.

buhohitr said:
OK, atleast everything is working excepted for locking onto any Sat. Have you try this sequence yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have done so, or at least tried to do so. As I said, my MAPS do not show an icon for GPS, nor do I see a microphone icon.
I have nevertheless walked through the sequence to see if it helps. But I see only a blinking which says "Searching for GPS".
buhohitr said:
*** If not working I will send you a zip file to flash using recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is highly appreciated.
Do I understand it like this :
-Power + Vol-Down
-Enter RCK (the TWRP menu)
-Choose install
-Choose the file You send me as the one to be installed
Should any wipes be done before or after this ?
Regards,
Ruud

[Q] APK for forced GPS?

I have an employee that I gave an S3 to and use TSheets for clock in/clock out. Tsheets will log GPS at clock in and clock out, even with gps off, BUT it cant do the 10 minute intervals. Employees little son keeps screwing with the phone and every couple of weeks I have to turn the GPS on manually. So, my question is, is there an app or rom or work around that will either hide the gps button after its activated or force gps to stay on.
If this is in the wrong section, my apologies.

screaming01l said:
I have an employee that I gave an S3 to and use TSheets for clock in/clock out. Tsheets will log GPS at clock in and clock out, even with gps off, BUT it cant do the 10 minute intervals. Employees little son keeps screwing with the phone and every couple of weeks I have to turn the GPS on manually. So, my question is, is there an app or rom or work around that will either hide the gps button after its activated or force gps to stay on.
If this is in the wrong section, my apologies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the best and easiest way to do this is kick the SHI,, out of the little son..just kidding, lol. OK the solution is down load this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thinkyeah.apphider and hide settings and map app.

ill try it. GPS is considered an App then?

screaming01l said:
ill try it. GPS is considered an App then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS is system service, MAP is an app which can redirect to GPS to enable it, so you need to hide settings for GPS and MAP app. Open the hide app and tab on the Add(+) button, select Settings and Map then tabl save. Done.
Edit: There is another way where you could use app lock, which can be found in the market, I haven't try any so if you run into issue I need to take a look.

Location icon constantly in status bar on Lollipop ?

Is it normal for the GPS status icon to always be present in the right side of the status bar on Lollipop (V5.02)?
Location is enabled and is set to high accuracy. No apps are running (or present in the recent apps list) that make constant use of the GPS (IE: Maps).
I'm curious if this is normal behavior on this device. I have 3 other devices to compare to that have the same apps and location settings :
- Galaxy S3 -- Icon is always present when location is enabled (Android 4.4)
- Nexus 5 -- Icon only appears when an app requests use of the GPS (Android 5.1.1)
- Nexus 9 -- Icon only appears when an app requests use of the GPS (Android 5.1.1)

the.teejster said:
Is it normal for the GPS status icon to always be present in the right side of the status bar ?
Location is enabled and is set to high accuracy. No apps are running (or present in the recent apps list) that make constant use of the GPS (IE: Maps).
I'm curious if this is normal behavior on this device. I have 3 other devices to compare to that have the same apps and location settings :
- Galaxy S3 -- Icon is always present when location is enabled (Android 4.4)
- Nexus 5 -- Icon only appears when an app requests use of the GPS (Android 5.1.1)
- Nexus 9 -- Icon only appears when an app requests use of the GPS (Android 5.1.1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does not turn off automatically unless you are running an app to do so. My battery saver app lets you specify a list of apps that need gps...when I run the app it turns on gps...when the app exits it turns gps off. There is also a free version of it..search for "Greeenpower"...it does require root for an app to toggle gps under lollipop.

Thanks for the reply but I didn't think that applied to Android V4.x and UP.
You are supposed to be able to keep your location toggle set on ON all the time and Android is supposed to only enable it when an app requests it.. I can clearly see this behaviour on both my Nexus devices running lollipop.
Since this phone is as close to stock android as I've ever seen I'm wondering if anyone else is observing the same behaviour I am or if else might be keeping it forced on unknowingly.
famewolf said:
It does not turn off automatically unless you are running an app to do so. My battery saver app lets you specify a list of apps that need gps...when I run the app it turns on gps...when the app exits it turns gps off. There is also a free version of it..search for "Greeenpower"...it does require root for an app to toggle gps under lollipop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

the.teejster said:
Thanks for the reply but I didn't think that applied to Android V4.x and UP.
You are supposed to be able to keep your location toggle set on ON all the time and Android is supposed to only enable it when an app requests it.. I can clearly see this behaviour on both my Nexus devices running lollipop.
Since this phone is as close to stock android as I've ever seen I'm wondering if anyone else is observing the same behaviour I am or if else might be keeping it forced on unknowingly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is also constantly on.

Macklessdaddy said:
Mine is also constantly on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is constantly on, like now.

the.teejster said:
Thanks for the reply but I didn't think that applied to Android V4.x and UP.
You are supposed to be able to keep your location toggle set on ON all the time and Android is supposed to only enable it when an app requests it.. I can clearly see this behaviour on both my Nexus devices running lollipop.
Since this phone is as close to stock android as I've ever seen I'm wondering if anyone else is observing the same behaviour I am or if else might be keeping it forced on unknowingly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well no offense but yours must be magic then cause I own both a nexus 4 and 5 and the gps doesn't turn off unless you or an app turns it off...same with bluetooth and wifi for that matter.

famewolf said:
Well no offense but yours must be magic then cause I own both a nexus 4 and 5 and the gps doesn't turn off unless you or an app turns it off...same with bluetooth and wifi for that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think he means it turns off in the settings. But the location active icon in the status bar only comes on when an app is actively using it. My nexus 4 does this. The idol the icon is always there.
IMO, its probably just a software GUI change that Alcatel did. Unless it is draining the battery more than usual.

Non taken .. LOL..
Bluetooth and Wifi, when on do constantly show up on my nexus devices..
Location icon however, on stock lollipop will only appear when the GPS actually is in use. IE: It will appear when I load up google maps and disappear when I turn it off (on stock 5.1.1 on nexus 5 and 9).
I thought this was a feature baked into lollipop which is why I was asking. But from I'm hearing it's not.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.. much appreciated.
BTW:
Looks like it's default behavior on at least one other device:
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperi...t-appear-in-statusbar-on-lollipop/td-p/975946
Location
famewolf said:
Well no offense but yours must be magic then cause I own both a nexus 4 and 5 and the gps doesn't turn off unless you or an app turns it off...same with bluetooth and wifi for that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Maybe there is a secret Chinese system app that is continually tracking you with location? Haha

I was concerned about this too, and looked into it, I can 100% confirm that it's a software change. On the stock Idol 3 ROM, the location icon in the task bar merely shows that location is on, NOT THAT GPS is active.
If you're skeptical, download a GPS monitor app (some available without root, better ones available with root). You can confirm for yourself that the GPS monitor pings each and every time you use a location-based app (map, weather, etc), but not otherwise, even though the location icon is on.

It's constantly on for my Idol 3, but not my Moto X with CM 12.1.

A fix for this problem, if you have Xposed installed:
http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.xinlu.location_icon_fix

polygonal said:
A fix for this problem, if you have Xposed installed:
http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.xinlu.location_icon_fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice! Thanks for creating the module! Out of curiosity do you get the popup every time you install an app or module to select whether to install to internal, external or let the system decide?

famewolf said:
Very nice! Thanks for creating the module! Out of curiosity do you get the popup every time you install an app or module to select whether to install to internal, external or let the system decide?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do. If I remember correctly, this started to happen around the time of the last update from Alcatel?

polygonal said:
Yes, I do. If I remember correctly, this started to happen around the time of the last update from Alcatel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Nice to know it's not just MY phone. On my 6045i it's been happening quite a while if not from the beginning but it's very annoying as I have not yet found a way to disable it. Even running "pm set-install-location" from a shell doesn't stop the popup. Normally the setting would be under settings, apps or settings, storage but doesn't appear to be.

I'd compare this to some manufacturers adding an NFC icon. They think the user wants to know (all the time) if a setting is on or off.

the icon appears for me always; even after I turn location OFF in the settings...

so is it a bug or is it on purpose?
i've noticed if you turn off the location and then back on, the icon doesn't show up until something does request location, but then after that the icon stays there forever
ps. i'm glad i found this thread i thought i was going crazy

Thanks for the module.

**TheDuke** said:
I was concerned about this too, and looked into it, I can 100% confirm that it's a software change. On the stock Idol 3 ROM, the location icon in the task bar merely shows that location is on, NOT THAT GPS is active.
If you're skeptical, download a GPS monitor app (some available without root, better ones available with root). You can confirm for yourself that the GPS monitor pings each and every time you use a location-based app (map, weather, etc), but not otherwise, even though the location icon is on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, could you suggest an app for GPS monitoring? I'm on a Xperia M4 Aqua Android 5.0.2 and facing the same problem. It's driving me crazy...

Location Icon in Status Bar Always Displayed

At some point the location icon that is sometimes displayed in right side of the status bar came on, on my device, and never goes away.
I'm used to this coming on when an app is using location services and then turning off when I'm done with it. Rebooting my device makes no difference, it's still there. When I look under location in my settings, they only app that it says has recently made a location request is Google Play Services. But this should not be causing the icon to always display.
Any thoughts about what's going on or how else to troubleshoot this?
Thanks.

Same. Can't figure it out at all. Hopefully someone will shed some light on this.

Is your location set to device only?
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

richyb86 said:
Is your location set to device only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.

Yeah, changing the settings from device only to high accuracy makes the icon go away. But why should the location icon always be on when the phone is set it device only mode?

It is related to Google, the cards. I had the same thing on my XL 1. You do need fine enabled as you found out, or turn off the cards.

TonikJDK said:
It is related to Google, the cards. I had the same thing on my XL 1. You do need fine enabled as you found out, or turn off the cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By cards do you mean the recently used apps list? When I clear that list the icon still remains.
And how do you turn off the cards?

cb474 said:
By cards do you mean the recently used apps list? When I clear that list the icon still remains.
And how do you turn off the cards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I mean the Google App.

TonikJDK said:
No, I mean the Google App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I got it.
Turns out disabling permissions for location for the Google App solves the problem.

Well, strangely the problem has come back. Disabling location permission for the Google app clearly solved the problem (because I turned it on and off several times to verify this). But now today the icon won't go away again, even with location disabled for the Google app. More weirdly, turning location off altogether on the phone does not make the icon go away. Also disabling the Google app does not help.
But just setting location to high accuracy (plus restarting) does still make it go away.

@cb474
Heh same problem here. But I'm on a Sony... Disabling location entirely does nothing. Not sure if it's a play services bug or Android. Battery drain is nominal, went through all the apps with location history. Anyone any clue?
Bump?

Sebi673 said:
Heh same problem here. But I'm on a Sony... Disabling location entirely does nothing. Not sure if it's a play services bug or Android. Battery drain is nominal, went through all the apps with location history. Anyone any clue?
Bump?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your location set to high accuracy?

TonikJDK said:
Is your location set to high accuracy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. But even if I turn the location off, the icon remains I'm starting to think its a bug, the security update happened recently.

On Nexus / Pixel devices this icon should only appear when an application is requesting location information from your device.
With other brands of Android phones the location icon sometimes has a slightly different meaning in the sense that it might indicate that location services are simply on.
I would revisit your installed apps and look to see what you have running that might be requesting your location. You can start revoking the location access permission from the app(s) you suspect might be causing this to help you narrow down and find the culprit.

Yup,, I noticed just yesterday the last beta for Tapatalk requested for location to be turned on. Notification was always showing in status bar. Turned that setting off in Settings>Apps & Notifications>Tapatalk app and turned that permission off.
Fixed
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

When this happens to mine, I toggle location off and reboot the phone. It's always Google Play Services misbehaving, I think it's a third party app (Instagram) polling continuously.

fishlifters said:
When this happens to mine, I toggle location off and reboot the phone. It's always Google Play Services misbehaving, I think it's a third party app (Instagram) polling continuously.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I do something similar. I don't have the problem if my phone is set to high accuracy, but if it's set to device only and I restart the phone then the location icon shows up right away and won't go away. I then have to set the phone to high accuracy, restart the phone, the location is not there are restart, and then I set it back to device only.
The problem is not a third party app requesting location. I'm very careful about what permissions I give to apps. And I had the problem before I really installed any apps. I don't know what it is and never really resolved this, but I am also suspicious of Google Play Services or some other low level Google process.
I suspect not a lot of people run into this issue, because they either just disable location services or set it to high accuracy, but not to device only.

cb474 said:
Yeah, I do something similar. I don't have the problem if my phone is set to high accuracy, but if it's set to device only and I restart the phone then the location icon shows up right away and won't go away. I then have to set the phone to high accuracy, restart the phone, the location is not there are restart, and then I set it back to device only.
The problem is not a third party app requesting location. I'm very careful about what permissions I give to apps. And I had the problem before I really installed any apps. I don't know what it is and never really resolved this, but I am also suspicious of Google Play Services or some other low level Google process.
I suspect not a lot of people run into this issue, because they either just disable location services or set it to high accuracy, but not to device only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your case it is the Google Now cards...that you swipe right to get too. It's the location service to set the weather. I am certain of it.

TonikJDK said:
In your case it is the Google Now cards...that you swipe right to get too. It's the location service to set the weather. I am certain of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xperias are usually running very close to vanilla hence why I'm saying 'me too' to this bug. (also the xda thread on my XZp is a ghost town - on this reasoning the next phone will deffo be a pixel or a 1+).
Anyway, i suspect the issue has something to do with GnssLocationProvider returning an error on a wakelock by com.android.server.location.gnsslocationprovider - gpsrequest. But that's speculation.
Another thing I tried with limited success was to clear data for Google play services, services framework, google and play store. After reinit the location only appeared as designed - when in use. Phone reboot only gives about half an hour before something triggers location and the annoying icon stays on.
However, 12 hours later, on BT connect, location updated and the icon persisted. From what I can tell there is no additional battery drain - i'm using the third party GPS Status app which sends a notification whenever the GPS is engaged and it only comes up on regular play services update and of course maps and other location enabled apps.
Also tried force stopping all of the user apps, then main system apps (google and oem services) and then backend services till at some point it halted and rebooted. Icon was still there.
For now I disabled the location icon and only left the Gps status app to notify whenever gps is actually running. Right now my guess is play services acting up although this behavior started after Jan security update. What's worth mentioning is that i'm using the bets of google apps including play services. My dad has the same phone with the same config but no betas or anything and he does not have this issue. So i'm less inclined to think it's a device specific but rather a google play services bug.

TonikJDK said:
In your case it is the Google Now cards...that you swipe right to get too. It's the location service to set the weather. I am certain of it.
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I don't use Google Now or Google Assistant. I have no Google based weather update running. I have that stuff totally disabled.
Sebi673 said:
For now I disabled the location icon and only left the Gps status app to notify whenever gps is actually running. Right now my guess is play services acting up although this behavior started after Jan security update. What's worth mentioning is that i'm using the bets of google apps including play services. My dad has the same phone with the same config but no betas or anything and he does not have this issue. So i'm less inclined to think it's a device specific but rather a google play services bug.
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For me this issue has been there from day one, when I got the phone in October (I ordered the day the phoen launched). So it does not have to do with the January update for me.
That aside, how do you disable the location icon?