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[REQ] GPS on/off apps

Gingerbread doesn't allow apps to turn on/off GPS anymore (CM still does but it's missing some features for my device that I can't live without). Only system apps can do this these days.
As I use Tasker to automate a lot of stuff this quite sucks. I tried making Tasker a system app but the latest version still refuses to toggle GPS.
Thus my request: Could someone please create 2 tiny apps that just turn GPS on/off that can be moved to system and used by other apps to toggle that setting?

Why do you need to do that?
Just keep gps on, it doesn't do anything while it's not in use by some app. In particular, it doesn't contribute to battery drain while inactive.

some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery

XlAfbk said:
some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery
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Strange, I don't think I've ever seen that happen. The only time I see the GPS in use indicator on my notification bar is when an app like maps, my tracks etc is in the foreground. Just checked that as soon as I switch away from maps by hitting the home button, the GPS indicator vanishes.
Sent from my COS-DS using XDA App

XlAfbk said:
some apps use GPS while in background, e.g. Google Maps. So having GPS enabled does drain the battery
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Click to collapse
drbobb is right. Having GPS enabled does not mean that the actual hardware is on all the time. It merely means that android will allow apps to use it, at which point the GPS hardware will become active. So having it "ON" is just a permission thing.
If you are worried about GPS background apps (really Maps does that? I will surely test this), then I would highly recommend LBE Privacy Guard. Set the app up in such a way that Maps will need to ask you for permission to switch on GPS hardware. I tried this with the android browser because it uses GPS when you start it at google.com. Works like a charm!

well, it is as it is. this thread is not intended as a discussion thread about whether someone thinks disabling GPS is unneccessary. it's a request for an app that just turns on GPS and quits.

GPS management with ICS

I have been using llama (Llama on Google Play) since my early days on the OG Atrix and now on the Atrix 2. Moving to the ICS leak, I've noticed that GPS control has been disabled, and after searching I see that Google removed the ability for user programs to enable/disable the GPS.
However, the llama website says this about it:
Android fixed the hack that applications used to turn GPS on and off in Gingerbread (Android 2.3). Bear in mind that Android manages GPS power usage by itself: if no applications are using GPS, then the GPS hardware isn't turned on and using power. The tickbox in the settings is simply permission to use GPS.
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Click to collapse
One of the few places I've found that corroborates that statement is this post from a Droid Razr forum (forgive the cross-post): Post on another forum, which eventually says
GPS is turned on by default after updating to ICS. That said, turning it off really won't save battery. It's a myth that just having GPS switched on will drain your battery. GPS will only use battery when it's active, and it's only active when the crosshairs are flashing in the notification bar. That will only happen when you have an app running that uses GPS. So, as long as you're not running something that's using GPS, leaving GPS switched on will not drain any more battery than leaving it switched off.
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Now, obviously there are many programs that might be running in the background that like to use the GPS, and it still seems like there are times I wouldn't want to let anything use the GPS which means the GPS chip should never power on.
Here's the question finally: given the plethora of advice that says to turn off the GPS when not in use, what are you doing with the GPS in ICS?
In my case, Llama can't turn off the GPS for me anymore, so unless I couple Llama with something like Smart Actions (which apparently can turn off the GPS), the GPS is staying on most of the time. I'm going to try leaving the GPS on all the time to see how much it affects my battery.

close tiantam
hi,
i had same problem that profile scheduler did not switch on/off the gps once i upgreded to ICS.
there is a work around for your apk (to turn on/off gps), pls search for "secure settings" at play store which will serve as plug-in for your apk.
unfortunately, it did not compitable with profile scheduler.
i had tried to put profile scheduler as system apk, did not work.
only motorola default profile manager will toggle the gps.
hope this helps.

[Q] Tasker - GPS On/Off?

Anyone finding success with Tasker getting GPS control working on their Nexus 5 (Android 4.4)?
Tasker v4.1
Rooted
Secure Settings Pro/Helper
Example:
Profile>Application "GoogleMaps">New Task ("GPS On")>Plugin>SecureSettings>Edit>HelperActions>GPS>On>Save
ExitTask same as above but GPS>Off
When I launch GoogleMaps I can see Tasker working, but from within Tasker I see an error: "An error occurred while executing Action:GPS"
Any suggestions? Related to "Location Mode" setting approach with "High Accuracy", "Battery Saving", "Device Only" options?
Thanks!

I solved this problem using Helper Alternative in Secure Settings (last option of Helper tab in Secure Settings)
Now with "gps on" action you switch from battery saving mode to high accuracy, and vice versa vith "gps off".
You can also use the action to enable/disable the entire location service but in that case every time you want it on it shows an annoying google location consent disclaimer

aecant said:
I solved this problem using Helper Alternative in Secure Settings (last option of Helper tab in Secure Settings)
Now with "gps on" action you switch from battery saving mode to high accuracy, and vice versa vith "gps off".
You can also use the action to enable/disable the entire location service but in that case every time you want it on it shows an annoying google location consent disclaimer
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Click to collapse
Where is the option for battery saving mode or high accuaricy? I set it up only for Location services and the google location consent appear.
Also, is it possible to set it off in another way? because if I click in Tasks button in my phone, it suddenly turns gps off although Maps keeps running in the background

chimas16 said:
Where is the option for battery saving mode or high accuaricy? I set it up only for Location services and the google location consent appear.
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Click to collapse
you can switch between battery saving mode and high accuracy toggling the gps option:
gps on -> high accuracy
gps off -> battery saving mode
chimas16 said:
Also, is it possible to set it off in another way? because if I click in Tasks button in my phone, it suddenly turns gps off although Maps keeps running in the background
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Click to collapse
I use a workaround, I have set tasker to wait 20 seconds before disabling gps when i close apps that need location services, so when I switch to another app it doesn't turn off gps immediatly. I don't know other methods to make tasker consider that the app is running in the background

aecant said:
you can switch between battery saving mode and high accuracy toggling the gps option:
gps on -> high accuracy
gps off -> battery saving mode
I use a workaround, I have set tasker to wait 20 seconds before disabling gps when i close apps that need location services, so when I switch to another app it doesn't turn off gps immediatly. I don't know other methods to make tasker consider that the app is running in the background
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Click to collapse
How do you set tasked to time out after certain time? I keep trying but it just stays on high accuracy

p4ranoid4ndroid said:
How do you set tasked to time out after certain time? I keep trying but it just stays on high accuracy
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Click to collapse
i set a "wait" action before disabling gps

aecant said:
i set a "wait" action before disabling gps
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Click to collapse
How do you set a wait action? Create another task?

p4ranoid4ndroid said:
How do you set a wait action? Create another task?
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Click to collapse
no, you add an action, just hit the plus button>task>wait and set the amount of time you desire

GPS or locational services turning on solution
I created this tasker for if my phone got lost, but could be used for the Google Maps apps or Photo geotagging. This is for phones that are locked and require the google consent notice to be accepted.
Profile: recieved text "lostphone"
Task:
Secure settings: pattern lock disabled
Secure settings: wake phone
WIFI on
Mobile Data on
Secure settings: Location Services Enabled
Wait: 2 seconds
Dpad: Right repeat x2 (this is because the first time it doesn't work)
Dpad: Press repeat x1
Wait: 2 seconds
Secure settings: Pattern lock enabled
Secure settings: lock device
this makes the phone vulnerable but it only takes seconds for the phone to relock itself
Lewis

Hi,
I just installed tasker app on my Galaxy S7 Edge.
I tried to create a task to switch on GPS when running Pokemon App and then switch off once app is closed.
Task:
1. Launch App
App Pokemon Go Data %LOC
I run the task, as expected, it opens pokemon go app and 4G(gps) icon appears on the upper-left corner of my phone. But the icon won't disappear when I manually turn off the Location on Quick Settings.
Please help how to restore Location icon on-off.
Thank you

[Q] How best can I simply toggle a few settings?

I have a rooted Verizon S3. My battery life had been less than perfect on a variety of ROMs including stock. I am currently using Scott's Clean ROM 8.1.
If I manually turn off GPS, turn off "Access Location" in the new Google Settings and turn off Google Now, I have heroic battery life. I rarely miss the features I've turned off unless I'm in my car, at which point I turn on GPS, go to Google Setting and enable Access Location, etc. and then back again when I leave the car..
Is there an app I can use to create a one touch toggle/widget to easily change these 3 settings without digging into menus, etc? I bought tasker but it seems I'm a bit "thick" and can't figure it out there.
Thanks

junksecret said:
I have a rooted Verizon S3. My battery life had been less than perfect on a variety of ROMs including stock. I am currently using Scott's Clean ROM 8.1.
If I manually turn off GPS, turn off "Access Location" in the new Google Settings and turn off Google Now, I have heroic battery life. I rarely miss the features I've turned off unless I'm in my car, at which point I turn on GPS, go to Google Setting and enable Access Location, etc. and then back again when I leave the car..
Is there an app I can use to create a one touch toggle/widget to easily change these 3 settings without digging into menus, etc? I bought tasker but it seems I'm a bit "thick" and can't figure it out there.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you navigate to your google account under settings and under privacy there will be 3 options, Search, Location and Ads. Tap on Location.Then the menu will show the recent location requests and location services. At the top there will be a toggle for Location [ON/OFF] turn it on and right below that there is a setting for [Mode] I use location mode: Battery saving. It uses Wi-Fi and mobile networks to determine location. With this setting enabled you do not need to have Wi-Fi or GPS turned on. And as soon as you toggle your GPS on it will switch from battery saving mode to [High Accuracy Mode] which gets the fastest and best position. So if you have those settings enabled you will only need a toggle for GPS on your home screen. Hope that helps a bit.

Android 9 keeps killing the gps when screen is off.

Google Maps can't keep the gps signal on, and 2 minutes after screen turns off, it tells me "gps signal lost".
The app called GPS Keeper is capable of keeping my gps active, so I don't get GPS signal lost message.
But I would rather not use a 3rd party app to fix this issue.
What does GPS Keeper do that Android Pie can't?
Why can't google maps keep the gps signal active while screen is locked, like GPS Keeper can?
I am not running in power saver mode, and google maps has background battery privileges. In the developer options standby apps list, google maps is listed as Active.
Is there a hack that can keep the gps active while using a navigation app, while the screen is turned off?