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How to fix maps wake lock

Google Now is keeping our devices awake far more than it should. Worse, it disguises itself as "maps" in battery usage. There are a few methods you can use to curb this til it's officially fixed. Like with all things, YMMV.
Method 1: Downgrade to an older version of Google Now
It seems that in the 10/29 update of Google Now (Google Search), Google found it necessary to remove an essential option to fix the GNow wakelock. This option is called "Location & Google search" and used to be located in Accounts, Google, Search. Interestingly, if you use MIUI 4 you can find this option in Location Settings regardless of which Google Now version you have installed. Anyway, you can get this option BACK if you install the google search I have attached to this thread. You'll lose some of Google Now's newer functions using this method.
- First make sure you clear Google Search's data in Settings, Apps. This prevents force closes.
- Using a root enabled file explorer (such as root explorer) I first copy the downgrade Google Search (It's actually labelled QuickSearchBox.apk)
- Then navigate to system/apps and mount the system partition as Re-Writable
- Paste the copied Google Search, overwriting when prompted
- Long-press the newly pasted Google Search and fix the permissions as such:
Read - Owner, Group, Others
Write - Owner
(The rest is unchecked)
- Reboot the device then do the following:
1. Go into settings
2. Under Accounts, select Google
3. Select Search
4. Uncheck "Location & Google search"
It's fixed! But you lost some GNow functionality. Let's try something else maybe?
Method 2: Disabling location reporting
This is a method that works for me, but others have told me it doesn't work for them. It will disable Latitude related functions as well so that's something to consider if you use those.
- Launch Maps
- Go into settings
- Uncheck "Report from this device"
- Change location reporting to "Do not update location"
Try it out!
Method 3: Turn off google location services
This one should be obvious. You'll lose all location functionality. Not ideal, but it's a workaround.
- Go into location settings and turn off Location and google apps.
Hopefully one day google fixes this thing! Til then, this is what I have found to work for me.
Edit #1: Updated the guide with new findings, organized a bit better.
Edit #2: Attached the correct quicksearchbox apk!
Edit #3: Fixed this post like whoa

So the solution to reducing Maps usage is to disable Location related settings? You don't say...

Sycobob said:
So the solution to reducing Maps usage is to disable Location related settings? You don't say...
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Wow really? Was that really needed?

Sycobob said:
So the solution to reducing Maps usage is to disable Location related settings? You don't say...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think your comment was necessary either.
With jellybean, maps usage is quite a bit higher than it used to be because of Google Now. I think a lot of people would like to know ways to curb its resource usage.
This is helpful, OP. Thanks
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Meh, wasn't explicitly trying to be an ass, just seems like a pointless thread to me. "If you don't want your location app to spend resources checking your location, then turn off location settings" is right there with "pressing the menu button brings up the menu" or "turning the volume down makes your phone quieter".
If being reminded of these things is important information though, by all means carry on.

Sycobob said:
Meh, wasn't explicitly trying to be an ass, just seems like a pointless thread to me. "If you don't want your location app to spend resources checking your location, then turn off location settings" is right there with "pressing the menu button brings up the menu" or "turning the volume down makes your phone quieter".
If being reminded of these things is important information though, by all means carry on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get where you are coming from so no harm no foul. I went from completely stock to the stock jellybean leak. I used all the same settings as before but I did notice unusually high maps usage. I didn't know why but figured that Google Now is the culprit.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Sure, it may seem obvious, but actually disabling most other location related settings won't fix the maps lock in my experience. This one did, and it's tucked away where you wouldn't normally look for such settings. On top of that it seems to have little effect on how your phone operates with locations, so you can have your cake and eat it too.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Div033 said:
Sure, it may seem obvious, but actually disabling most other location related settings won't fix the maps lock in my experience. This one did, and it's tucked away where you wouldn't normally look for such settings. On top of that it seems to have little effect on how your phone operates with locations, so you can have your cake and eat it too.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
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I agree it might seems obvious but it's not... I wouldn't have disabled it cause I thought that it'd affect Google Now functionality... The OP confirmed that it doesn't so... green light.
Thanks OP btw.

Thanks op, needed this

Yo Div033! Long time no see bud! Loved your work on the DInc! Ur ICS blue Rom was tits! You working on anything for the SGS3 vzw?

TokedUp said:
Yo Div033! Long time no see bud! Loved your work on the DInc! Ur ICS blue Rom was tits! You working on anything for the SGS3 vzw?
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Click to collapse
Hey man! Thanks, I appreciate the comments but I'd hardly call it "my work" lol. I'm interested in doing some custom touchwiz themes but I'm knee deep in real life atm. Maybe once official TW JB drops I'll have more free time. I seem to have a nasty audio routing bug with the current leaks when using Google Music (will randomly switch audio output from headset to speaker when changing tracks) so I haven't been super inspired to do any work with them.
To all others: I have some additional information on how to curb the maps wakelock. If you've installed the Google Search 10/29 update then the setting I'm telling you to uncheck is no longer available. As of right now you can uninstall the update from app settings and then uncheck the setting in question. I'm going to now re-update now with it unchecked and see if the wakelock remains gone. If so, I'll update the OP with the required Google Search apk and additional instructions.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

How does this affect reporting of location with Latitude? I think that is where some of my drain is coming from, I'd like to keep Latitude on but find a way to either lessen the number of reports or find a lower power set of location services settings.

coreywilner said:
How does this affect reporting of location with Latitude? I think that is where some of my drain is coming from, I'd like to keep Latitude on but find a way to either lessen the number of reports or find a lower power set of location services settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, latitude is a whole different beast. The settings for latitude are within the Maps application itself. I can't say for sure if doing this method will alleviate your latitude reports but I'd think not. This seems to keep Google Now in check with its constant reporting.
But worth a shot maybe? It could be GNow that's affecting your wake time, unless you don't have it installed.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

None of these suggestions work. After turning "Let Google apps access your location" option back on wakelocks come back. There is one interesting thread that could help and I'm just gonna try it because all other things that I found didn't help.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=31031142

SotYPL said:
None of these suggestions work. After turning "Let Google apps access your location" option back on wakelocks come back. There is one interesting thread that could help and I'm just gonna try it because all other things that I found didn't help.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=31031142
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Click to collapse
Yup, I'm still doing some tests (been busy as hell) but the suggestions I originally supplied don't work. Except for the one where you use an older Google Now version, but I'd hardly call that a solution.
By the way, the option your looking for is "Location & Google search". The one you mentioned has a far broader effect. This option will only be present with the older version of Google now installed.
For now I've found that turning off Location reporting in maps fixes the lock. I believe this affects latitude and similar functions though, so if you use those it may not be a good solution.
What's really interesting is in the newer versions of MIUI the "Location and Google search" option is retained upon updating Google Now. I'm unsure why this is the only ROM to behave this way.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I'm running cm10 and I just turn the location access to off and it blocks all except the emergency location off...when I do this better battery stats shows no wake locks for location...I can't remember if stock has the same option.

jamesd1085 said:
I'm running cm10 and I just turn the location access to off and it blocks all except the emergency location off...when I do this better battery stats shows no wake locks for location...I can't remember if stock has the same option.
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Click to collapse
I noticed this before as well. I left "Google location services" on overnight as I slept and Google Maps wakelocks (for Google Now no doubt) destroyed my fully charged my battery. Better battery stats helped pinpoint that in my case.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Div033 said:
By the way, the option your looking for is "Location & Google search". The one you mentioned has a far broader effect. This option will only be present with the older version of Google now installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you turn off "Location & Google search" in older version of Google Search and then update app you will have this new "Let Google apps access your location" option off also after that and none of google apps will be able to get your location including Maps so this is not a solution. If you turn "Let Google apps access your location" back on wakelocks come back.
Div033 said:
For now I've found that turning off Location reporting in maps fixes the lock. I believe this affects latitude and similar functions though, so if you use those it may not be a good solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does nothing for me. I don't use any location reporting or google now and still have wakelocks. The only way to completely get rid of maps wakelocks is to turn off all location options or put the phone into airplane mode. And if I stay in one place I get very low amount of wakelocks but as soon I get moving wakelocks start to show in huge amount and they don't stop after I get to my destination. Right now I'm testing this script that I pointed before but I'm still at work so will see if it helps when I got home.

SotYPL said:
If you turn off "Location & Google search" in older version of Google Search and then update app you will have this new "Let Google apps access your location" option off also after that and none of google apps will be able to get your location including Maps so this is not a solution. If you turn "Let Google apps access your location" back on wakelocks come back.
It does nothing for me. I don't use any location reporting or google now and still have wakelocks. The only way to completely get rid of maps wakelocks is to turn off all location options or put the phone into airplane mode. And if I stay in one place I get very low amount of wakelocks but as soon I get moving wakelocks start to show in huge amount and they don't stop after I get to my destination. Right now I'm testing this script that I pointed before but I'm still at work so will see if it helps when I got home.
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Click to collapse
Yeah originally I had the idea that disabling that Location & Google search option would keep it disabled after updating even with the option missing. This turned out to not be the case as you discovered. I need to update the OP!
Its unfortunate to hear turning off location reporting didn't fix it for you. I would like to know if the method you linked works, so feel free to let us know
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

anyone aware of a Tasker or Llama profile to disable Location when I'm at a "fixed location" (i.e., at home or work), but enables Location once I'm on the road or in an unknown location?

[Q] Why are Location services running when Locations are turned Off?

One or two location services are always running in the background even when Locations are completely off, after multiple reboots. Any reason why?
On a simmilar note: does "com.qualcomm.qcrilmsgtunnel" need to always be running? It seems to be related to the phone dialer but there isn't much info.

bblzd said:
One or two location services are always running in the background even when Locations are completely off, after multiple reboots. Any reason why?
On a simmilar note: does "com.qualcomm.qcrilmsgtunnel" need to always be running? It seems to be related to the phone dialer but there isn't much info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you find out yet? Wondering the same thing.

I've always wondered this. If you enable show hidden sync in greenify you will see location sync. It auto turns it self back on after reboots and randomly if you manually turn it off and wait too.

Because Google are [email protected]
Sent from my Android L Nexus 5 via Tapatalk

shivraj67 said:
Did you find out yet? Wondering the same thing.
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frigidazzi said:
I've always wondered this. If you enable show hidden sync in greenify you will see location sync. It auto turns it self back on after reboots and randomly if you manually turn it off and wait too.
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Never did figure out why they need to be actively running in memory when they aren't being used. In fact, over time more Google services have appeared there as permanent residents including a 4th Location based service called GoogleLocationService.
You can force stop them but they will return so it's best to just let them be, or experiment with the Disable Service app. Without the corresponding setting enabled they don't seem to bring a significant battery drain but it is still worrying why these services need to be in memory and using any CPU time at all if their functionality has been disabled.
As for com.qualcomm.qcrilmsgtunnel, that seems to be a necessary process relating to phone/dialing functionality.

[Q] multiple wakes from somewhere??

hi so I have a lot of issues with my phone waking up for no apparent reason at all, turning off data and Wi-Fi didn't change anything either, the amount of wakes are ridiculous

NuckFuggets said:
hi so I have a lot of issues with my phone waking up for no apparent reason at all, turning off data and Wi-Fi didn't change anything either, the amount of wakes are ridiculous
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to gsam or bbs to tell you what's waking your phone. From the info you provided no one can tell you what's going on.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You need to gsam or bbs to tell you what's waking your phone. From the info you provided no one can tell you what's going on.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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what's gsam and bbs?

NuckFuggets said:
what's gsam and bbs?
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Click to collapse
Go to play store and look for gsam and betterybatterystats
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Go to play store and look for gsam and betterybatterystats
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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ok I got gsam, what do I do with it? just use my phone normally for a while then check to see what's waking the phone up?

NuckFuggets said:
ok I got gsam, what do I do with it? just use my phone normally for a while then check to see what's waking the phone up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, give it a day and then look at held awake and app usage. That should tell you what's causing the problem. You can post screen shots here of those and we should be able to give you an idea of what's going on
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Yes, give it a day and then look at held awake and app usage. That should tell you what's causing the problem. You can post screen shots here of those and we should be able to give you an idea of what's going on
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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ok sweet thanks a lot!

its google play services.. its at the top of the list, but shouldn't be there at all. its been an issue with many other nexus 5 users this past month or so. i even had it. people are finding several ways to fix it. i fixed it by installing the disable service app, and removing all the location oriented stuff from google play services.

simms22 said:
its google play services.. its at the top of the list, but shouldn't be there at all. its been an issue with many other nexus 5 users this past month or so. i even had it. people are finding several ways to fix it. i fixed it by installing the disable service app, and removing all the location oriented stuff from google play services.
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Click to collapse
maybe, but it's only at the top cuz I had 5 minute screen on time, normally it's at 5% for normal usage

NuckFuggets said:
maybe, but it's only at the top cuz I had 5 minute screen on time, normally it's at 5% for normal usage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it should be even lower. mine was at 5% when causing trouble.

As said, use gsam.... Let it go from 100 to about 10 percent and sift through it. Post screens that look odd.
Don't reboot, Gsam will reset if you do.
Your screens are for an hour....can't tell much from that. Need a long timeframe.
Good luck!
Oh, and you need gsam root companion as well, to see held awake times and wakelocks. Get it from play store, run it after you download it.

simms22 said:
it should be even lower. mine was at 5% when causing trouble.
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Click to collapse
true, this stuff happened after I factory reset it, I'm probably going to do a clean install of 4.4.3

did a factory reset, clean install of 4.4.3.... and it didn't work. well it was fine for day one, but crap again today.
wtf is the problem with Google play services?? it's really pissing me off
p.s. screenshots are for only one hour, but I used my phone for like 5 hours from before with the same amount of wakes between screen ons..

I'm willing to bet its related to what seems to be horrible signal strength.... Combined with location services. (High accuracy I'm betting? Or possibly on battery saver?)
So an app, or apps are trying to get location and having trouble cause your signal is so weak. (Trying to reach radio towers)
Or, its just apps trying to access data...social apps in particular, or anything that automatically receives info/data.
Anyway....to see if I'm on the right track.....first step is to turn location services off completely and see how it is.
If its no different....scenario 2.
For a few hours to test....keep location off and disable data. You'll still get texts and phone calls ...but that's it. See how that is for a few hours.
Good luck! ?

KJ said:
I'm willing to bet its related to what seems to be horrible signal strength.... Combined with location services. (High accuracy I'm betting? Or possibly on battery saver?)
So an app, or apps are trying to get location and having trouble cause your signal is so weak. (Trying to reach radio towers)
Or, its just apps trying to access data...social apps in particular, or anything that automatically receives info/data.
Anyway....to see if I'm on the right track.....first step is to turn location services off completely and see how it is.
If its no different....scenario 2.
For a few hours to test....keep location off and disable data. You'll still get texts and phone calls ...but that's it. See how that is for a few hours.
Good luck! ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's signal strength, becsuse both of these days I was at school, in the same spot. but yeah I'll try turning off location (it's on battery saver btw) and report back on how things go. thanks!

KJ said:
I'm willing to bet its related to what seems to be horrible signal strength.... Combined with location services. (High accuracy I'm betting? Or possibly on battery saver?)
So an app, or apps are trying to get location and having trouble cause your signal is so weak. (Trying to reach radio towers)
Or, its just apps trying to access data...social apps in particular, or anything that automatically receives info/data.
Anyway....to see if I'm on the right track.....first step is to turn location services off completely and see how it is.
If its no different....scenario 2.
For a few hours to test....keep location off and disable data. You'll still get texts and phone calls ...but that's it. See how that is for a few hours.
Good luck! ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually think it's location, I did a short test turning it off then back on to battery saving, and you can see that it made a difference. the big gap where there is no awake is when I turned off location, and then right till the end you can see the phone keeps waking up after I enabled location again. I don't understand how it can go from no wakes between screen on to like 1000 wakes between screen on in just a day.. like wtf
I also have location off for facebook and messenger, and basically everything else except camera and Google, but I've always had location on for them including yesterday, so I don't think they're the problem

NuckFuggets said:
I actually think it's location, I did a short test turning it off then back on to battery saving, and you can see that it made a difference. the big gap where there is no awake is when I turned off location, and then right till the end you can see the phone keeps waking up after I enabled location again. I don't understand how it can go from no wakes between screen on to like 1000 wakes between screen on in just a day.. like wtf
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i used an app called disable service to disable google play services location ability about a month ago, it hasnt bothered me since. i tried telling you yesterday..

simms22 said:
i used an app called disable service to disable google play services location ability about a month ago, it hasnt bothered me since. i tried telling you yesterday..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no I saw that, but everything was perfectly fine yesterday, I want to try to fix the problem first. if nothing works then I'll get the app, but I don't get why I would have to use an app to disable my location cuz of a troublesome app, like what the hell is needing my location so much???

NuckFuggets said:
no I saw that, but everything was perfectly fine yesterday, I want to try to fix the problem. if nothing works then I'll get the app, but I don't get why I would have to use an app to disable my location cuz of a troublesome app, like what the hell is needing my location so much???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it still happens when location is disabled. i dont know whats up with google play services this past month, but it has bothered many. it started when they were updating the play services and added many more abilities and permissions to it. and its not just a normal app btw, it controls much of what goes on now with the os, even updating many things in the background.

simms22 said:
it still happens when location is disabled. i dont know whats up with google play services this past month, but it has bothered many. it started when they were updating the play services and added many more abilities and permissions to it. and its not just a normal app btw, it controls much of what goes on now with the os, even updating many things in the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh. well damn. I'll just disable location for a while cuz everything was perfect yesterday :/

Better battery stats help

Could someone please explain what these screenshots mean and what should I do to prevent such high wake locks ?

ronu said:
Could someone please explain what these screenshots mean and what should I do to prevent such high wake locks ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google+ is syncing a lot, that's causing the wakelock.

Heisenberg said:
Google+ is syncing a lot, that's causing the wakelock.
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Click to collapse
I had disabled Google plus as I don't use it. So why is it even showing ?
And what is power manager services which is causing phone to stay awake all the time ?

ronu said:
I had disabled Google plus as I don't use it. So why is it even showing ?
And what is power manager services which is causing phone to stay awake all the time ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How exactly did you disable it? Power Managed Service is a generic term, many things fall under that, it basically just means that the phone is awake.

Long pressed on Google plus icon. App info ... Disbale

Uninstall it.

ronu said:
Long pressed on Google plus icon. App info ... Disbale
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either actually uninstall it or use Titanium to freeze it.

How do I get rid of T-Mobile My account?

Anybody know of a sure way to disable this thing? I have unlimited everything and I have absolutely no use for an app that sits on my drop-down menu telling me how many texts and minutes i have left. Plus it keeps trying to "diagnose my system". Yes, I know my battery is at 50%, stop telling me my battery health is low, thats what the battery icon is for!

s1lenz said:
Anybody know of a sure way to disable this thing? I have unlimited everything and I have absolutely no use for an app that sits on my drop-down menu telling me how many texts and minutes i have left. Plus it keeps trying to "diagnose my system". Yes, I know my battery is at 50%, stop telling me my battery health is low, thats what the battery icon is for!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you can go into the app and go to settings to get rid of the persistent notification. As far as totally deleting it, we will have to wait for root!

You can buy the app called Package Disabler on the app store to disable all unwanted apps.

I used package disabler, and Deb located my phone. Great battery results after that.

I want to install cwm recovery on my z1 loolipop
Sent from my C6902 using XDA Free mobile app

bebeloneovvl said:
I used package disabler, and Deb located my phone. Great battery results after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that worked for me