Database Info

Google Now and GPS

Good evening everyone.
This is a question that the 4 billion pages on google cant seem to find....
with google now, should I keep my standalone GPS, VZW location services and google location services?
I want to know because right now I have all 3 on, and my battery is suffering from it.
and this maybe a little off topic, but along the same lines;
I have a smart action "turn wifi off at school" and "turn wifi on at home" and it uses locations to determine where im at, what GPS service needs to be enabled for that to work properly, cause again I have all 3 services selected, and I wanna disable as many as i can to save power.

Anyone?

harecurtis said:
Good evening everyone.
This is a question that the 4 billion pages on google cant seem to find....
with google now, should I keep my standalone GPS, VZW location services and google location services?
I want to know because right now I have all 3 on, and my battery is suffering from it.
and this maybe a little off topic, but along the same lines;
I have a smart action "turn wifi off at school" and "turn wifi on at home" and it uses locations to determine where im at, what GPS service needs to be enabled for that to work properly, cause again I have all 3 services selected, and I wanna disable as many as i can to save power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you only enable "Use wireless networks" and disable the other 2 you should be fine
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

harecurtis said:
Good evening everyone.
with google now, should I keep my standalone GPS, VZW location services and google location services?
I want to know because right now I have all 3 on, and my battery is suffering from it.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I leave Google and GPS on. I turn Verizon off.
I have no battery issues.
Are you sure it's the location services causing issues?
Check your battery stats and see.
Screen
Phone Idle
...
..
For me, no location or GPS even rate.

Google play services draining battery

Hi.. I have a problem. When I'm not using wifi, I find google play services always draining a lot of the battery... the % is always between 10-15% after many hours. I did some changes hoping that it would fix that... like I only sync emails with my 3 google accounts, I disabled totally google now, i disabled google location history and set location to wifi-mobile. But it still drains too much (i think, whats your % on google play services?).
Is there anything else I could do to lower the drainage? I have many apps installed but I cant think of anything that could cause that.
Thank you!
PS One thing I really dont get: why in wifi its not even listed in the list of the apps draining memory, while in mobile data its so high?

Make sure always scanning for wifi is off because that setting always enables if you use GPS and doesn't disabled aftewards

For me it was the Google Backups. That has always decimated my batteries lol.

supernova_00 said:
Make sure always scanning for wifi is off because that setting always enables if you use GPS and doesn't disabled aftewards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you disable that? I cant find that option anymore in MM. Thank you.!
nthnu said:
For me it was the Google Backups. That has always decimated my batteries lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In backup menu right? If it was that, tho, i should notice draining also in wifi tho... no?

tharghan said:
How do you disable that? I cant find that option anymore in MM. Thank you.!
In backup menu right? If it was that, tho, i should notice draining also in wifi tho... no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think it would. Do you have screenshots of your battery screen you can share?
Settings > Backup and reset > Back up my data.
You should be able to check data usage by WiFi as well. If anything, I think you can restrict Google Play Services to not use cell data.
Settings > Data usage > (find the app) > Restrict background data (at bottom)
WiFi settings...
Settings > WiFi > More > Advanced

supernova_00 said:
Make sure always scanning for wifi is off because that setting always enables if you use GPS and doesn't disabled aftewards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nthnu said:
I would think it would. Do you have screenshots of your battery screen you can share?
Settings > Backup and reset > Back up my data.
You should be able to check data usage by WiFi as well. If anything, I think you can restrict Google Play Services to not use cell data.
Settings > Data usage > (find the app) > Restrict background data (at bottom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Deleted my screenshot but I'll save next one when it happens.
Btw i cant find any "restrict background data" option after selecting an app... why? I tried several apps and never show. I think i had this option on my s6 but i dont remember well.

PS:
WiFi settings...
Settings > WiFi > More > Advanced
I also dont have "advanced" under more... wtf? Do i have some menus hidden or what?

tharghan said:
PS:
WiFi settings...
Settings > WiFi > More > Advanced
I also dont have "advanced" under more... wtf? Do i have some menus hidden or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What carrier? I'm wondering if it's something the carrier has changed, that and the restrict bg data.

nthnu said:
What carrier? I'm wondering if it's something the carrier has changed, that and the restrict bg data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No carrier at all... unbranded. Any idea?

Under data usage I have a menu called "Background data" where I can prevent individual apps from using mobile data when not running in the foreground and not in wifi... problem is that i dont have "google play services" there... i just have a general "google".
And still cant find advanced menu under wifi setting... i checked on google and a lot of people dont seem to have this option anymore even on s6... Im confused tho, some people with s7 have it and some dont??

tharghan said:
Under data usage I have a menu called "Background data" where I can prevent individual apps from using mobile data when not running in the foreground and not in wifi... problem is that i dont have "google play services" there... i just have a general "google".
And still cant find advanced menu under wifi setting... i checked on google and a lot of people dont seem to have this option anymore even on s6... Im confused tho, some people with s7 have it and some dont??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is confusing, not sure why it's like that. One would think they'd all be the same.
Maybe someone else here is in the same situation. Not that it matters, but then again might as well ask lol. Are you using a GSM or CDMA phone?

nthnu said:
It is confusing, not sure why it's like that. One would think they'd all be the same.
Maybe someone else here is in the same situation. Not that it matters, but then again might as well ask lol. Are you using a GSM or CDMA phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I'm rather confused... I think my s7 is gsm since im in europe but im not 100% sure.

tharghan said:
No carrier at all... unbranded. Any idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WiFi settings...
Settings > WiFi > More > then hit on blue "scanning settings"

That first pic I don't have the paragraph at the bottom.
The second, for me scanning settings are under Settings > Location > Improve Accuracy.
So there seems to be differences.

tharghan said:
Under data usage I have a menu called "Background data" where I can prevent individual apps from using mobile data when not running in the foreground and not in wifi... problem is that i dont have "google play services" there... i just have a general "google".
And still cant find advanced menu under wifi setting... i checked on google and a lot of people dont seem to have this option anymore even on s6... Im confused tho, some people with s7 have it and some dont??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat. A few days ago, all of a sudden, Google Play Services started to eating up my data like crazy. In less than a week it's eaten up over 1GB in the background, and now the "restrict background data" option is gone. Things like these made me want to dump my S7 and switch to a Nexus......

I have a bone to pick as well with Google Play Services, but it's regarding non-stop location requests. I've been searching high and low for similar issue but don't seem to find any.
Just t be clear:
1. I don't use Google Now
2. I have disabled Now Cards
3. I have disabled Location History
4. I have performed factory reset
5. It's not rooted
6. I want to keep Location Service switched on
Under Location, Google Play Services location would always indicate "Battery usage: low" and occasionally shows "Battery usage: high". I use GSam, and it barely register any GPS activity, and I think any GPS activity that is logged would be the ones that was "Battery usage: high".
I also use Greenify to take advantage of aggressive doze but doesn't help with the location issue.
I use Package Disabler and have disabled most bloatware and Google's apps I don't use.
I just want to see of anyone has noticed this on their S7. It's a European variant.

mines having this issue too. it'd wake time is 11 hours today outta the 13 hours off charger. it's been crap the past month. it was OK for 2 days and nowhere near the top, but now it's crap again. getting annoyed with this damn phone.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7 using Tapatalk

There was an update of google play services a few days ago to version 9.2.56. Since then I experienced a huge battery drain. I found out that my s7 doesn't go to deep sleep when I switch Bluetooth on and afterwards off. Reverting to an older version of google play services solve this issue for me.

jayochs said:
mines having this issue too. it'd wake time is 11 hours today outta the 13 hours off charger. it's been crap the past month. it was OK for 2 days and nowhere near the top, but now it's crap again. getting annoyed with this damn phone.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having this problem, 65% battery usage with Google Play Service, I set up Google as below and it seems to have worked.
In Settings > Accounts
Tap Google and Turn off all the items you do not need or want to Sync
Also
In Settings > Google under the Services heading
Nearby - Set to Off
Google Photos Backup - Set to Off
Location On but Locating Method - Set to GPS Only
Ads - Op Out turned On
Search & Now > Now Cards - Set to Off, also Now on Tap - Set to Off
Exit out to the Home Screen and reboot your Phone, in the last 21.5 hours no Google Play Service draining the battery.
Failing that working you could try Settings > Applications > Application Manager > Google Play Service tap More and Uninstall Updates as suggested by @DSC05 and reboot your phone

What is the firmware version you are on?
I have a 930F with APE2 firmware and play services is the last on the list with 5% drain. Still, I have a smartwatch (LG Urbane) connected with bluetooth on all the time.

Google Location Accuracy cannot be enabled

I'm trying to switch on Location - Google Location Accuracy, but it cannot be enabled. I leave the setting screen and it's off again!
Anybody??
Google Services installed, Framework frozen.

Be happy about it.
That Google thing does not improve YOUR location accuracy, it improves Google's data collection, by capturing all WiFi networks in range and sending those data back to Google, so Google can establish a map of WiFi networks all around, serving you just nothing except higher battery drain because your GPS will be switched on even if you switched it off, permanently exposing your position even if you don't know about, and wasting mobile data for sending your findings to Google.
A while ago, Google even tried to force us activating this rubbish feature to be able to use Google Maps at all - but fortunately, they rowed back, now try lies about better accuracy to make you switch on that feature only they benefit from.
It's a feature that should be OFF at all times. It's misleading because Google babbles about improved accuracy - but never clearly states it improves YOUR location accuracy. Not without a reason.

Klosterbruder said:
Be happy about it.
That Google thing does not improve YOUR location accuracy, it improves Google's data collection, by capturing all WiFi networks in range and sending those data back to Google, so Google can establish a map of WiFi networks all around, serving you just nothing except higher battery drain because your GPS will be switched on even if you switched it off, permanently exposing your position even if you don't know about, and wasting mobile data for sending your findings to Google.
A while ago, Google even tried to force us activating this rubbish feature to be able to use Google Maps at all - but fortunately, they rowed back, now try lies about better accuracy to make you switch on that feature only they benefit from.
It's a feature that should be OFF at all times. It's misleading because Google babbles about improved accuracy - but never clearly states it improves YOUR location accuracy. Not without a reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but Timeline in Google maps doesn't work without this setting. Is there a way to force enable it?

viamal said:
Yes, but Timeline in Google maps doesn't work without this setting. Is there a way to force enable it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you un-freeze GSF it will work.

I would rather have my notifications back and lose timeline. No timeline, for me, is a small price to pay

Sathelp said:
I would rather have my notifications back and lose timeline. No timeline, for me, is a small price to pay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You see, I've had it for 10 years now on various phones. It shows me all the cities in the world that I visited, i remember the best restaurants, etc. And in your Timeline, you also see the photos you took in various places. They are attached to timeline itself.

Where does Android get its location updates from?

I have installed a fake GPS application (Lockito) and set it up as Mock Location App. It doesn't actually matter which one I use, it's always the same behaviour.
I start a route, but it's jumping to my real location every 4 to 5 seconds, stays there for a similar amount of time and jumps back to my faked location.
My understanding is that this mock locations dev option would overrule ANY location update from somewhere else, but seems it isn't.
What I tried:
- Device administrator: turn off any administrator
- Location set to "GPS only".
- turn off wifi scanning
- smalli patch activated in magisk (with mock location checked)
- fused location on (or off) -- no change in behaviour
- Using the "experimental mode" of Fake GPS routes: no change in behaviour
- Google Play Services 21.2.12-16 (I tried uninstalling the current version, but this leaves my fake gps app not working)
- Installing the app as a system app (restart afterwards): no change compared with the normal
- Google Maps 10.47.1 (reverted this back to 9.26.1)
So, what I'm wondering is: what process is injecting my real location?
And should that even happen when using the mock locations? As far as I know if I would be using mock locations it should just use this info as my gps information... And not use any other data?
Does anyone have any hints on what I can still try?

coder.toolbox said:
I have installed a fake GPS application (Lockito) and set it up as Mock Location App. It doesn't actually matter which one I use, it's always the same behaviour.
I start a route, but it's jumping to my real location every 4 to 5 seconds, stays there for a similar amount of time and jumps back to my faked location.
My understanding is that this mock locations dev option would overrule ANY location update from somewhere else, but seems it isn't.
What I tried:
- Device administrator: turn off any administrator
- Location set to "GPS only".
- turn off wifi scanning
- smalli patch activated in magisk (with mock location checked)
- fused location on (or off) -- no change in behaviour
- Using the "experimental mode" of Fake GPS routes: no change in behaviour
- Google Play Services 21.2.12-16 (I tried uninstalling the current version, but this leaves my fake gps app not working)
- Installing the app as a system app (restart afterwards): no change compared with the normal
- Google Maps 10.47.1 (reverted this back to 9.26.1)
So, what I'm wondering is: what process is injecting my real location?
And should that even happen when using the mock locations? As far as I know if I would be using mock locations it should just use this info as my gps information... And not use any other data?
Does anyone have any hints on what I can still try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Find your location settings on system settings, select your Google account then turn off location accuracy, you want the location setting on, but you don't want the improved accuracy.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Find your location settings on system settings, select your Google account then turn off location accuracy, you want the location setting on, but you don't want the improved accuracy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. This I knew already. Yesterday night I finally figured it out what was going on & posted it here: forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=83200513&postcount=6163.

[Privacy] Do you know a way to permanently disable Google Location Accuracy 'precise location' & 'Wi-Fi scanning' while keeping only the GPS radio on?

This would be a big leap in privacy if we can pull it off together.
Do you know if there is a way to permanently disable precise location & Wi-Fi scanning switches from turning on?
Google Location Accuracy = assisted_gps_enabled
How can we turn this (permanently OFF!)
Wi-Fi scanning = wifi_scan_always_enabled
How can we turn this (permanently OFF!)
Bluetooth scanning = ble_scan_always_enabled
How can we turn this (permanently OFF!)
Keeping in mind these basic inviolate privacy rules... everything below that question above is merely a detail as to WHY I want to permanently turn these three switches off.
Never do I need or want to use anything but the GPS radio for location accuracy.
And never do I wish to upload my location to Google.
And never do I wish to upload anyone's Wi-Fi AP BSSID to Google
And never will I create ANY account on my phone (especially a Google Account!).
The pernicious problem described below did NOT use to be the case.
android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
Luckily, this stays off usually, after I turn it off
android.permission.ACCESS_COURSE_LOCATION
Practically, this is required for GPS, so it must be turned on
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
I NEVER want this on but this keeps turning back on
It seems now, that every "map related" app that links in the GSF spyware, forces upon us wholly unnecessary de facto Google spying by needlessly requiring the app to turn on two pernicious Google spyware settings, even if you constantly turn those to settings off!
Google Location Accuracy = off
Wi-Fi scanning = off
It used to be that apps which needed your location would politely "ask" but you could turn on the GPS radio manually, and the map-routing apps would all accept that they had sufficient GPS-only information without resorting to uploading your location needlessly to Google servers.
Recently I tested the following parked-car finder apps, all of which perniciously turned on these completely unnecessary Google GSF spyware uploads to the Google servers!
Parked Car by Myroslav Kolodii
Free, ad free, requires GSF, 4.4star, 179 reviews, 10K+Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unagit.parkedcar>
Car Location by DigitalBox Studios
Free, ad free, requires GSF, not rated, not reviewed, 500+Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carparking.location>
Find my parked car by Aurum App
Free, has ads, requires GSF, 4.6 star, 32.7K reviews, 1M+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.carfind>
The technical part of this privacy problem is no matter how many times I turn precise location off, either globally or per app, many (if not almost all) location-aware apps (with GSF spyware linked in) turn it back on.
I don't ever want any app to ever be able to turn precise location on.
I have zero desire to use Wi-Fi access points and Bluetooth beacons to determine my precise location, particularly since I often spoof GPS. (I'm guessing the bluetooth spyware switch uses beacons, but I don't know that for a fact.)
Unfortunately for me, almost every app which asks for location nowadays (which uses the GSF spyware), automatically turns on both "Use precise location" & "Wi-Fi Scanning" no matter whether you've already turned precise location access off for that specific app a billion times already.
To be clear, this location tracking spyware situation doesn't matter if you don't even have a Google Account on the phone (which I don't have) because that's not the location tracking that I'm talking about here.
Android 12 Settings > Privacy > Google location history > empty
{I'm not talking about this location tracking as I have no Google Account
It doesn't even matter if you've globally turned the switches off in the Android 12 settings!
Android12 Settings > Location > Location Services >
Google Location Accuracy = off
Wi-Fi scanning = off
Bluetooth scanning = off
Even if you have every app that needs GPS set to "Allow only while using the app", many of those apps will ask EVERY TIME for "precise location".
Android12 Settings > Apps > Permission manager > Location > {app} >
Use precise location = off
The reason is most gps-enabled apps keep turning these precise location switches back on!
Even if you have your Wi-Fi radio & Bluetooth radio turned off, many of those apps still ask EVERY TIME for "precise location" - and worse - the apps won't run until you say yes to the request for location, and then saying yes will automatically turn on precise location every time.
Worse than all that, even if you already turned on the GPS and you already turned off precise location for all your apps and you already set every app to only use the location when the app is running, still most apps will ask for precise location (and then you can manually turn it off yet again).
I turned off all the system apps location permission that I could in
Android12 Settings > Location > App permissions >
Show system > Allowed all the time >
But some of them are grayed out and therefore can't be turned off.
Fused Location = Allow all the time (grayed out)
Fused Location = Use precise location (grayed out)
Samsung Location SDK = Allow all the time (grayed out)
Samsung Location SDK = Use precise location (grayed out)
The fact remains that, since I care about my privacy, I do NOT wish to upload my location to Google servers. Nor do I wish to upload all the BSSIDs around me to Google. And I also don't want any app using them for location. Ever!
I will never want precise location to be turned on, mainly because it gives away my true location (in terms of other people's Wi-Fi access points) and more importantly because I never will need location accuracy better than GPS which is just fine for what I want and for what I need.
In summary...
Do you know if there is a way to permanently disable precise location & Wi-Fi scanning?
NOTE: I'm not rooted (the Galaxy A32-5G SM-A326U apparently can't be rooted) & I therefore don't have Tasker nor, for privacy reasons do I have IFTTT (if this, then that requires a mothership account) but just in case automation forms the basis of a workaround, today I installed both MacroDroid & Automate which are better behaved than IFTTT is on privacy (but I don't yet know if they can do the job of turning off the GSF "assisted_gps_enabled" & inherently malevolent spyware permissions).
Also I have adb working well from Windows over Wi-Fi (for scrcpy/sndcpy & vysor), so maybe I can permanently revoke the permissions using that?
---
REFERENCES
<https://developer.android.com/training/location/permissions>
<https://developer.android.com/training/location/permissions#upgrade-to-precise>
<https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-disable-google-location-tracking/>
<https://www.reviewgeek.com/127460/how-to-disable-precise-location-tracking-on-iphone-or-android/>
<https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-get-google-to-quit-tracking-you>
<https://hothardware.com/news/stop-apps-knowingprecise-location-and-why>
<https://androidforums.com/threads/how-to-disable-high-accuracy-location-service-permanently.1267243/>

Using ADB you at any time can grant / revoke permissions​A one-liner that helps granting or revoking vulnerable permissions.
granting
Code:
adb shell pm grant <sample.package.id> android.permission.<PERMISSION_NAME>
revoking
Code:
adb shell pm revoke <sample.package.id> android.permission.<PERMISSION_NAME>

Did you manage to achieve your goal? Using App Ops is really showing how often google checks your location...
Is the adb idea working?

Yeah, that stuff is all pernicious.
I run an external GPS through UDP and mock location daemon.
I don't want Google to ever listen for WiFi or BT.
It's pesky, every time I start Maps it's always asking me if I want to turn their stuff on.

Bad news.
Apparently Google has recently changed the
Android Google Maps app such that it no longer routes using only GPS.
I tested it without a Google account, and with the following turned off in the Android 12 Settings.
Settings > Location > Location services >
Google Location Accuracy > Improve Location Accuracy = off
Settings > Location > Location services > Improve Accuracy
Wi-Fi scanning = off
Bluetooth scanning = off
Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation [April 4, 2023]
<https://www.deceptive.design/articles/google-maps-now-requires-wifi-scanning-to-use-navigation>
<
https://www.reddit.com/r/hackernews/comments/si6wx2
>
<
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1488641697227624448>
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30167865 >
<https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20220204-google-map-wi-fi-gps/>
"Now, enter a new update. I can no longer navigate with Google Maps, unless
full location tracking is on. Comments in Play Store indicate others hit
the same wall."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and
"a further update to Google Maps will prevent navigation on Google Maps
without fully allowing location tracking."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even the official Google Play Store Google Maps app description says it can't use only GPS anymore also.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
There are only two choices now, none of them are GPS only anymore.
Location Permission
"precise location (GPS and network-based)"
"approximate location (network-based)."
There no longer seems to be an option in Google Maps for GPS only location. Am I right or wrong?

GalaxyA325G said:
Bad news.
Apparently Google has recently changed the
Android Google Maps app such that it no longer routes using only GPS.
I tested it without a Google account, and with the following turned off in the Android 12 Settings.
Settings > Location > Location services >
Google Location Accuracy > Improve Location Accuracy = off
Settings > Location > Location services > Improve Accuracy
Wi-Fi scanning = off
Bluetooth scanning = off
Google Maps now requires WiFi scanning to use navigation [April 4, 2023]
<https://www.deceptive.design/articles/google-maps-now-requires-wifi-scanning-to-use-navigation>
<
https://www.reddit.com/r/hackernews/comments/si6wx2
>
<
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1488641697227624448>
<https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30167865 >
<https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20220204-google-map-wi-fi-gps/>
and
Even the official Google Play Store Google Maps app description says it can't use only GPS anymore also.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
There are only two choices now, none of them are GPS only anymore.
Location Permission
"precise location (GPS and network-based)"
"approximate location (network-based)."
There no longer seems to be an option in Google Maps for GPS only location. Am I right or wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me Wifi-Scanning is off and Maps works fine. Not sure though, if Maps is maybe somehow still using it or whatever google/maps able to do.
Iam on Android 13 though (and custom Rom + rooted, not sure how much this plays a role)