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...
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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.
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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
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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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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.
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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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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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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.
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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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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?
I really fudged up here.
I took this new phone which had a notification about an update. Thinking it is like Windows where I must have the newest updates for proper security practices- I agreed for the update.
Turns out it has become a Lollipop device now, which wouldn't be much of a problem except that the owner who has no Google account and want to stay away from them as much as possible, sharing as little info as possible- Now gets a popup every time she turns on the GPS, asking her to share her location with Google( "use Google location services"). She keeps hitting 'Decline', but other than being annoying, the demand is obviously destined to be accidentally accepted one day.
The settings of the GPS are "device sensors only" and when you hit decline it works normally.
I've spent the entire day looking for a solution and I'm fairly desperate. I am not allowed to install any 3rd party GPS app on the phone nor can I revert to the previous version if it involves me downloading some file from the internet (not from an official source) and trying to flash the device (I'm inexperienced and afraid to brick the device as well).
Please, can anyone help?!?!?!
PS. funnily enough the popup has a "decline" button, an "accept" button, and a "don't ask me again" tick box- however when you choose the tick box- the "Decline" button disappears (turns grey).
P.S.S- I just want to add that it goes without saying about a root being out of the question.
P.S.S.S I just want to make clear that
up?
Ok, guys, I tried searching through the forums and I'm not seeing a thread related directly to this so here goes.
Last night my daughter had my phone and now when I'm in full-screen apps, (specifically I play summoners war) the nav bar won't auto minimize like it should. It's pretty annoying since it covers up my skills and nothing I can really do. There has to be a specific option I can't find but in settings>display, there is no navigation section. I am running totally stock pixel, no root. android 8.1.0. I don't want to get into any command line prompts because this had to have happened without it, so I hope someone can help me out here.
Not sure what could be, but if in adb you type "settings put global policy_control immersive.full=" (yes, with nothing after the "=") it will reset any kind of modifications made on navbar/statusbar immersive settings, reverting back to stock.
I know you asked a solution without commands, but since I don't know what could be the cause I don't have specific ideas. So if you want, give it a try.
Hello, has anyone had problems with the watch notifications?
The problem I have is that the notifications do not appear on the clock screen, nor do they vibrate, nor do they sound; only until I swipe from bottom to top I see that there are notifications.
I already spoke to Huawei support and they ask me to activate special notification permissions that I cannot find in the settings.
I hope someone can help me.
Have you already attempted to enable any available permissions from the app details under Apps in Settings?
Hello, thank you very much for answering.
I have already managed to get the notifications to work for a few hours, but after a few hours the same thing happens again. I have activated all accesses of the Health application, such as access to notifications (In the menu "special access to apps"), permissions to contacts, phone, etc. The Health app is also out of battery optimization.
Huawei's support asks me to activate this:
Settings> Privacy> Management> Special app permissions> Notifications> Huawei Health.
I hope I have explained myself well.
If it consistently seems to work until the phone is idle for a couple hours, you should check all of the different settings for battery and background data throughout the phone and see if one of them is to blame. There are quite a few different settings for this, including some also in Developer Options if you enabled those.
Hi.
When it worked for a while and then no longer, it was the first thing I thought. Something is killing some service or task and that's why they stop coming. But it is nothing like that, the notifications do reach the clock, but it does not vibrate or sound. I already put the application without battery optimization, which starts automatically, blocked in tasks, application services the same. I can not think of anything else.
Thanks for the help.
After doing more research, I came to a huawei forum in Chinese and found the answer. The watch can detect that it is not being used, that you are not wearing it and tattoos can make the watch think that it is not being used. I have my entire left arm tattooed, change the wristwatch and it works perfectly. But I don't know how this leaves me a little unsatisfied, I don't know.
It doesn't have a way to disable that? Might want to suggest it to them. Usually features like that aren't hardcoded because such situations exist.
No, the GT2 series has a sensor dedicated specifically to that. I can only return it, change the hand to the one that is not tattooed or erase the tattoo.