[Q] GPS is killing my battery...Started recently - T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII

Recently the GPS crosshairs icon flashes on my status bar like every 5 seconds then flips off...on and off, on and off all day. I know the simple fix would to be just to turn off gps, but again this just started happening recently. I always left my gps on all the time and the crosshairs icon would only flash when an app was using it, like in google maps or navigation. So I'm assuming it's an app that's using my gps in the background somewhere. How can I figure out what is using it?
Also, I've always kept my screen on the brightest setting with no problem regarding battery life. But I just looked in Settings>Battery and it shows that the screen is responsible for 80% of the battery, with no mention of gps. So, any ideas about what's going on with my battery?

Better battery stats will help you find what's causing the issue. Its a paid app on the play store, look for the picture of a battery and plus sign.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

You can find BBB here for free for XDA users.
My suggestion is to look at your apps and see what has Location or GPS permissions (ie. Facebook/G+/4Square, Maps, old Latitude-type settings, anything the "checks you in",...).
It is an app that is broadcasting your position and initiating your GPS to trigger. Find the app and fix the problem.

Related

gps draining battery?

I've been trying to troubleshoot my battery drain rate and I found the problem.
When I turn off the GPS, and leave the wifi and bluetooth on, I get tremendous battery life/
What could be causing the GPS to drain the battery?
Do you ahve any programs running in the background that use gps? such as latitude, or that google one that maps your location? If so, gps kills batteries, because it constantly resyncs with the satelites... I believe the sense weather app also does periodic polling to pinpoint your location for weather.
If you dont need GPS exact location tracking, dont leave gps turned on, and turn it on when you need it.
My GPS is always on. It doesn't really hurt the battery life unless you are using with an application that uses the location service. My weather widget is set to refresh every hour and it's not impacting the battery.
I would look at your running programs and figure out which one is using the GPS. If you have the sensorly 4g map viewer, I found that to be a battery hog.
My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.
SilverZero said:
My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.
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Interesting tip. I had not noticed it. Thanks.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I have my GPS on all the time and I regularly go over 13 hours without recharging; this is before SetCPU and underclocking.

GPS is constantly "ON"

I have my GPS enabled. Half of the time I'm using my phone, everything is good, everything works fine. But during the other half of the times, the GPS is constantly on the notification bar. I try restarting my phone, still up there in the notification bar with a 'solid' gps icon which says "Location set by GPS"... I can even turn the GPS off, and then on again, and it still doesn't fix the issue. As i turn on my "Maps" app for the first time, my location is already "accurate to 3 meters" before it even loads the map graphics... How do i figure out which app is causing this, and how do i stop this? it's irritating. I have to constantly check my phone to make sure the GPS isn't active and draining my battery. And please, don't say "Just turn off the GPS". Android is designed to work with the GPS enabled. Even if the GPS is toggled "on", it shouldn't be using it unless it needs it, therefore using zero battery. (Just like wifi is supposed to). thanks.
I have the same issue and it seems like it's Maps that's constantly trying to turn on GPS. Once I have GPS off, my battery life is a lot better. Tried uninstall Maps, clear data, re-install...but the issue is still there but not all the time...very annoyed.
Another reason might be an app that is using gps in the background. Facebook, twitter, and other apps might be the problem?
Sent from my SGH-T999
If you have your google search settings on to make local search better, then the GPS will be on.
Facebook, Maps are all GPS hogs.
Just turn it off and on when you need it, the GPS on the S3 locks in seconds anyway, so its not a problem.

GPS on Google Maps

Hi
I just noticed that if i am using google maps with my Galaxy Nexus if i left the screen go to sleep, after turn it on again the gps signal is lost and it will do again the process of getting a gps signal,
Is that normal
yes unless you are using the navigation app. its to save the battery from people who would "omg maps is using all my battery, how do i stop it?" lol

GPS Searching every minute or so

I'm using the stock Bell 4.1.1 on my S3 and it's always searching for GPS every minute or so. In fact I can force it to just by turning the screen off and then on again. It finds a signal fine everytime, but after a minute it's checking again.
I've tried going through and disabling anything that could be using the GPS, but it's still happening. Is there an app out there that I can get that will tell me what is accessing the GPS and when? I really want to track this down.
Disable GPS except when you need it? Just a suggestion.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Thanks but that's just a workaround. My battery life isn't so bad I can't live with it. I just don't want to see that blinking icon up there all the time. I should only see that icon every 15 minutes at the most.
Somethings checking the gps and I want to find out who the culprit is.

Searching using GPS... the source?

This is driving me nuts!!! Since a few days ago every time I'm away from home at work, I get GPS blinking notification with ongoing message of "Searching using GPS..." while it's draining my battery like crazy. I'm not a noob, My phone is very light on apps, Google Now is disabled, Google location service is disabled, only one weather app and I disabled using GPS in there. Tried using GSam Battery Monitor to see if I can narrow it down - no help. Switched from 4G to wifi, still nothing. Of course I can turn GPS off for a problem to go away since i only use GPS in the car. But the problem is that I had my Note 2 for 3+ months and never had this issue before. Plus, I haven't installed any new app in at least 2 months. No life wallpaper, no fancy widgets that drain your resource, no social medial connection what so ever. All stock, not rooted. Using Nova Prime launcher, and a few widgets like Smooth Calendar, Circle Launcher, Rings Digital Weather Clock (with weather disabled), Fast Boot widget, Widgetsoid, Zooper Widget, and Android Weaither (GPS disabled).
That all that I have. Any idea how to resolve this?
Maps. Look in my guide to minimize the drain caused by it. But the best solution is to disable gps.
Sent from my GT-N7100
UtkarshGupta said:
Maps. Look in my guide to minimize the drain caused by it. But the best solution is to disable gps.
Sent from my GT-N7100
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Do you mean the link in your sig? and btw, where do you access Location Settings per your guide? ... never mind, found Location Setting under Maps. Just disabled "Report from this device". Maybe that will help it?
Yep
Sent from my GT-N7100
UtkarshGupta said:
Yep
Sent from my GT-N7100
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Funny that I had all that map stuff disabled, and it was still searching for GPS. But as soon as I stepped outside of the building where I work - it stopped. So something was trying to update location through GPS and could lock into the signal, thus searching and draining battery. Only happens in the building where I work. I guess the easy solution is to toggle GPS on/off. But still, would be good to find a source of which app or service is doing that pinging...
Try better battery status
Sent from my GT-N7100

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