[Q] How do I find out what is using the GPS? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I noticed that whenever I'm on WIFI, the GPS icon would come on and blink for a few seconds then go away. It would keep doing this every 3 seconds on the dot.
On 3G, it would not happen.
On stock KG1 ROM, rooted. I have the Widget Locker and the touchscreenfix.
How do I find out what app or process is using the GPS? I even used the Samsung Task Manager to kill all the apps and cleared the memory. I also rebooted. Whatever it is, it simms to start up when the OS starts. Looking at autostarts, there are too many apps listed in the"after start up" category to pin point the offending app.

I think I found the problem. It was the AT&T Mark the Spot app.
I noticed the GPS also comes on when I change charge/discharge state, as well as network state changes. I looked at Autostarts to see what do these have in common, and out of all the other apps, this one is more likely the culprit.
I'd still wish for a way to find out what process is using what resources. Currently, there is no app for that.

naddie said:
I think I found the problem. It was the AT&T Mark the Spot app.
I noticed the GPS also comes on when I change charge/discharge state, as well as network state changes. I looked at Autostarts to see what do these have in common, and out of all the other apps, this one is more likely the culprit.
I'd still wish for a way to find out what process is using what resources. Currently, there is no app for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is this app (if your rooted that is), I have it as it allows me to prohibit some permissions of certain apps. Also in a sense enhances security. If you found this helpful don't forget the thanks button (as im trying to build that up! lol).
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lbe.security&hl=en
additionally for security there is also: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout&hl=en
EDIT: LBE lets you know what is using what or what potentially can.

Htc HD2 Spirit said:
There is this app (if your rooted that is), I have it as it allows me to prohibit some permissions of certain apps. Also in a sense enhances security. If you found this helpful don't forget the thanks button (as im trying to build that up! lol).
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lbe.security&hl=en
additionally for security there is also: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout&hl=en
EDIT: LBE lets you know what is using what or what potentially can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but that's not what I'm looking for. I don't want to prevent the app from accessing GPS, which looks like what those apps you mention can do. I just want to know for future reference if I can find out what app is using what resources.
For example, if I see the GPS keep coming on again even though there isn't anything apparently running, I'd like to know which app or process is using the GPS.

Related

[HELP] Trying to find a solution to apps running in background. Any way to stop them?

First of all, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BILLIONS OF TIMES, SO BEFORE YOU REPLY WITH "Search the forums" READ THIS.
I have been looking for WEEKS trying to find an answer to this,and no answer given on any forums are what I am looking for.
I have an android phone (sidekick 4g) and there are apps that run in the background when not necessary. Now I know some stuff need to be aways running for the phone to function. But I also know that apps like Facebook, Market, Gmail, T-mobile's Media Store, MyYearBook, Maps, Aptoide, etc don't. When I force close them, they just start up a few seconds later. I've tried task killers and got the same result. I've read the "Why you shouldn't use a task killer" articles but everyone keeps saying different things about it so I'm confused.
Like many others, I want my battery to last at least half way through the day. The above mentioned apps (and some others) DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN I DON'T WANT THEM TO.
Please does anyone know of a way to fix this?
My phone is rooted, if that matters.
Also, "freezing" the apps don't help cause then I can't use them when I actually want to.
Thank you very much in advance anyone who can help me out!
magnoidgoat said:
First of all, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BILLIONS OF TIMES, SO BEFORE YOU REPLY WITH "Search the forums" READ THIS.
I have been looking for WEEKS trying to find an answer to this,and no answer given on any forums are what I am looking for.
I have an android phone (sidekick 4g) and there are apps that run in the background when not necessary. Now I know some stuff need to be aways running for the phone to function. But I also know that apps like Facebook, Market, Gmail, T-mobile's Media Store, MyYearBook, Maps, Aptoide, etc don't. When I force close them, they just start up a few seconds later. I've tried task killers and got the same result. I've read the "Why you shouldn't use a task killer" articles but everyone keeps saying different things about it so I'm confused.
Like many others, I want my battery to last at least half way through the day. The above mentioned apps (and some others) DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN I DON'T WANT THEM TO.
Please does anyone know of a way to fix this?
My phone is rooted, if that matters.
Also, "freezing" the apps don't help cause then I can't use them when I actually want to.
Thank you very much in advance anyone who can help me out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Applications running, doesn't mean cpu cycles are being used. Sitting in memory is no different then a song sitting on your sdcard. Your issue with the battery has to do with processes using cpu cycles. If you have applications that update, force updates manually.
Just having apps in memory isn't your issue.
Use the features built into the os, find out what apps are causing the problem. Look at the settings. If you have looked at your settings, then you have one of three choices. Open bugreports with the application developers, don't install the apps causing problems, or upgrade your phone.
lithid-cm said:
Applications running, doesn't mean cpu cycles are being used. Sitting in memory is no different then a song sitting on your sdcard. Your issue with the battery has to do with processes using cpu cycles. If you have applications that update, force updates manually.
Just having apps in memory isn't your issue.
Use the features built into the os, find out what apps are causing the problem. Look at the settings. If you have looked at your settings, then you have one of three choices. Open bugreports with the application developers, don't install the apps causing problems, or upgrade your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you that makes sense.
I would think those apps would use battery because it pushes notifications for the app (like new messages and stuff). Does that not use battery?
magnoidgoat said:
Thank you that makes sense.
I would think those apps would use battery because it pushes notifications for the app (like new messages and stuff). Does that not use battery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does use battery because to process the notification it needs to use the cpu. If you force applications to update manually. Your batter would be better. Check into battery saving tuts. All that information has already been discussed plenty. Won't change in this scenario either.
The more apps you have updating information the more data and notifications are being processed.
lithid-cm said:
It does use battery because to process the notification it needs to use the cpu. If you force applications to update manually. Your batter would be better. Check into battery saving tuts. All that information has already been discussed plenty. Won't change in this scenario either.
The more apps you have updating information the more data and notifications are being processed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Also, I have another problem, if you know anything about this kinda stuff. The Facebook app icon just (like 10 minutes ago) disappeared from my home screen, and it's not in the app drawer either. I uninstalled and reinstalled and still having the problem. I can only open it by manually searching "facebook" in the google search widget and that's when it gives me the option to open the app. It's really bizzare and I have no idea what's going on.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using xda premium
magnoidgoat said:
Thank you!
Also, I have another problem, if you know anything about this kinda stuff. The Facebook app icon just (like 10 minutes ago) disappeared from my home screen, and it's not in the app drawer either. I uninstalled and reinstalled and still having the problem. I can only open it by manually searching "facebook" in the google search widget and that's when it gives me the option to open the app. It's really bizzare and I have no idea what's going on.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a issue with the rom or launcher. Try installing another launcher from the market and see if the application is installed. If its there with another launcher then its your stock launcher, if its not then its the rom.
lithid-cm said:
Sounds like a issue with the rom or launcher. Try installing another launcher from the market and see if the application is installed. If its there with another launcher then its your stock launcher, if its not then its the rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked thank you!

Prevent app from running in background?

Been trying to figure this out for a while now. I have been able to fix this with a number of apps, but there are some apps that are just frustrating to deal with.
I'm wondering what exactly can keep an app running in the background, regardless of what efforts your take to disable it?
If I don't use an app much and don't want it running, I normally freeze the app. If it is an app I tend to use a bit more frequently, I take other measures such as an app manager that allows me to be extremely precise as to how and when it should run such as on startup, battery level, configuration change, application change, etc. This is a pain in the A** though and I really don't have the time to do this for every application.
With that said, I'm wondering what other methods, other than freezing and the other mentioned above, I can take to prevent an app from running in the background?
I will give you a perfect example...
There are some third-party apps I have downloaded that I know I will use occasionally. One example is CamScanner. For the life of me, I can't get this app to stop running in the background without extensive efforts mentioned above. No matter what I do, it just pops up again in running applications.
How can I ensure the app will not run in background while not resorting to freezing the app, which will prevent me from quickly accessing it when needed?
Some clarification on this would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you,
--mike
pookieguy said:
Been trying to figure this out for a while now. I have been able to fix this with a number of apps, but there are some apps that are just frustrating to deal with.
I'm wondering what exactly can keep an app running in the background, regardless of what efforts your take to disable it?
If I don't use an app much and don't want it running, I normally freeze the app. If it is an app I tend to use a bit more frequently, I take other measures such as an app manager that allows me to be extremely precise as to how and when it should run such as on startup, battery level, configuration change, application change, etc. This is a pain in the A** though and I really don't have the time to do this for every application.
With that said, I'm wondering what other methods, other than freezing and the other mentioned above, I can take to prevent an app from running in the background?
I will give you a perfect example...
There are some third-party apps I have downloaded that I know I will use occasionally. One example is CamScanner. For the life of me, I can't get this app to stop running in the background without extensive efforts mentioned above. No matter what I do, it just pops up again in running applications.
How can I ensure the app will not run in background while not resorting to freezing the app, which will prevent me from quickly accessing it when needed?
Some clarification on this would be greatly appreciated...
Thank you,
--mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
freezing is your only bet. definitely a pain but the built in tasking doesn't apply to all apps,especially facebook. can try alternative apps but if none exist then you still need to freeze. I unfreeze a certain batch of apps when I wake up and freeze them before bed. during the day i go along with what i'm running. i'm tryin to link special batches to say toggles or tasking with tasker to make mornings and bed work faster
sent from tapatalk on my htc rezound
Use something like Gemini App Manager. Those programs likely use triggers to auto-run. Gemini shows you the triggers applications use so you can stop them if you don't want them running whenever they want.
I use AppQuarantine for those issues. you can put widgets on the desk that let you unfreeze and start apps with one click.
sent from the desert with xda app
Thanks guys,
I will try some of these options out.
Was really trying to do this without freezing apps though. I can do it through ROM Toolbox but it is quite tedious, as this awesome app has so many options on how to handle the application. Trying to find shortcuts...
Thanks,
pookieguy said:
Thanks guys,
I will try some of these options out.
Was really trying to do this without freezing apps though. I can do it through ROM Toolbox but it is quite tedious, as this awesome app has so many options on how to handle the application. Trying to find shortcuts...
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Autostarts? There's many scenarios an app takes into account before it'll run. You can disable the app from running in each category so the only time its running is when you open it. Unless of course you don't kill it when you leave the app. Its hard to explain but when you look at the app you'll know what I mean
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
.
Thread moved to Q&A due to it being a question. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.
Failure to comply with forum rules will result in an infraction and/or ban depending on severity of rule break.

[Q] App to tell you what is using your GPS?

Is there an app or log or something that will tell me what is using my GPS and WIFI? I'm starting to get horrible battery life because something on my phone is trying to access WiFi/GPS every hour or so... and where I work, there is neither.
I did a search and found that Lookout security does something similar, but I'm not looking for a full-blown solution like that, and I know how "intrusive" lookout can be. Just a simple "this app used your GPS at this time" etc so I can delete the app or change the settings.
any and all help is greatly appreciated!
mister2quick said:
Is there an app or log or something that will tell me what is using my GPS and WIFI? I'm starting to get horrible battery life because something on my phone is trying to access WiFi/GPS every hour or so... and where I work, there is neither.
I did a search and found that Lookout security does something similar, but I'm not looking for a full-blown solution like that, and I know how "intrusive" lookout can be. Just a simple "this app used your GPS at this time" etc so I can delete the app or change the settings.
any and all help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better Battery Stats might work.
I know this probably isn't what you are looking for, but LBE Privacy Guard will alert you when programs try to access you GPS (or other permissions). Facebook always would try to get my location, then I blocked the app from accessing the GPS. I'm not sure if it logs events though.
Note - some people question the legitemacy of LBE...so just a heads up on that. I've never had a problem and never hurts my battery.

Maps using battery without opening app

I have not used the maps app at all today, and my usage shows its been used for an hour and a half. Other than Google now, what should be using maps that often?
bugeyeblue said:
I have not used the maps app at all today, and my usage shows its been used for an hour and a half. Other than Google now, what should be using maps that often?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not like that. Just like whatsapp which stays always on to keep you connected, Google maps also stays on even though you don't open it as a system background process although you don't need it. The best way to remove this is to root your phone and uninstall this 'bloatware'
Sent from my Micromax A87 using xda premium
RazaVakil7995 said:
It's not like that. Just like whatsapp which stays always on to keep you connected, Google maps also stays on even though you don't open it as a system background process although you don't need it. The best way to remove this is to root your phone and uninstall this 'bloatware'
Sent from my Micromax A87 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no need to delete Google Maps. You just need to regain some control from the app. By default it sends location data to Google. This periodic data 'seepage' also seems to have the affect of 'waking' the phone from deep sleep. Silly, especially since Google wrote the damn OS.
Anyway, this issue has been covered in other threads; you should search, there are more precise instructions out there
...or you can rely on my questionable memory; as I recall-
- Go into Google Maps
- Choose Settings
- Choose Location Settings
- Un-check "Report From This Device"
Also, make sure (on same screen) that Enable Location Sharing is NOT checked and that any of the other location-specific items on the same screen are un-checked.
If you're wondering about 'Location Reporting' under Background Location Reporting, mine is set to 'Detect your location' (thus I think this setting is OK).
Try this out. For me, Gmaps no longer uses data (or wakes the phone) unless I'm explicitly using it.
Capp5050 said:
There's no need to delete Google Maps. You just need to regain some control from the app. By default it sends location data to Google. This periodic data 'seepage' also seems to have the affect of 'waking' the phone from deep sleep. Silly, especially since Google wrote the damn OS.
Anyway, this issue has been covered in other threads; you should search, there are more precise instructions out there
...or you can rely on my questionable memory; as I recall-
- Go into Google Maps
- Choose Settings
- Choose Location Settings
- Un-check "Report From This Device"
Also, make sure (on same screen) that Enable Location Sharing is NOT checked and that any of the other location-specific items on the same screen are un-checked.
If you're wondering about 'Location Reporting' under Background Location Reporting, mine is set to 'Detect your location' (thus I think this setting is OK).
Try this out. For me, Gmaps no longer uses data (or wakes the phone) unless I'm explicitly using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thanks for the help. I set it up the way you suggested and I'll see how it works over the next day or so.
You could the free app Greenify as well. Anything that runs in the background without your permission will get shut down by it.
maddog00 said:
You could the free app Greenify as well. Anything that runs in the background without your permission will get shut down by it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent app, but it does require root privileges.
Sent from my Galaxy S4
maddog00 said:
You could the free app Greenify as well. Anything that runs in the background without your permission will get shut down by it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's desirable (to many) to have at least some background apps able to run/consume data. Yes, you can disable all (or ration out when they're 'allowed' to run, but then you lose out on the full capabilities of the device.
Trust me, having come from Sprint and a GS2, I am well versed in shutting down and restricting apps. What I LOVE about my GS4 is that I can let virtually all apps run (within reason, and w/exception of Gmaps as noted above) and I still have 28-40 hour battery cycles.
Just be wary of 'out of control' apps. Tame them, freeze them, or delete them, but only as a last resort would I disable all background apps.
Capp5050 said:
It's desirable (to many) to have at least some background apps able to run/consume data. Yes, you can disable all (or ration out when they're 'allowed' to run, but then you lose out on the full capabilities of the device.
Trust me, having come from Sprint and a GS2, I am well versed in shutting down and restricting apps. What I LOVE about my GS4 is that I can let virtually all apps run (within reason, and w/exception of Gmaps as noted above) and I still have 28-40 hour battery cycles.
Just be wary of 'out of control' apps. Tame them, freeze them, or delete them, but only as a last resort would I disable all background apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Just saying. Those apps that you don't want to run, you can tell Greenify which ones to disallow access. A one stop shop, as it were.
maddog00 said:
I agree. Just saying. Those apps that you don't want to run, you can tell Greenify which ones to disallow access. A one stop shop, as it were.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad. For some reason I thought your response said "disable all background apps". Thx for the app tip.

Is an app killer what I need?

There are at least two apps (that I've noticed) which seem to act strange when I run them again after running them once. The strangeness vanishes if I go into recent apps, swipe the app away, then run it from scratch. I get annoyed at having to do this frequently. Would one of the many background app killers out there achieve the same effect automatically without me having to swipe the app away? Any recommendation for a killer I can restrict to just certain apps? Is there any setting on the s21 to say "never cache this app in memory"?
Claghorn said:
There are at least two apps (that I've noticed) which seem to act strange when I run them again after running them once. The strangeness vanishes if I go into recent apps, swipe the app away, then run it from scratch. I get annoyed at having to do this frequently. Would one of the many background app killers out there achieve the same effect automatically without me having to swipe the app away? Any recommendation for a killer I can restrict to just certain apps? Is there any setting on the s21 to say "never cache this app in memory"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense but it sounds like the issue is with the apps and using an app killer to autokill the app is nothing more than band aid. The app killer would be yet another service that will run in the background using up your resources. I think you would be better off contacting the developer and see if they will allow you to submit logcats so they can fix the issue(s). This would help you and potentially help others as well. I would also see if there any alternative apps that can do the same thing.
aybarrap1 said:
No offense but it sounds like the issue is with the apps and using an app killer to autokill the app is nothing more than band aid. The app killer would be yet another service that will run in the background using up your resources. I think you would be better off contacting the developer and see if they will allow you to submit logcats so they can fix the issue(s). This would help you and potentially help others as well. I would also see if there any alternative apps that can do the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most irritating one is the Chase mobile app. Attempting to contact the "developer" gets me chase customer service who wants to help me reinstall the app. Pleas to forward my mail to the actual developer are met with total incomprehension .
Okay. We might try going deeper here. Did the problem always exist or did it start randomly? If each one was working fine at one point it could be an update from the developer broke Apps. Did it start after an update to the app or the phone Rom?
Did you customize and/or disable the os or rom baked services/apps?
How long have you had the phone? Did you upgrade from android 11 to 12 and do a factory reset? Just some questions to see if there might be other root causes.
Everything is stock with all system updates from samsung applied. I'm pretty sure it started after an app update. The chase app insists "You are not connected to a network", but since I was just on chrome looking at web pages, that seems unlikely. It acts more like the app doesn't clean up everything correctly on exit, then if android keeps it around in memory, it has trash in uninitialized variables when starting back up again. I've gotten pretty good about swiping it away from recent apps, so even if they fix the bug someday, I'll probably keep doing it from reflex .
Have you looked at recent comments for the app on the play store? Are there similar complaints that started around a certain time? That would be a definitive indicator if it was an update issue.
I commented about it and since then 15 people have found my review helpful, so maybe that means they have the same problem.
Claghorn said:
I commented about it and since then 15 people have found my review helpful, so maybe that means they have the same problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah...that is unfortunate. It looks like you may have to wait on the company and developer to fix it.

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