Why is Google Play Services regularly using GPS location? - OnePlus 6T Questions & Answers

Anyone else notice that Google Play Services is regularly using GPS location, even when you have no app open? Why? Is it Google, OnePlus, or some rogue app? How can I find out who is tracking me?

I get the same thing also.
Even when my phone is not being used I see the notification pop up and wake up the phone.

FYI, I think it may be the Google app*. I've disabled it and I have yet to see this happen. Will update if I learn more.
Disabling that app means you can't use Google's smart assistant or quick search features... but I don't care for those anyway.
*The app that is literally called Google.

Play Services checks GPS on a regular basis and then feeds that info to other apps when they request it.
Just disable the notification.

iaTa said:
Play Services checks GPS on a regular basis and then feeds that info to other apps when they request it.
Just disable the notification.
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Disabling the notification does nothing to solve the problem.

It isn't a problem, it's by design.

iaTa said:
It isn't a problem, it's by design.
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Click to collapse
Maybe you are okay with an app constantly pinging your GPS. I'm not... especially when I don't know what app is doing it.
Update on disabling the Google app: I have yet to see Google Play services using GPS after I disabled the Google app. As an added bonus, battery use by Google Play services is down, whereas it typically is in the top 3.

I get this too. It's most likely related to Location History.

yerger said:
I get this too. It's most likely related to Location History.
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Maybe, but Location History is disabled for me across all my accounts.

You guys that don't like Google should check out NanoDroid. It uses micro G and a lot of Google alternative apps. Think of it as a Gapps without the G.

Related

Do we need GooglePlayservices.apk?

I've removed the GooglePlayservices.apk from my phone and not one of the Google apps has lost functionality. What is it used for?
A message comes up in YouTube when I first open it after wiping cache saying I need GooglePlayservices.apk or it won't work but I dismiss it and it works fine.
Also Google search bar says it needs it to work...... It doesn't.
Anyone know what it says ACTUALLY used for?
Sent from my GT-I9505 whilst taking a s**t
Obagleyfreer said:
I've removed the GooglePlayservices.apk from my phone and not one of the Google apps has lost functionality. What is it used for?
A message comes up in YouTube when I first open it after wiping cache saying I need GooglePlayservices.apk or it won't work but I dismiss it and it works fine.
Also Google search bar says it needs it to work...... It doesn't.
Anyone know what it says ACTUALLY used for?
Sent from my GT-I9505 whilst taking a s**t
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi There,
Google Play services is used to update Google apps and apps from Google Play. This app gives you access to Google Settings and helps apps speed up offline searches. So this is basically the gateway between you're apps and google play store. Most off the apps we install uses this app to connect to the play store to check for their updates. If not found the apps (especially google apps) may result in an error or FC.
It doesn't take up that much space or resources. So you may as well keep it.
Hope that helped
He can't keep it. He's deleted it. Ha.
I've disables this app because even if it does not take a lot of space, it is running in background and consuming RAM, CPU and internet data.
Everything works fine without it.
Jaquesels5 said:
Hi There,
Google Play services is used to update Google apps and apps from Google Play. This app gives you access to Google Settings and helps apps speed up offline searches. So this is basically the gateway between you're apps and google play store. Most off the apps we install uses this app to connect to the play store to check for their updates. If not found the apps (especially google apps) may result in an error or FC.
It doesn't take up that much space or resources. So you may as well keep it.
Hope that helped
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Click to collapse
I can still see updates available for apps in Google Play without googleplayservices though...........So I don't think you're correct about apps using it to check for updates, they all still work the same.
I've never had one force close since removing it and I can update all my Google apps perfectly fine.
That's why I'm asking, it seems like a pointless app.
It just runs in the background using up RAM and battery.
The processor overhead of looking for it and generating errors and going to the play store may use more battery. Not 100 percent sure though. I'll check. Seems similar to deleting cache /killing a thread takes more to rebuild than leave alone.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

Location always running in App Ops for Android system and Google services.

Since updating to kit kat when I look in App Ops Android System and Google Services always has 'location' as 'running'.
I always have gps and wireless network location off though in app ops it's always showing those two as running.
What's the cause?
uf21 said:
Since updating to kit kat when I look in App Ops Android System and Google Services always has 'location' as 'running'.
I always have gps and wireless network location off though in app ops it's always showing those two as running.
What's the cause?
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Click to collapse
Go to setting-general-account-google-location and disable it.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
fadhil3536 said:
Go to setting-general-account-google-location and disable it.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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It is disabled. My point was that even though it's disabled android and Google is constantly looking for my location hence the battery drain by android os and Google services that people are always talking about.
uf21 said:
It is disabled. My point was that even though it's disabled android and Google is constantly looking for my location hence the battery drain by android os and Google services that people are always talking about.
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Same here. I found annoying to see that. The Google play services for location is always running at the background although u have turned off all the location service from user interface.
vodeblog said:
Same here. I found annoying to see that. The Google play services for location is always running at the background although u have turned off all the location service from user interface.
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Hey how did you solve this problem ?
Digging up old topic, but has anyone observed similar problem and found solution ever since?
I'm experiencing the same thing on Marshmallow, different phone though (Sony).

Google Maps greyed out in third-party applications

So I've been having this problem where all third party apps using the Google Maps API (S Health) for example, don't show any map features. Roads, parks, bodies of water are nonexistent, all I can see is a location indicator and a sea of grey tiles, and I don't recall changing any settings recently. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Google Play Services, reset app permissions, and cleared both the device and app cache to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.
Below are screenshots of the bug occurring in two separate apps. The same occurs in any app with a Google-powered maps function.
gbum213 said:
So I've been having this problem where all third party apps using the Google Maps API (S Health) for example, don't show any map features. Roads, parks, bodies of water are nonexistent, all I can see is a location indicator and a sea of grey tiles, and I don't recall changing any settings recently. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Google Play Services, reset app permissions, and cleared both the device and app cache to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.
Below are screenshots of the bug occurring in two separate apps. The same occurs in any app with a Google-powered maps function.
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Click to collapse
I am having the same issue as you, My Uber & Grab app show only Icon no map.........
Weird​ because I and others have this problem with the G6. I had to reset the phone to fix it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
I've got my apps displaying Google maps properly now, but I haven't done anything since I posted this problem yesterday. My best guess is that uninstalling and reinstalling Google Play Services did the trick and the process behind the fix was delayed.
gbum213 said:
I've got my apps displaying Google maps properly now, but I haven't done anything since I posted this problem yesterday. My best guess is that uninstalling and reinstalling Google Play Services did the trick and the process behind the fix was delayed.
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I still having the same gray......

Google Play Services GPS tracking my location

I caught it checking location numerous times throughout each day. How can I disable it? Why is it snooping on my location? I don't even use the Assistant and turned off all notifications in Maps.
dont think you can disable it, if you really want to be scared install a process app from play store, google play services has about 350 odd processes running in the background... thats why I see some guys going for a google free phone, and using apk mirror and F-droid as alternative app stores.
Did you turn off the location trackin in google section in settings?

Change default Navigation App

Hi. I want to change my default Navigation app to basically ANYTHING except Google Maps. Wanted either CoPilot, Here, or Waze. I have my search provider set to Bing even but when I click on any direction link, it takes me to Google Maps. I've gone into Apps and even disabled that and ensured other Nav apps are set to open always, but it still goes to Google and Then takes me to the Play Store so I can download/Enable Maps. Any way around this? Pretty crappy of Google to do this....
Go to settings/apps & notifications/default apps/opening links. Scroll down to Maps and click on it. Click on open supported links and select don't open in this app. Hopefully it will let you choose your other navigation app when you click on a link but I've never tried that. The reason Android wants to use Maps is because Maps is integrated with Google Play Services and your Google account and a third party app won't provide the same kind of integration because it would require giving a third party app elevated privileges that are not allowed without root.
Hi and thanks. I had already tried that unfortunately. It doesn't work. ANY link you click for directions on a web page, even if asked to open only gives the option of Edge and Maps. A calendar invite or something like that will ask and give a list of valid mapping applications like Waze, Here, etc. But links on a web page......only Maps.
Having Maps integrated with Google Play services is just another reason NOT to want to use it.
Hi and thanks. I had already tried that unfortunately. It doesn't work. ANY link you click for directions on a web page, even if asked to open only gives the option of Edge and Maps. A calendar invite or something like that will ask and give a list of valid mapping applications like Waze, Here, etc. But links on a web page......only Maps.
Having Maps integrated with Google Play services is just another reason NOT to want to use it.
avatar1961 said:
Hi and thanks. I had already tried that unfortunately. It doesn't work. ANY link you click for directions on a web page, even if asked to open only gives the option of Edge and Maps. A calendar invite or something like that will ask and give a list of valid mapping applications like Waze, Here, etc. But links on a web page......only Maps.
Having Maps integrated with Google Play services is just another reason NOT to want to use it.
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Click to collapse
If you're rooted there might be a tasker profile that does what you want but it doesn't seem to be possible without root.
jhs39 said:
If you're rooted there might be a tasker profile that does what you want but it doesn't seem to be possible without root.
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Thanks for the reply. Bummer. So Google locks you into their apps even if you search with Bing. Seems like Microsoft got in a lot of trouble with the government about 20 years ago over this sort of tactics.

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