yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Different problem to this thread. You see a wakelock. This thread is about drain with no obvious cause - no wakelocks. Please read the thread first before posting as otherwise the thread gets confusing as everyone thinks its about different problems.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fubag:
can confirm rebooting after disabling location does stop drain. this is annoying as fk though wtf is going on
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Possibly relevant (or possibly not) to what is going on here but I've noticed the following behaviour. Play Services version 4.2.43 (1035512-036).

Rebooting the device with Location Services Off or in Device Only mode, navigating to Settings, Apps, Running Apps and the 2nd entry for Google Play Services you get 3 running services

GoogleLocationManagerServices

NIpLocationReceiverService

DispatchingService.

Turn Location Services On (and hitting agree) causes a 4th service (GoogleLocationServices) to be launched, and restarts NIpLocationReceiverService. Hitting disagree or the back button defaults to Device Only and doesn't affect the running services.

Turning Location Services off again does not result in GoogleLocationServices ending, but does end NIpLocationReceiverService. Turning Location Services from Battery Saver or High Accuracy to Device Only has no effect on the running services.

Reboot with Location Services on either Battery Saving or High Accuracy mode, but not Device only and all 4 services start at reboot.

Hypothesis to test -

The anomalous battery drain is related to the situation with GoogleLocationServices still running when location is off and NIPLocationReceiverService is not running so shouldn't occur if the device is rebooted in Device only location services mode and GPS used, or if Location Services is turned on after a reboot, but the agree button isn't pressed so it defaults to Device only.

I also checked the behaviour on a 4.1.1 tablet with a slightly difference Google Play Services version 4.2.43 (1035512-032). This device has no 3G or GPS, so can only use wifi for location and does show a slightly difference in the behaviour of the services on toggling location off, in that neither GoogleLocationServices or NIpLocationReceiverService are stopped when location services are disabled on this device.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
In my case its not related. I can use 'battery saving location' without any issues at all. It's only when I use GPS that I then have a drain until I reboot. I would guess that if you get a drain on 'battery saving' its probably an app trying to use it all the time under certain circumstances.

The drain this thread is about occurs without ANY wakelock occurring. Basically we can see zero issue for the drain, ie no wakelock, no app in battery screen etc. Its as though the drain happens for no reason.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
I'm aware of that and am testing to see if I have the same issues, whilst trying to work out if the somewhat odd pattern the Services show might be relevant.

I rarely use airplane mode and rarely use GPS. I normally use Battery Saver mode and have no anomolous drain when the phone is connected to wifi, and a more steady drain that doesn't seem to correlate with wake-ups when on a mobile network with wifi off, particularly when I move around a lot. It might just be down to the radio having to find new towers and varying signal strength.

One question - are you using GPS in High Accuracy or Device only mode and have you noted any any difference between the two in the post GPS drain?
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
I have used GPS in high accuracy mode. I will test using device only and see how it goes. I'm kind of hoping I see the same issue as, for me anyway, that would narrow it down to GPS rather than an overall 'location' problem. I will test tomorrow and see what happens and let you know.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Hi,

I used 'device only' location today and the same drain happens as soon as I use GPS. My phone shows 0% awake according to wakelock detector as I purposely didnt use it apart from use GPS for a few seconds to cause the drain to start. I dont have any apps that cause the phone to keep waking either. So 0% awake but 1.5% drop an hour over and above normal (mostly *noticed* in airplane mode as I know I normally have less than 1% drain per night but after GPS use its 1.5% per hour).

I have no issues when using wifi/mobile location only.

If possible I'd like this thread to be specifically about a drain after using GPS rather than it being clouded with general 'location' issues. Or at least about a drain when NO wakelocks show and NO apps or Android OS etc shows high in battery screen.

In another thread a poster said

"I have this strange issue: if I'm using the phone normaly with data conection, wifi always on etc, when the screen is off and the phone is in deep sleep in consums like a 1-5 mA ( 10 min scale). The problem cames when I use google maps GPS navigation, after I turn the apk off , turn the gps off etc, it consumes in stand by/deepsleep, 30-40mA ... if reboot the phone returns to normaly 1-5mA ,,, how can I fix this thing because I don't whant to restart my phone after every time I use navigation."

I think that is very interesting, its exactly what I see but it happens whenever GPS is used, not just after using maps.

I believe there is a genuine case of the GPS chip not going into a sleep/inactive state once used rather than this being an Android issue as such. But it is a bit intermittent, happens to me 80% of the time.

Just for some info, if I use BBC Weather app on kitkat (battery saving location) I get a location wakelock and Android OS shows high battery usage, if I use on jellybean I dont. To me this would suggest the way location works has altered on kitkat and has 'broken' some apps and is why people are saying location services is a battery killer on kitkat.

However I think any location battery drain is completely seperate from this GPS drain.

For a test use 'device only' and mess with GPS, maybe use it in one location, move somewhere else, use again etc etc. Then stick on airplane mode and see if it drains at 1.5% per hour MORE than usual. Like I say its a bit intermittent but 80% of the time you may have the issue.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] test29:
I found that when I use GPS and then turn it off the battery drain persist. I need to reboot phone after switching off GPS and then battery usage remains low (my batery lasts 3-4 days with moderate usage).

So if you reboot phone after using gps, battery will last much much longer.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Exactly right. Are you running normal moto g or the GPE moto g.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] test29:
Normal moto g.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
folks, so the confirmed issue is with GPS specifically and not with location services in general? We can raise it on Moto forums, those guys are usually responsive.

I on the other hand have a drain especially with any sorta location service. Have you disabled Google Now to reduce the wakelocks?
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
I'm tempted to flash gpe ROM and kernel. See if that 'fixes' it. Also tempted to try faux123 kernel as well. Could be a kernel GPS driver problem but no guarantee that problem doesn't exist in other kernels.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Thanks Scott,

I did some testing yesterday as-well.

In the morning I switched to device only, rebooted the phone and then used Maps to navigate most of the way to work (35 miles away), then had the phone connected to 3G for a couple of hours then Airplane mode for about 7 (yep - very long working day yesterday but that's another story). Then used Maps again on the way home, and stuck it Airplane mode pretty much straight away when I got home. So far I've not had any problematic drain. It lost 3% in the 7 hours on airplane mode at work, and then 2% in the 10 or so hours it's been on airplane mode since I got home. I've just fired up wifi and downloaded a couple of playstore updates and have put it back in airplane mode, just in case this makes a difference now.

View attachment 2624444

I'll carry on testing to try and produce the drain over the next few days - today I'll try High Accuracy, tomorrow I'll try switching from High Accuracy to Device only with no reboot.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Hi, are you on GPE or non-GPE. Also where did you buy the phone, was it in UK. Im wondering if its only a certain batch of phones with the problem.

Mine is UK XT1032 non-GPE.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Tesco UK XT1032...non-GPE stock unrooted.

View attachment 2624494
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] crewster:
I don't use gps...only a few app's installed. Greenified everything. No ROOT. What's wrong with my moto g?:/ I've already tried a factory reset

Enviado desde mi XT1032 mediante Tapatalk
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ma3oony:
from another thread :
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Phone is quite clearly 'awake' when the drain happens. Its a wakelock of some sort.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ma3oony:
do you think it might be an app that keeps running?
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Still no drain for me following GPS use. Yesterday I navigated to work with GPS in High Accuracy Mode, had it in Airplane mode for 5 hours or so and lost 2 percent. Before heading home I switched location services off, and then to Device only before using GPS on way home, and then had it connected to Wifi for 1/2 hour or so before putting it in Airplane mode for around 5-6 hours again - no drain at all.

View attachment 2626286

Only interesting thing noted is a tendency to have a little bit of drain in airplane mode at work, compared with none or close to none at home. Work is a big open plan office - lots of PC's, laptops, mobile devices, cabling, about a dozen wifi networks (none of which I'm allowed to use) - I'm wondering if all the electromagnetic radiation flying around has any impact.

But so far it looks like Scott's theory that it's an issue affecting some phones and not others seems sound....I'm still going to keep an eye for drain as I've decided to keep Device Only as my 'normal' location setting.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Hi,

Well Ive been using google maps now (with high accuracy of course to use GPS) and the 'Navigator' app, plus a weather app for 1.5 days and I am starting the apps a lot to force GPS to be used and now I am having NO drain. Arrggghh - its driving me nuts, why is it now working OK.

There are three things I can think of that are different in my case.

1. google play services is at 4.2.43. last time I looked a few weeks ago it was 4.2.42 so I dont know when it upgraded itself.

2. I am making sure I always use the back button to exit google maps and not the home button.

3. I have not used the 'GPS Test' app at all since my last phone reboot.

However none of these really fit my theory thats its the GPS chip staying in some active state unless of course, as an eg, the GPS Test app doesnt allow GPS to 'sleep' properly once its activated it. I will have to test 2 and 3 above to see if I can recreate the issue, ie use GPS Test and exit google maps with the home button.

Obviously as I have said before I wasnt having any wakelocks etc so Im still not convinced its an app per se that causes the drain, but maybe an app (or the way I exit it) doesnt allow GPS to shutdown.

Its all a mystery again to me now so will test 2 and 3 above over the next couple of days. I hope I can recreate the issue again as maybe I can narrow it down further. Or maybe Im just clutching at straws.

I would still say its related to GPS in some way though even if my original theory wasnt right.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
is it possible that this is somehow directly related to the latest update of Google Play Services? :confused:
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nandeh:
I'm suffering same issue with GPS and I have version 4.2.43 of Google play services, so I guess this is not the problem.

I'm using last OTA of Retail.EU Kitkat stock firmware, with unlocked bootloader, rooted and xposed.

I hope we can fix this because I use a lot location services and GPS and it's really annoying reboot to avoid the draining each time...
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Looks like play services was updated on 26th Feb for me (at least that is the date the play services .apk file was created/updated on my phone).

So I can discount play services as a 'fix' for the drain as I def had the drain after 26th Feb.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] andyrock:
I still have the drain on my system with the .43 play services.

The line is flatter after the reboot, but since I use location services on high precision mode, the drain will be back soon.

Anyone with the drain and unlocked boot loader tried to go back to 4.3 to see if it's there as well?

My device is retail UK (176.44.1.falcon_umts.Retail.en.GB)
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Its on android 4.3 as well, that's when I first noticed it.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
I got a drain of 1.5%/hr overnight with Mobile data, wifi , location and google now turned off , what is the drain percentage you folks getting??
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] petraru1:
i get 3% overnight with wifi on so 1.5% its pretty good
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Hi,

The poster you answered said 1.5% per hour not per night. So to clear up the amount of drain question. When the problem this thread is actually about happens you will see an extra 1.5% per HOUR drain over and above what you nornally see.

So if on airplane mode you normally get 3% overnight you will still get 3% overnight but also lose an extra 1.5% per hour.

If during the day you lose 2% per hour you will still lose 2% per hour and also an extra 1.5% per hour as well.

Overnight with airplane mode I can see 1% drop per NIGHT, when I have the drain issue its 1.5% per hour plus the 1% per NIGHT as well.

If I leave mobile/wifi on I see maybe 3-4% overnight, when the problem happens I see an EXTRA 1.5% per hour.

---------- Post added at 10:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 AM ----------

Well it is a problem if I can normally see 1% overnight drain and when the problem happens I see 1.5% per hour. Thats a problem and whether you are happy with that or not is up to you, but for me its an issue and it is not right. It means my battery would drain in under 3days with NO use at all.

I went away for the weekend and ensured I had NO drain before sticking my phone in airplane mode (charged to 100%) for the entire time as I was out of mobile/wireless range, after two days I had lost just a couple of percent, had I experienced the drain my battery would have been at about 30%.

To me that is a problem/bug that mototrola need to fix.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
guys sorry for not stating things clearly

I had around 1.5%/hr drain with Wifi and 2g/3g off. Actually battery went from 11% when I slept to 1% when I woke up
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
I've still had no drain now for two days. Ive been using GPS a lot to test. I noticed Google play games was updated on 8th March. I've also cleared all app cache via 'storage' option and cleared play services data. I don't see any of this should have made a difference though as I've done that before. Its probably the first time I cleared app cache since play services was updated on 26th Feb though to 4.2.43.

I've no idea why its 'fixed' but I'm not expecting it to last !!
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nandeh:
Going to try this. Thanks for reporting mate!
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
have you disabled google now ? whats ur location setting??
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Never had google now in use at all. Location is high accuracy, so GPS is in use.

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 PM ----------

I know my 'GPS' drain was intermittent before but I could usually recreate 90% of the time which is why something now seems different. Only real thing that's changed is play services is updated.

I'm not convinced my issue is fixed at all but seems odd I've had no drain for two days. As I say I fully expect the drain to restart again as I'm convinced its not a software issue as such, as per my other posts I think its GPS chip not 'sleeping' or something along those lines.

As its intermittent maybe phone is just having a good couple of days.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fubag:
I just wanna report in.

With GPS completely shut off have not experienced a drain in last 4.5 days of usage.

I know as soon as I turn it on, the drain will be back.

So fk GPS.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
Guys guys guys

After clearing play services cache and data I have barely lost 3-4 percent in 5 hours

Location set to battery saving

Google now on

Location reporting off

WiFi on

View attachment 2629582
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
You need to use GPS to get a location for a real test and then put it in airplane mode. It should use almost nothing overnight. I think you are testing something different otherwise from the rest of us. This s thread is about 1.5% battery loss per hour after GPS is used.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
Oh well, rebooted device today and drain is now back. Oh joy!!!
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Glicerck:
I wiped app cache and google play services data a couple days ago and battery drain seems gone.

Screenshot in plain mode with location on in high accuracy, used a little the gps in gmaps before locking screen:

Enviado desde mi XT1032 mediante Tapatalk
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] andyrock:
I have no drain today, which is strange but appreciated. If this keeps going I'm not going to reboot the phone for a long time!!!

Can't link to pictures...

Edit: one full charge and some more use and the drain is back.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ma3oony:
i didnt charge my battery fully, just up to 80%, are these daily statics are fine or still something wrong?

ps. i missed the 10.10.10.10 xD
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
You think its possible to tell anything from those stats ;)
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Suffered the post GPS battery drain in airplane mode for the first time yesterday.

Device only location mode, used maps/navigation/GPS for about 40 minutes, then had in airplane mode for around 2/3 hours during which time it lost 5-6%.

What is different from all the previous times I've used GPS and not had the issue....not sure...but this is what I can think off.

1) The device has been Factory Reset since the last time I used GPS.

2) I used the Camera yesterday before using GPS (including messing around with the GeoTag settings).

3) The device was running pretty hot whilst using GPS/maps/navigation and the in use drain was pretty dramatic. It was a sunny day with the phone on the dash so auto brightness was probably on max as well as the drain from GPS and data but the battery hit a slightly uncomfortable 45C.

View attachment 2641708
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] xgt001:
Can confirm that using gps induces idle drain. My drain went from 0.5%/hr to 1.5%/hr after using GPS for 5 minutes
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] unrafa:
Google report location and google location history drained more than 2% hour. After deactivate them i get 0.6% hour
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
Using Location services with all the bells and whistles enabled and general battery drain is a really old, old story for many android versions and many devices and really is just common sense. With everything on your phone is constantly gathering info on network mast availability, wifi network availability etc and will regularly wake to feed that info back to Google. The more you move around the more battery you will use as there is more data to feed back to Google. So it's a simple choice - if you really need these advanced features accept a more frequent charge cycle, if not disable them and enjoy a longer use time between charges.

Back to the issue raised by this thread - the weird intermittent drain when the device is in airplane mode and appears to be in deep sleep after using GPS specifically.

I used GPS/maps/navigation again twice yesterday in device only mode (after a reboot) for about 15 minutes each time in the car. Before the second time I snapped a couple of photos (GeoTag disabled). No subsequent drain in airplane mode after either use. Other observations - it wasn't a sunny day and the GPS use was only 15 minutes each time rather than 40 mins, but the phone didn't heat up dramatically like it did the day before when GPS was in use - battery temp went up to about 30C, rather than 45C. Just a hunch but has anyone else noticed the post GPS drain occurring after the battery has been very warm? I've only noted worryingly high battery temps on using GPS twice since I've owned the phone.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tje1991:
Here's my test from last night took it off charge at 5am used GPS briefly on high accuracy and then put the phone in airplane mode for almost three hours barely any drain I shall test again tonight thanks.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] scott_doyland:
As has been said many times, the GPS problem is intermittent.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nandeh:
Just tested again the way drain starts and I have noticed that it just does when I use any App that needs GPS (I.e. Maps) for more than 10 or 15 minutes...

Somebody knows if this happens too with AOSP based ROMs? CM11 and others... That could be useful to determinate if it's a hardware or software related issue...

Still waiting for a fix...

Thanks for reporting.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] insanezz:
I experiencing the same issue as you my friend ... I was using the phone for navigation and since then my battery life has been pretty poor.. I tried turning off gps, wiping the cache, factory reset.. I tried everything but the drain doesn't go away.. I get about 1 day of stand by with 2 hours of screen on time and I'm already at 48%, and this is with airplane mode on during the night and the rest of the day on wifi..

The reason i bought this phone was the ''great'' battery life it supposed have... But now I'm thinking about returning it because this is just not acceptable.. It's almost as if the battery lost its capacity when getting 45 degrees celcius ...
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neu - smurph:
That's not quite the same as my experience - for me a reboot corrected the drain in airplane mode I experienced after that use and I haven't had the issue again since despite using GPS again on several occasions. My battery life in general is good - 2 days between charges is normal - anything between 4 - 6 hours screen on time in that period. If I'm using the phone a lot I can get 7-8 hours screen on time in a day but need to charge at the end of that day. Standby drain is lower when the phone is mostly on wifi (<1%/hr), a bit worse when on 3G for big chunks of the day (anything between 1 and 2% per hour).
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] insanezz:
View attachment 2660427View attachment 2660428View attachment 2660429

Here you can see my poor batterylife.. Im getting sudden drops when not using the phone.. The 3 hours sot is just terrible for wifi only ... I really have no clue what the issue is or could be..

Verstuurd vanaf mijn XT1032 met Tapatalk
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Reluaurel:
One of your problem is the poor ( or missing ) GSM signal. It is normal to have important battery drain without GSM coverage.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] insanezz:
yes i know but even with the nexus 4 i was able to get like 4 hours SOT on wifi and with the same poor signal.. so i really don't think it's just the gsm coverage..