Database Develop

[GUIDE] Fixing massive battery drain on 4.4.2 (requires root/custom recovery)

The 4.4.2 update brings a rather annoying bug in the Google location service. That's the thing that's used in things like Google Now, Google +, but also the weather widget and such. In previous versions of the system, this used to just wake the device in a configurable time interval, check current location and go to sleep again.
In 4.4.2, this service keeps a nonstop wakelock, updating your location every single moment. There's no setting to make it less aggressive. You can disable the location service in settings completely, but for me even this didn't work and it also disabled all location-dependent features of multiple apps and widgets.
Here's what I did to get rid of this absurd battery drain:
install Xposed if you haven't already (this step requires root or a custom recovery)
install Wakelock Terminator and enable it in Xposed
look for Google Play services in the list of apps and enable “Prevent Wake Lock” for this app
tap on “Filter Wake Lock” and enter the following text in the pop-up:
Code:
NlpCollectorWakeLock NlpWakeLock CheckinService NetworkLocationLocator
finally, reboot your phone
Wakelock Terminator lets you filter the wakelocks of a single app for free; if you want to limit the wakelocks of multiple apps, you'll have to make an in-app purchase.
There are other ways to get rid of the wakelock. You can freeze the offending app using Titanium. You can use the Per App Hacking Xposed module to completely disable all wakelocks for Google Play Services. Both of these, however, will break a lot of apps, including the market. Wakelock Terminator is the only Xposed module I found that lets you select which specific wakelocks to disable and which ones to allow and this is rather crucial, since the app uses other wakelocks that you don't want to disable.
There's also Greenify, you might want to check that out as well. However, greenify doesn't let you decide which aspects of an app to block and which ones to allow either. It just forces the app to freeze as soon as you don't have it in the foreground, which, in this case, means it blocks the app all the time (Google Play Services only provides background services as far as I know).

Thank you, I was planning to go back to 4.3 or even 4.2.2 cuz I have been barely getting a day when i used to get a good 2 with my use. I'll try it tonight

Is this guide for rooted phones only?
Sent from my HTC Butterfly s using xda app-developers app

lebmb said:
Thank you, I was planning to go back to 4.3 or even 4.2.2 cuz I have been barely getting a day when i used to get a good 2 with my use. I'll try it tonight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the same situation here. I used to get two days with a generous reserve (although not enough to last a third day) and was down to barely a single day with 4.4.2. This fix has made the mileage sgnificantly better on 4.4.2, although I think there's still some room for improvement.
sjred_uk said:
Is this guide for rooted phones only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, unfortunately. You need either root or a custom recovery to install Xposed. I'll update the OP.

Thanks much appreciated

Thanks man! Great stuff! I choose this phone because it has HTC quality and a great great battery! Thanks for bringing that back!

elf_made said:
Thanks man! Great stuff! I choose this phone because it has HTC quality and a great great battery! Thanks for bringing that back!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this, koniiiik. Battery drain no longer as crazy as before.

NlpCollectorWakeLock & NlpWakeLock are still at the two top places of Wakelockers

SkorpEaGLe said:
NlpCollectorWakeLock & NlpWakeLock are still at the two top places of Wakelockers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea. This got rid of them for me completely. Are you sure you haven't made a typo?
At any rate, Google Play services is still the top battery hog on my phone, keeping wakelocks for about 30% of time, which is still a lot. The culprits are Checkin Service and Event Log Service, I'll try to find out more about them to see if I can safely blacklist those as well.

SkorpEaGLe said:
NlpCollectorWakeLock & NlpWakeLock are still at the two top places of Wakelockers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK, NlpCollectorWakeLock stands for Network location picker - it can be connected either with Google services (have to clear all data from gapps and google framework) or if the option of automatic wi-fi searching by google apps is enabled.

i am using the sixth sense rom right now
and there is a AppOps thing in settings
is it the same way as this guide does
if i just deny the the keep awake option for google play services?

kingkong0821 said:
i am using the sixth sense rom right now
and there is a AppOps thing in settings
is it the same way as this guide does
if i just deny the the keep awake option for google play services?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea. I guess it won't do exactly what you want, if you disable wakelocks for the whole Google Play services app, you won't get notifications from apps like gmail, hangouts, the market etc. Also, it depends on how it blocks the wakelocks – whether it raises an exceptions or simply silently ignores the request. In the former case, you'll be getting force closes from all apps using Google Play services all the time, in the latter case, it would work, but probably too aggressively.
Anyway, just try and see for yourself. It might work, it might not.

Has anyone tried a soft reset?
Seems to have worked for my stock unrooted Butterfly S.
Battery seems to be better than before the update.
Very relieved.
Sent from my HTC Butterfly s using xda app-developers app

So far no change in battery life for me, think it's time to go back to 4.2 or maybe viper 4.3 it was worth a shot though. Thanks for trying

Thanks dude
It's work for me
Last week i try to freeze all system apps
But no change
Sent from my HTC Butterfly s using Tapatalk 2

lebmb said:
So far no change in battery life for me, think it's time to go back to 4.2 or maybe viper 4.3 it was worth a shot though. Thanks for trying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YMMV, of course. Before following this guide, I recommend checking that Google Play services is indeed the culprit and that it is caused by the same wakelocks. It did improve things a lot for me, although not to the same efficiency as 4.3 or 4.2.

I haven't root my bs uet, but after turning off the stupid [OK Google] hotword detection, the battery will be a lot better
The setting is under Google Voice Search, if you don't see this setting, change your language to English (US)

Mine not rooted but this way works for me....I charged it full and plug it out, turn off my phone,
I wake up turn my phone on...and my battery suddenly became sooo much better.
Sent from my HTC Butterfly s using xda app-developers app

koniiiik said:
YMMV, of course. Before following this guide, I recommend checking that Google Play services is indeed the culprit and that it is caused by the same wakelocks. It did improve things a lot for me, although not to the same efficiency as 4.3 or 4.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you know, i can never seem to tell what is really using up power, i've tried some apps but they didn't work well, the system one in the power settings is very vague and doesn't make sense. what do you or others use? anything reliable and trust worthy?
I haven't had time to downgrade, but too busy. I flashed the only custom kernel we have and i'm underclocked to 1024 and powersaver as the governor and still not making it past 10 hours. so sad

lebmb said:
you know, i can never seem to tell what is really using up power, i've tried some apps but they didn't work well, the system one in the power settings is very vague and doesn't make sense. what do you or others use? anything reliable and trust worthy?
I haven't had time to downgrade, but too busy. I flashed the only custom kernel we have and i'm underclocked to 1024 and powersaver as the governor and still not making it past 10 hours. so sad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using the GSam battery monitor app and it appears to work quite well. However, on 4.4, none of the apps in market are likely to work out of the box, for example, GSam requires you to install and use their root companion app to give any meaningful results. Alternately, you can try some of the Xposed modules that make access to the battery stats possible.

Just updated to LP 5.0.2 w/root .28(SG) and no bootloops BUT....

Greenify seems not to be working so well. Well, it's hibernating but it doesn't automatically hibernate apps when I put the phone to sleep no matter how long it is.
and AMPLIFY module seems to be not doing it's job as well.
MY statistics at the Moment:
Wakelocks acquired: 10287
Wakelocks blocked: 442
Alarms Fired: 2479
Alarms blocked: 4
I don't know if those numbers should be okay but to me it seems unsatisfying.

You could always manually disable the apps you don't need since Lollipop FW comes with alot of Bloatware

Revontheus said:
You could always manually disable the apps you don't need since Lollipop FW comes with alot of Bloatware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your response. However, my concern was about greenify not automatically hibernating the apps when phone is asleep.

dane_xperia said:
Thank you for your response. However, my concern was about greenify not automatically hibernating the apps when phone is asleep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using stamina mode? If yes, white list greenify.

rradix said:
Are you using stamina mode? If yes, white list greenify.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh GREAT!!! Thanks for your help!!! Should I also white list Amplify?

dane_xperia said:
Oh GREAT!!! Thanks for your help!!! Should I also white list Amplify?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You can also white list Amplify. It's up to you which apps you are willing to run in the background. My rule of thumb for this matter is:
Stamina Mode Whitelist: Greenify
Greenify Whitelist: Real-time messaging apps / apps I need to run when I use my phone (e-mail, Viber, Messenger, etc). Stamina mode takes care of these apps whenever the screen is turned off.

Aren't you missing the notification LED?

Hi,
I'm just missing the notification LED in the X2 Pro, I tried NotifyBuddy, Always On Edge Lightning, flash notifications but they are not working or battery hungry apps.
Aren't you missing the notification LED? If so are you using something?

I use NotifyBuddy and I like it a lot.
NotifyBuddy dont drain my battery.

almmpt said:
I use NotifyBuddy and I like it a lot.
NotifyBuddy dont drain my battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will retest it so and keep updating this thread.

I also tried out the aforementioned apps and stuck with NotifyBuddy, haven't noticed an usually large battery drain at all and it works for eight various messaging apps each day.

Notifybuddy works very well, no battery drain and completely affordable. I have removed battery limits from app settings and has it blocked in background. Really i have no issue with it.

almmpt said:
I use NotifyBuddy and I like it a lot.
NotifyBuddy dont drain my battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thesitegeist said:
I also tried out the aforementioned apps and stuck with NotifyBuddy, haven't noticed an usually large battery drain at all and it works for eight various messaging apps each day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTCDevil said:
Notifybuddy works very well, no battery drain and completely affordable. I have removed battery limits from app settings and has it blocked in background. Really i have no issue with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do try NotifyBuddy but I fell uncomfortable because the fingerprint scanner is not active. Looks like the app overlaying on top of the fingerprint scanner. So I need to wake my phone before I use fingerprint.
Can we enable to make fingerprint active when AOD is displaying?

smart_thingup said:
I do try NotifyBuddy but I fell uncomfortable because the fingerprint scanner is not active. Looks like the app overlaying on top of the fingerprint scanner. So I need to wake my phone before I use fingerprint.
Can we enable to make fingerprint active when AOD is displaying?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you receive a notification you can set double tap to wake, for me is very comfortable, because i have face unlock enabled and that combination works very well.
I don't know about aod, i have never used it.

With notifybuddy I can't receive notifications for missed calls and from viber. Can someone post the settings?
Sent from my RMX1931 using Tapatalk

chilavert_gr said:
With notifybuddy I can't receive notifications for missed calls and from viber. Can someone post the settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For missed calls see screenshot. About Viber i don't use it, can't try

HTCDevil said:
For missed calls see screenshot. About Viber i don't use it, can't try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
still can't receive notification for missed calls.
at the phone settings/app management have you changed anything for notifybuddy?
also can you tell me if you activated any system apps from the notify buddy menu?
thanks

chilavert_gr said:
still can't receive notification for missed calls.
at the phone settings/app management have you changed anything for notifybuddy?
also can you tell me if you activated any system apps from the notify buddy menu?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In settings >apps manage > settings i have chosen no limit battery background, start automatically, then blocked app in task manager.
I have no system app activated with notifybuddy yet

chilavert_gr said:
still can't receive notification for missed calls.
at the phone settings/app management have you changed anything for notifybuddy?
also can you tell me if you activated any system apps from the notify buddy menu?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other screenshots maybe helpful for you, bro

[emoji24] I can't make it work
Sent from my RMX1931 using Tapatalk

I seem to find notify buddy works (most of the time).
But according to the battery stats, it's draining the most battery. I'm not sure how accurate it is because it doesn't feel like I'm losing that much battery with it.
Had anyone actually verified the battery drain?

Chrome crashes with any module activated in edXposed

Hi,
I'm having some issues using edXposed on Android 11. As soon as I enable a module I can't open Chrome without it closing a few seconds later. The Google app works fine.
If I disable the modules chrome runs without a problem.
I have three modules enabled: edXposed manager, FingerFace and Exi for SwiftKey and it doesn't matter whether just one or all are enabled.
I've tried adding chrome to the blacklist and I've enabled "pass safetynet" but still nothing.
Any suggestions to what I should do?
Peter

I'm not having any issues, so I can't test this myself... but I heard about people turning off "Chrome Custom Tabs" in the Settings. Reading what it does, it doesn't make sense as to why it would cause an issue... but it doesn't hurt to try.

jljtgr said:
I'm not having any issues, so I can't test this myself... but I heard about people turning off "Chrome Custom Tabs" in the Settings. Reading what it does, it doesn't make sense as to why it would cause an issue... but it doesn't hurt to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Unfortunately it didn't work. It's very strange - now it worked for a period of about 12 hours and then it stopped working again. No changes, no reboot.

You have to turn off app list mode in exposed for Chrome to work normally.

Question Closing background apps

I'm having major issues with the S21 ultra (i even have the 512GB/16GB ram). For example, apps like whatsapp sometimes do not receive any message until i open the app. Ive checked all the options not to optimize it or restrict background data etc, but the issue is still the same.
I had before honor 10 with 4gb ram and NEVER faced this problem

go into deep sleeping apps, and put whatsapp in never sleep.

dazed1 said:
go into deep sleeping apps, and put whatsapp in never sleep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done that and even turned off this feature completely for all apps. But this still has not solved my problem. any other ideas?

oae08 said:
I have done that and even turned off this feature completely for all apps. But this still has not solved my problem. any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clear cache and data from tge app, make backups

dazed1 said:
Clear cache and data from tge app, make backups
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also tried that and didn't have any effect.

Try disabling all power management. To check to see if you did get all the settings go to Developer Options>Standby apps, all buckets will show as active and their state can not be altered if power management is disabled.
Android can manage fine without it. For battery issues find the apks causing it and deal directly with them.
Clear system cache on the boot menu.
As for Whatsapp, I keep it disabled at all times, no likey, #10.
Power management, destroyer of worlds

it seems that latest ROM updates (I think I have this on all AUB* ones) is weirdly strict on background activities and cuts every one of them. my whole device acts strangely - apps not showing notification or showing them late (hours later than they were supposed to show), my apps are not updating: I have to repeatedly FC play store, then clear its cache so that currently installing app changes state from downloading to installing, than do it again to change state fomr installing to installed etc. worked fine on AUA* ones. it is really annoying. btw I tried to clear cache and dalvik/art cache from recovery, but that did not help. I have not tried factory seset yet...

I've had the delayed notifications problem with my Note 20 Ultra and now again with the S21 Ultra.
Some apps like the Ring Alarm come in instantly but others like eBay, PayPal ETC do not.
I have tried everything under the sun to get instant notifications to no avail.
Sure wish there was an easy fix for this problem.

In my opinion the devicemanager app isnt working properly... On my friends s20 when you end an app via taskmanager its really off when the app is in "deep standbye" on my s21 ultra its not... Think the device manager need some Updates...

Goku1992 said:
In my opinion the devicemanager app isnt working properly... On my friends s20 when you end an app via taskmanager its really off when the app is in "deep standbye" on my s21 ultra its not... Think the device manager need some Updates...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, it never worked properly.
Try disabling all power management. May or may not help. It created conflicts on my 10+ that ate battery and caused erratic behavior.
I simple close all apps at the end of the day.
Cloud apps may run even in deep standby mode and suck battery. Google system apks are prime suspects.

blackhawk said:
Lol, it never worked properly.
Try disabling all power management. May or may not help. It created conflicts on my 10+ that ate battery and caused erratic behavior.
I simple close all apps at the end of the day.
Cloud apps may run even in deep standby mode and suck battery. Google system apks are prime suspects.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But on my friends phone its working but he is on Android 10... Beside of that i have very good battery life

Goku1992 said:
But on my friends phone its working but he is on Android 10... Beside of that i have very good battery life
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Click to collapse
Great if it works... and it's a lick when doesn't.
Without scope storage it would have had better performance but big sister Google wrecking products as usual.

blackhawk said:
Great if it works... and it's a lick when doesn't.
Without scope storage it would have had better performance but big sister Google wrecking products as usual.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.... Google often ****s up features... Look on custom launcher compatiblity since Android 10...till now the problem isnt solved

Goku1992 said:
Yes.... Google often ****s up features... Look on custom launcher compatiblity since Android 10...till now the problem isnt solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Change for the sank of change isn't improvement.
Since Pie Android has been backsliding bad.

It seems that it was data corruption during regular OTA. Factory reset seems to fix problems for me.

So out of "Optimize battery usage" or "Never sleeping apps" which is the better one to select?
You can only select one or the other but not both.

felloffthetruck said:
So out of "Optimize battery usage" or "Never sleeping apps" which is the better one to select?
You can only select one or the other but not both.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not use power management, it's a cluster F.
Android can take care of itself nicely if you correct the root causes for the excess battery usage.
Simply closing out apps like Brave with task manager after you're done with it is sometimes all that's needed.