Smart Lock Trusted Places not working as intended - Nexus 6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've noticed something odd the last few days.
I tend to use Smart Lock to have my phone unlocked while I'm at home and that tend to work decently. Sometimes it doesn't unlock if the phone can't get a good enough locations but overall it's been doing it's job.
These last few days I've noticed something odd however.
The phone doesn't lock. At all. Wherever I am. Kind of annoying.
Sure, there are other ways to solve this, but still. It's a built in function and it'd be nice if it was working as intended.
Running stock 7.1.1, feb's OTA without root so I'm not quite sure what would be the culprit behind this. I'm running beta versions of Google Maps though so that could be it. Maybe something broke in the latest update.
Has anyone else noticed this behavior?

I've seen the same thing recently. My setup sounds similar - stock 7.1.1 from February, not rooted, locked bootloader. I have Smart Lock set to stay unlocked at home but locked everywhere else. I'm at work right now where it should be locked but it's opening on a swipe up without prompting for my pin.
I suspect that this has something to do with a new version of Google Play Services or something getting pushed in the background.
I rebooted my phone and the issue went away. Now prompted for my pin every time I swipe up on the lockscreen.

Yep -both my wife's Pixel and mine fail to use trusted places and devices correctly (we don't use the other smart locks). Started after the Play Services 10.2.98 update on the 10th Feb.
Both trusts seem to only check on phone start, e.g. if restarting at a trusted place the phone remains unlocked when you leave that location.
I've sent feedback and reported it to Pixel support who seemed completely uninterested.

Cheers guys. It's not just me then.

I have the same problem. Trusted places is not recognizing the location. I'm on stock 7 with October security patch. Trusted device though works, Bluetooth in my Jeep.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I have an update.
Here is the short version. Trusted places is working again. On Friday I received my first OTA security update. I'm now on NBD92D. After installing the patch there was no change until Sunday when there was a pop up explaining how trusted places functions. Since then it's functioning correctly.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I'm on N6F26U and I just noticed this today. It's supposed to stay unlocked at home and when connected to the BT transmitter in the vehicle, but it was unlocked at the DMV today. Definitely not trusted.

Same problem here... Smart unlock bluetooth will not list any devices, at all. Period. Can't peer, can't use. Latest version. Thanks Google!

Related

[Q] Google wallet tap to pay not working

Greetings,
I've recently switched over from the Samsung galaxy s3 to the m8. I have my phone rooted, but currently on the stock rom. I have Google wallet installed on my phone, and tried to us the tap and pay function at McDonalds. I was unable to get the NFC function to work. I know the store terminal works because I used my stock nexus 7 (not rooted) a few months ago to get some coffee there.
I had the same issue on my s3, but I was running cyanogenmod on the phone, and I thought that was the problem. Now I'm wondering if it's having root access. Anyone else having problems with tap to pay on their rooted phone?
Maybe the store terminal broke since... A few months cab do that try a different store
Sent from my 831C using XDA Free mobile app
I'm having the same issue. For me, the problem started when I switched from a Sprint-specific ROM to Viper ROM (intl base). After 2 minutes of bashing my phone against the terminal at McDonald's, it did finally work. But it is not working instantly like it used to, and it acts like nothing is happening. I know it's not McDonald's terminal because it happens at another McDonald's and Walgreens where previously it was working fine. Tapping my phone to another NFC phone works so NFC itself is working.
I don't really feel like going back to a different ROM over this, but it is annoying.
Only place I have has issues is one checkout lane at meijer. Felt like pretty stupid last night since I left my wallet at home. Cancelled my order, went to a different Lane and it worked fine. So for me at least it's not an issue with the phone
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I still cannot get tap and pay to work. The light on the NFC reader at walgreens will blink once when I tap it, but there is zero activity on the phone even though google wallet says "tap and pay ready". Doesn't work at McDonalds either. Friend can use his Note 3 just fine with google wallet in those locations so I know it's not the NFC reader.
I have tried RUU back to the latest stock ROM, no dice. I re-locked my bootloader and RUU'd back to the oldest available HK ROM and did all the OTAs, still same exact issue. I have not been restoring from backup either so my phone is basically 100% stock now non-rooted. The only difference is it's S-OFF, but I've been S-OFF since June and my tap and pay was working until early September so I don't think that's it. I can use NFC to share things with other phones so I know my NFC is fine.
I'm completely stumped.
I think the nfc antennas on this phone might be too weak, I have to get my phone JUST right to read nfc tags...
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
I don't think that's the issue I'm having. I bought the phoen right when it came out, and I used NFC just fine at McDonalds and Walgreens without having to fiddle with it. It just worked. Now it doesn't work at all. I don't know what happened, the last time I was able to get it working was early September. Not sure if there was a wallet update or something that broke it. NFC communication to other phones still works fine though.
A few stores in my area have been working fine until recently. I was starting to think they were disabling the NFC on purpose. As it turns out, quite a few retailers really are purposely disabling the NFC portion of their credit cards terminals. Found an article about it yesterday.
om4 said:
A few stores in my area have been working fine until recently. I was starting to think they were disabling the NFC on purpose. As it turns out, quite a few retailers really are purposely disabling the NFC portion of their credit cards terminals. Found an article about it yesterday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, Best Buy and CVS are the big ones who have disabled it. However, Walgreens and McDonalds have not. They still accept NFC payments via Google Wallet, and it still works on my friend's Note 3 as of yesterday.
Just wanted to say I've had the same problem. It seems to work when it wants to. NFC itself works fine. I feel like it stopped working after the WiFi calling update... If someone's able to go to the previous update and test it would be awesome.
Figures if it affects Apple its all over the news.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/25/7069863/retailers-are-disabling-nfc-readers-to-shut-out-apple-pay
My wallet hasn't worked for me the past few times I've tried (at Walgreens and my work vending machine). I'm guessing it has something to do with my ROM (Viper) or a xposed mod I have running (though I don't have much and nothing related to Wallet directly).
After the 4.4.4 update and also removing all my cards from Wallet and re-adding them, tap-to-pay is working for me now.
kwolf said:
After the 4.4.4 update and also removing all my cards from Wallet and re-adding them, tap-to-pay is working for me now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on the 4.4.4 HK firmware but not on the 4.4.4 rom (still on Viper which hasn't updated yet). I removed my cards, wiped app data, uninstalled/reinstalled wallet, and then put my cards back in and still when I put my phone up to the reader wallet doesn't open. The error I get on one machine is "Unable to read card" and the reader just beeps on a different machine. I do have SuperCID on my phone in order to flash HK ROMs/Firmware. Don't think that should matter since I've had that on for months well before Wallet quit working.
I'll wait until Viper updates to 4.4.4 or if they take more than a few days I might try a different stock-ish rom.
henderjr said:
I am on the 4.4.4 HK firmware but not on the 4.4.4 rom (still on Viper which hasn't updated yet). I removed my cards, wiped app data, uninstalled/reinstalled wallet, and then put my cards back in and still when I put my phone up to the reader wallet doesn't open. The error I get on one machine is "Unable to read card" and the reader just beeps on a different machine. I do have SuperCID on my phone in order to flash HK ROMs/Firmware. Don't think that should matter since I've had that on for months well before Wallet quit working.
I'll wait until Viper updates to 4.4.4 or if they take more than a few days I might try a different stock-ish rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, when I had the problem the card reader barely responded at all (a light blinked and that was it).
If you open the wallet app manually, does it do anything when you tap? Or is the phone acting like nothing is happening at all?
kwolf said:
Hmm, when I had the problem the card reader barely responded at all (a light blinked and that was it).
If you open the wallet app manually, does it do anything when you tap? Or is the phone acting like nothing is happening at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wallet doesn't react at all if I have it open or not when "tapping" my phone. I think the phone beeps too but can't remember now. I know my nfc works fine as I use a nfc tag every morning when I get to work to put it on silent.
My m8 does the same thing... I figured it was running Viper as well, but I just flashed the newest firmware and the stock rom... Same story. I hold my phone up to the NFC terminal, and the lights stop blinking on the terminal, but nothing happens on my phone. When I use my S4, the terminal beeps, my phone vibrates and it just works. I just tried deleting all my cards and trying again... No dice. I just went through a chat with HTC, and they're escalating the issue, who knows, maybe it's bad hardware. (I've never had NFC working)
Update: htc called to confirm my information and to say the turnaround time is 7-10 days. They mentioned that it's rarely a software problem if you're not getting an error. I'm not. I'm assuming that once they research some more, they'll just end up replacing my phone. We'll see.
Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk
After upgrading Viper to 4.4.4, removing all cards, removing all old devices from here (https://wallet.google.com/manage/#devices:), uninstalling/installing wallet, and adding cards back in and it now works. I don't know which one of those fixed it as I did them all before trying.
Thanks henderjr! I tried everything you had posted there, but still didn't have any luck. (holy crap, I had a ton of devices listed... One for each ROM installed in the past few years.) Hope your information helps someone else get their device working!

[Marshmallow][6.0][Q] Smartlock completely broken after M update

Hi all, I updated to android-M (completely wipe then installed stock rom). Since then, all the ways of smartlock do not work at all. I checked location access all the apps have it, including system apps (in app permissions). Please help. Has anyone sucesfully gotten Smartlock to work with android-M?
Worked fine for me on stock m and pure nexus
Works fine for me with my BT headset and Android Wear Watch. I've never tried it with a location.
Works with my smartwatch, my location , and my bluetooth stereo adapter thing for my house.
No problems here using MM Pure Nexus using my Android Wear for smart unlock.
Smart Unlock works fine for me with Bluetooth devices...but the location version does seem broken. I even have two location "circles" for my home, to cover a greater area, and I keep having to unlock it manually. This was not an issue for me on 5.1.1.
Location smart lock does not work well for me at all. 5.1.1 it worked great. Bluetooth smart lock is on point.
Location smart lock has been working fine for me the past couple weeks on 6.0. I did run into an issue initially where it seemed like it was stuck thinking I was always at a location to stay unlocked. That was right after I flashed and a reboot solved it.
Location is also broken for me, only works if I manually open Maps and let it settle my location for a bit, then the device stays unlocked for a couple of minutes only. Changing location accuracy has no effect on it.
I'm surprised more people aren't complaining about this...do most people not use location Smart Unlock?
Mine was working flawlessly on 5.1.1 after I upgraded to 6.0 was hit and miss bit I durty flashed the update-after performing factory reset it works fine again
Do you have an exchange account installed? If yes, switch to 'Nine' and it uses app-level encryption rather than device-level. That's the only time it didn't work for me.
Running stock latest image. No tweaks/root.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Location unlock is a bit messy for me as well. I thought only I had it.
Location unlock occasionally doesn't work for me (first thing in the morning, usually, or if the phone has been locked/screen off for an extended period of time), but it works most of the time; and the BT unlock works 100% of the time in my car (stupid Toyota not having Android music controls to browse albums...)
liquidzoo said:
Location unlock occasionally doesn't work for me (first thing in the morning, usually, or if the phone has been locked/screen off for an extended period of time), but it works most of the time; and the BT unlock works 100% of the time in my car (stupid Toyota not having Android music controls to browse albums...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even when Smart Unlock (Location) is working, it will still lock after an extended period of time untouched. It's just a built in safety feature.
Ok so consensus seems to be that location at least IS broken for a lot of people...I'm not sure why though, at least it's not just me.
Same here
Running Google nexus 5 and stock marshmallow, unrooted. Have had same problem since upgrade to marshmallow. Location worked beautifully on lollipop. Bluetooth still fine. Basically sometimes I'm lucky and it unlocks with smart lock, but mostly it's a manual unlock. Noticed that it does sometimes eventually unlock smartly when one waits a while on lock screen and screen on. Keep tapping it to keep active. Very frustrating, adding a feature in past which you get used to and then breaks in future.
It would seem that if a trusted location has an address, it does not work so well, if at all.
Moving the trusted location pin around so that the trusted location uses gps coordinates instead of an address seems to work more consistently. No recent problems with smart lock trusted locations.
The location smart lock never worked for me even in lollipop. The only way I got it to work is by dropping something like 20-30 pins to blanket my county to ever get it to say it unlocked for location. And in google's location history thing it looks all good with points dropped frequently at my house.
Me too, my cellphone don't unlock in my house.
He work well on 5.0.2, now I'm in 6.0 and don't work. I go to do downgrade

NFC Payments broken?!

Hi,
Has anyone noticed that starting in late April, NFC based payments no longer work?! I wonder because other NFC usage works (e.g. Android Beam or simply reading various NFC tags or cards). I can't figure the exact date, but the last payment that I made with my phone was around 24 april, then it comes the april security update. And after 1 May I noticed that it simply don't work.
Regards
net4u said:
Hi,
Has anyone noticed that starting in late April, NFC based payments no longer work?! I wonder because other NFC usage works (e.g. Android Beam or simply reading various NFC tags or cards). I can't figure the exact date, but the last payment that I made with my phone was around 24 april, then it comes the april security update. And after 1 May I noticed that it simply don't work.
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have the april security patch, but i could still do a payment yesterday with the NFC of the phone.
So no problem for me.
Yes, Google Pay stopped working for me in mid-April, *but* before I installed the April security patch so that wasn't the cause for me. I was hoping the April patch might fix it but no joy. I've been checking here to see if anyone else had the same problem but this is the first report I've seen.
It's very annoying as I'd got very used to using it... as you say other NFC things are fine.
I've done all the usual tricks of uninstalling, wiping caches, trying an earlier version (it seemed to stop working after the Google Pay update was installed that was released on the 15th, so I thought that might help), etc. etc. but no joy at all. It just doesn't trigger.
Same problem, suddenly NFC doesn't work anymore. Weird thing I discovered is that it might work at that moment when I press the power button to switch display off. ... Strange
Using Magisk with it? Rooted device?
Ah, ok, maybe i wasn't clear enough.
For me it still works, but i do NOT use Google Pay, i use the app from our bank for NFC payments.
I think that i have read some time ago about problems with Google Pay, so maybe that is the case.
I also found out some time ago, that i have to have the lockscreen on-screen, otherwise i cannot do a payment.
So unlocking the phone makes payments impossible and screen-off is also a no-go.
But i suppose you guys already knew that.
xsycox said:
Using Magisk with it? Rooted device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, pure stock (apart from most evenwell apps disabled for this user).
EDIT: Two threads about it now on the Nokia forum at https://community.phones.nokia.com/categories/nokia-7-plus
Fixed by uninstalling Google Pay
Just an FYI, I had my NFC issue resolved by uninstalling Google Pay. May help someone else.
I did not use Google Pay (since is not available in my country), but two tap and pay apps from two banks where I have accounts. Both have updates in april, and one of them tryied to became forced my default one without asking explicitly. But as I say: other NFC functions works: I can beam, I can read tags or cards.
I didn't use Google Pay as well, however, it seemed to interfere with my banking app (couldn't pay anymore) and access to buildings.
Nexustb said:
I didn't use Google Pay as well, however, it seemed to interfere with my banking app (couldn't pay anymore) and access to buildings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I mean since is not available in my country yet, I haven't it on my phone.
....and fixed in the latest version of Google Pay, released last week
It may be related to this: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-2041 ?

Gps stopped working. Kind of

So i recently switched from sprinit to verizon and at the sametime updated my phone with the new system update. Since then my gps randomly stops keeping track of my location in a trip. I downloaded a gps tool from the app store and when it happens i use the app to reset my gps and it works. But then later if I use google maps again it randomly gives me the same issue. Its a easy enough fix but its annoying to have to keep doing that.
Was hoping there was some kind of fix or am I just unlucky and the gps is starting to go out.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Check here...settings, connections, mobile network. Make sure u r on lte/cdma for Verizon
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
chefjl said:
Check here...settings, connections, mobile network. Make sure u r on lte/cdma for Verizon
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya it was set to global. Hopefully it fixes it. Will test it out later when i need to leave work.
Having the same issue. I believe it started occurring after software update: N950USQU7DSL5 which was pushed out early February for me.
sjsuguy83 said:
Having the same issue. I believe it started occurring after software update: N950USQU7DSL5 which was pushed out early February for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I switched over from global to lte/cmda like chefji suggested and it helped were its not occuring as much but I still have the issue. Hopefully it gets fixed. If not i may have to try to revert back to an older update.
I just saw this thread after posting my questio above. Same issue and I'm on Verizon too. Mine has always been a Verizon phone. I dont recall exactly when the problem started but definitely within last 2 months. Never had issues before. For me, the workaround seems to be to use an app called GPS Fix/Optimizer and on the home page of that app, click on the button that says System off on bottom left and turn it to System on. I hate having to do these extra steps and never had a problem with any other Android phone doing this.
Try wiping the Cache Partition. If that doesn't help, backup your device and perform a Hard Factory reset.
iceepyon said:
Try wiping the Cache Partition. If that doesn't help, backup your device and perform a Hard Factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe cache partition but there is no reason to do a hard factory reset. This is a GPS problem and not a software issue. It is not isolated to Note 8 phones but seems to affect S9, S9+, Note 9, Note 10, and possibly a few others. It also started early Feb after Note 8's received a security update and the others received the Android 10 update. Samsung, Google, and especially Verizon are all pointing fingers at each other for blame instead of working together to try and come up with a fix. One thing I have found is that unlike the countless Android phones I have had in the past, there is absolutely no way to control the GPS. There no longer is an on/off switch. The best available choice is to search deep in settings to find Location but the only thing it controls is on/off switches for Wifi Scanning or bluetooth scanning. Turning both of those on now is considered High Accuracy. The only thing that has worked for me is using an app called GPS Fix/Optimizer in conjunction with an app called GPS Status. By using both of those apps before using Waze or Google maps, allows me to successfully navigate and it can find my exact position. I have also discovered that besides Waze and G Maps, many are reporting the same kind of problem with other location based apps such as Uber and Lyft. This needs to be fixed and I could care less which company is at fault but one of them needs to step up or all need to come together and figure out the problem...
mikeyk101 said:
Wipe cache partition but there is no reason to do a hard factory reset. This is a GPS problem and not a software issue. It is not isolated to Note 8 phones but seems to affect S9, S9+, Note 9, Note 10, and possibly a few others. It also started early Feb after Note 8's received a security update and the others received the Android 10 update. Samsung, Google, and especially Verizon are all pointing fingers at each other for blame instead of working together to try and come up with a fix. One thing I have found is that unlike the countless Android phones I have had in the past, there is absolutely no way to control the GPS. There no longer is an on/off switch. The best available choice is to search deep in settings to find Location but the only thing it controls is on/off switches for Wifi Scanning or bluetooth scanning. Turning both of those on now is considered High Accuracy. The only thing that has worked for me is using an app called GPS Fix/Optimizer in conjunction with an app called GPS Status. By using both of those apps before using Waze or Google maps, allows me to successfully navigate and it can find my exact position. I have also discovered that besides Waze and G Maps, many are reporting the same kind of problem with other location based apps such as Uber and Lyft. This needs to be fixed and I could care less which company is at fault but one of them needs to step up or all need to come together and figure out the problem...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I am having the same problem. I have a Galaxy Note 8 from AT&T, this problem started end of February, workaround is to switch the location OFF and then back ON but is annoying. I reset network, clear cache and nothing fixed the problem so I thought was a problem in the phone itself so I submitted a claim to Asurion, got the brand new replacement phone and the following day exact same problem appeared.
Now reading this thread I am fully convinced that is a bug. I hope it gets solved ASAP.
I posted about this on another thread and what I have stumbled on:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=82337821&postcount=18
I have seemed to narrow it down to it only happening when I connect my Note 8 to my 2016 Chevy Silverado and use Waze or Google maps on my radio via Android Auto. I made a few changes that I mentioned in the above thread to the battery settings for a couple apps. Because of the VID, I haven't been driving as much so I haven't done a lot of testing but this has seemed to help.
Well I thought it was fixed but it doesnt seem to be and it really seems to be an Android Auto glitch. Just yesterday, I had to run a couple errands and had phone plugged in for Android Auto. First couple trips, it worked just fine. Then one more trip, all I saw was the floating blue dot in Waze. While still plugged in to my Chevy, I went to GPS Fix and clicked to turn system on. I then went to GPS Status and it couldnt get a location fix. In GPS Status, I also selected Manage A-GPS State. First I tried reset and no fix. Then I did download and again, no fix. I gave it a little bit of time to see if it would work but it didnt. So next I unplugged my phone from my Chevy and again checked in GPS Status and no fix. I again went into Manage A-GPS State, reset, no fix, then download, and it fixed on my location right away. So for me, this is really pointing to an Android Auto issue. Hopefully a fix will come along soon...
Just to add, Waze had already been started once I fired up the Android Auto on the My Link Chevy radio as I had started a route. Waze was still running in the background when I disconnected from my Chevy radio so that kind of eliminates Waze as the problem, at least for me. Especially when GPS Status couldnt get a fix while I still had Android Auto running on my Chevy but as soon as I disconnected and ran through the GPS Status reset and download, I had a fix and Waze worked fine again.
Has this been resolved yet? Any fixes found?
Not completely resolved yet but the annoying workaround gets it working again. It should just work on it's own without all the extra steps. And I was able to get semi confirmation after creating a thread in the Google Support sub forum for Android Auto. I am being told that when plugging in the phone to use Android Auto that Android Auto attempts to also connect to the gps in my Chevy. It's kind of confusing and dont quite understand exactly what is happening. My vehicle does not have a dedicated gps system but I am being told that there could be some kind of GPS in the vehicle anyway and that could be causing the problem. I call BS on this info but I also didnt have any part of creating Android Auto. If this is what is happening, it pretty much says that Android Auto is probably the cause of the issue. I dont need military precision on my gps location and my phone inside my house will give me an accuracy of around 10 feet. No reason to be more accurate than that and this shouldn't even be a part of the Android Auto app.
https://support.google.com/androidauto/thread/45792804?hl=en
I posted this in the other thread but I'll add it here for completeness. I'm having the same issue on an unbranded note 8. But I'm not using android auto. I can use gps tools and it holds a lock fine. But if additional programs are launched, waze, maps, jbv1 I lose lock.
My Note 8 has the problem, I am not using WAZE, I am using The FitBit App with my VERSA 2, My Husband has the Note 9 and is using the FitBit App with his VERSA 2. His resulting miles walked and my resulting miles walked should be almost identical. They are not. I am consistently showing less miles than he does. When looking at the exercise map, generated by the GPS data, His walk path follows the streets we walked accurately, while mine cuts the corners, has me walking in drunken path across the properties located near the road and in some instances cutting across non walkable terrain. Giving me less mileage than my husband. Thankfully, my steps are accurately accounted for. I want this problem fixed. I don't like being cheated of my exercise miles.
Any update here? Note8 on Verizon. Having the same problem with Endomondo (fitness app) and Google Maps. Hard reset phone, and it's still problematic. For me, it might start out working fine, then midway thru a run it will stop. Usually resetting the app will make it work again.
I use T-mobile, and I tried just about everything and almost gave up. Today I was thinking that mayve its the wifi and bluetooth settings helping the GPS so I went to location and turned off the wifi and bluetooth improve accuracy settings and problem is fixed for me! So much headache gone. I was about to buy a new phone.
Dominicgage1994 said:
I use T-mobile, and I tried just about everything and almost gave up. Today I was thinking that mayve its the wifi and bluetooth settings helping the GPS so I went to location and turned off the wifi and bluetooth improve accuracy settings and problem is fixed for me! So much headache gone. I was about to buy a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep us updated if this continues to work. I will try this as well to see if it helps on mine too.
Dominicgage1994 said:
I use T-mobile, and I tried just about everything and almost gave up. Today I was thinking that mayve its the wifi and bluetooth settings helping the GPS so I went to location and turned off the wifi and bluetooth improve accuracy settings and problem is fixed for me! So much headache gone. I was about to buy a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried this and it failed location fix right away after opening Waze in Android Auto on my Chevy. So still searching for a real fix...
Well it looks like the Android Auto developers are starting to listen. After creating a thread on their google community page months ago, and numerous others posting same issue, they said they were going to reach out to several posters by email with directions on creating a bug report to forward to them. They claim they have been unable to recreate the problem and wanted bug reports from several having the problem so they could take a look. I had another failure today on a trip so I created a bug file and forwarded it. We shall see what they find...

Recent GPS problems

I had posted this over on the Note 8 Verizon board but dont think it is really a Verizon problem but more of a Note 8 problem and might get a better response here.
Just recently over the last couple months, I have been having a problem with getting a good gps signal in programs such as Waze and Google maps. I have done all kinds of searches and many mention to go into settings and in location settings, turn on High Accuracy. That option is bo longer available and not sure if it was eliminated in Pie. I have been doing all the latest updates and believe I am current. The only thing I have been able to find is to go into settings, then Google, and then Account Services and there I found location. The only choices under Improve Accuracy is to turn on Wifi scanning and Bluetooth scanning which I have done. There no longer is a choice of High Accuracy and the ability to turn GPS on or off like I had in previous phones and previous versions of Android. I have even tried turning on High Performance under Battery Power settings and turned off any choices to optimize battery or disable apps. I ended up downloading 2 different GPS apps from Store, GPS Status and GPS Fix/Optimizer. I will normally use Waze or Google maps through Android Auto. I can tell when there is a problem when the position indicator keeps bouncing all over the place in Waze and cant find exactly where I am. When that happens, I will check on GPS Status and it always shows that it is having a problem acquiring the satellite signals. I will then open up GPS Fix/Optimizer and on the home screen, there is a button that will say Service Off. I press it and it will then read Service On. Switching back to GPS Status will now show that it is starting to acquire multiple satellite signals. When I switch back to Waze, now it is able to show my exact location and begins to work properly.
This is driving me nuts. I never had this problem on any other of multiple different phones or Android versions. I can get GPS working but have to jump through all these hoops each time and it sucks. So what other steps can I do to be able to fire up Waze and have it find me right away?
I've had this problem for YEARS on all my Samsung devices running the latest firmware updates and unrooted while connected to a LTE data plan. The issue doesn't affect my other (new) Samsung A30 however. I've always had the latest note series since the Note2, 3, 4, 5, 8.
If I have my Samsung A30 and Note 8 with Google Maps giving me turn by turn directions, my Note 8 (as with my current phones) will stop reporting my location from the very begining of the trip while my Samsung A30 is giving the correct updates. All phones are connected to the same carrier, and same GPS / App settings.
---------- Post added at 08:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 AM ----------
What is consistent about all my Notes is that I've been using Samsung Smart Switch to transfer over the data from the previous Note to the next. I wonder if I transferred over some corrupt settings somewhere. No GPS app works as it should for me unless I'm connected to WiFi, or restart my device, then it works for a few minutes, then gets "lost" again.
Anonymously_Unknown said:
I've had this problem for YEARS on all my Samsung devices running the latest firmware updates and unrooted while connected to a LTE data plan. The issue doesn't affect my other (new) Samsung A30 however. I've always had the latest note series since the Note2, 3, 4, 5, 8.
If I have my Samsung A30 and Note 8 with Google Maps giving me turn by turn directions, my Note 8 (as with my current phones) will stop reporting my location from the very begining of the trip while my Samsung A30 is giving the correct updates. All phones are connected to the same carrier, and same GPS / App settings.
---------- Post added at 08:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 AM ----------
What is consistent about all my Notes is that I've been using Samsung Smart Switch to transfer over the data from the previous Note to the next. I wonder if I transferred over some corrupt settings somewhere. No GPS app works as it should for me unless I'm connected to WiFi, or restart my device, then it works for a few minutes, then gets "lost" again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more I've looked into it, it seems to have occurred following the early Feb update. It also seems to have affected S9 phones and Note 9 and 10 and possibly others after they got the Android 10 update. But it seems to be only a Samsung problem. Samsung, Google, and Verizon are all blaming each other instead of trying to figure out a fix. The biggest issue I see is the lack of control of being able to change the GPS from off to on. Without being able to control the GPS, we are at the mercy of the software to do that and it is obviously failing. The only workaround I have found was what I posted above and utilizing GPS Fix/Optimizer and GPS Status apps, I can get both Waze and Google Maps to work properly. It just bugs me that I have to go through several steps to do this instead of just firing up my navigation app and taking off...
And just to add, I too have used Smart Switch many times before and never had problem. It only started recently. As far as the control for GPS, I'm not sure when that setting was removed. I never paid much attention before because it wasnt necessary. But what I did find curious was that Location setting was buried instead of it being one of the main settings. You really have to dig to find it now...
Anonymously_Unknown said:
[/COLOR]What is consistent about all my Notes is that I've been using Samsung Smart Switch to transfer over the data from the previous Note to the next. I wonder if I transferred over some corrupt settings somewhere. No GPS app works as it should for me unless I'm connected to WiFi, or restart my device, then it works for a few minutes, then gets "lost" again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have noticed that certain apps like GPS apps require that you reinstall them onto your new device from scratch. As SmartSwitch doesn't seem to transfer the data files corrected to other Samsung devices.
iceepyon said:
I have noticed that certain apps like GPS apps require that you reinstall them onto your new device from scratch. As SmartSwitch doesn't seem to transfer the data files corrected to other Samsung devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with that but this is not a new device nor have I done any kind of restore or transfer from an old phone in quite a while. All my apps have been fine for over a year now on this Note 8. This only started after the first February "Security" update.
mikeyk101 said:
I agree with that but this is not a new device nor have I done any kind of restore or transfer from an old phone in quite a while. All my apps have been fine for over a year now on this Note 8. This only started after the first February "Security" update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be that an OS update requires you to install a newer version of the GPS app, which you are currently using
iceepyon said:
Could be that an OS update requires you to install a newer version of the GPS app, which you are currently using
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im pretty sure that's not the case. My Note is still on Android 9 (Pie) which it has been for almost a year now. It has only gotten security and various minor updates but not any kind of OS update. Note 8 will not be getting Android 10, only security updates. I always update Waze and Google maps anytime an update comes out. I usually update all the other apps at least once a week. The GPS apps that I recently downloaded are the only reason that I am able to access and use my GPS through Waze and Google maps.
mikeyk101 said:
Im pretty sure that's not the case. My Note is still on Android 9 (Pie) which it has been for almost a year now. It has only gotten security and various minor updates but not any kind of OS update. Note 8 will not be getting Android 10, only security updates. I always update Waze and Google maps anytime an update comes out. I usually update all the other apps at least once a week. The GPS apps that I recently downloaded are the only reason that I am able to access and use my GPS through Waze and Google maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is interesting as I am running Sygic on my Note 8 and it seems to be working just fine. I am rocking the N950N with the latest OS security updates.
iceepyon said:
Could be that an OS update requires you to install a newer version of the GPS app, which you are currently using
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've cleared cache, app data, uninstalled all GPS apps, before re-installing in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the issue.
I even left the Google Maps "beta testing programme" thinking that a beta copy of the app might have been the issue.
Anonymously_Unknown said:
I've cleared cache, app data, uninstalled all GPS apps, before re-installing in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the issue.
I even left the Google Maps "beta testing programme" thinking that a beta copy of the app might have been the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the 2 apps I mentioned and run them. You may have to do that every time before using Google Maps but it should get you working. It's just aggravating to have to go through several steps when I should be able to open the main app I want and have it work.
Something weird just happened. I know that a couple days ago to find the location setting, I had to go to settings, Google, Account Services, and I found location there. Tonight just messing around, I noticed that it is no longer there. Instead, it is now found under settings, and then Biometrics and Security. It is down towards the bottom. Not sure how this happened as I have not received any kind of system updates. Also GPS Status app seems to just run in the background. When I open up Waze, it seems to find my location right away. I will have to keep monitoring this and see if the problem has actually been worked out.
mikeyk101 said:
Download the 2 apps I mentioned and run them. You may have to do that every time before using Google Maps but it should get you working. It's just aggravating to have to go through several steps when I should be able to open the main app I want and have it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already done this from even before this thread was created, but as you said, it is frustrating for me to have to do this every 10 or so minutes, as GPS stops working quite frequently on my Note 8. GPS was fine with the bone-stock firmware out of the box.
Anonymously_Unknown said:
I've already done this from even before this thread was created, but as you said, it is frustrating for me to have to do this every 10 or so minutes, as GPS stops working quite frequently on my Note 8. GPS was fine with the bone-stock firmware out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In GPS Status, did you go into Manage A-GPS State and do the reset and download choices? Also did you try the GPS Fix/Optimizer app and run the Fix GPS?
mikeyk101 said:
t is now found under settings, and then Biometrics and Security. It is down towards the bottom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is on the February 1, 2020 security patch, and I have that option there as well. All my permissions are enabled for Location for all apps
---------- Post added at 12:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 AM ----------
mikeyk101 said:
Also did you try the GPS Fix/Optimizer app and run the Fix GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and yes. 10 minutes later, GPS stops working. It works great if I'm driving past WiFi, however.
I can stream YouTube continuously, so I know my LTE connection is active.
mikeyk101 said:
Something weird just happened. I know that a couple days ago to find the location setting, I had to go to settings, Google, Account Services, and I found location there. Tonight just messing around, I noticed that it is no longer there. Instead, it is now found under settings, and then Biometrics and Security. It is down towards the bottom. Not sure how this happened as I have not received any kind of system updates. Also GPS Status app seems to just run in the background. When I open up Waze, it seems to find my location right away. I will have to keep monitoring this and see if the problem has actually been worked out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Mikey,
I've noticed that it has improved, but definitely not resolved.
I'm wondering if a factory reset will revert all software updates? I have an appointment tomorrow at the samsung store, and they are going to factory reset and install the most recent software update via their system rather than an OTA which builds upon other updates. I'm backing up my phone now... which in itself is a pain. If not, I did try the GPS fix and the other GPS software, but I did not try them concurrently together, as I found GPS fix to work better. Ultimately though, I didn't think it helped by itself.
sjsuguy83 said:
I'm wondering if a factory reset will revert all software updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
I'm bumping this back up to the top. One thing I have noticed is that if I haven't used any location type apps such as google maps or Waze in a while and then open up Android Auto in my Chevy, I have a 50/50 shot of the gps actually working. Actually probably less although occasionally it will work right away. When it doesnt, I have to pull the cord out of the phone disconnecting the Chevy from My Note 8 and even if I only open up Waze or google maps after that, it will still not be able to locate my exact position. When this happens, I have opened up GPS status app and the phone gps is definitely not working. I will then open up GPS fix/optimizer and in the bottom left of the home screen, I will toggle the Service Off to Service On. Checking back with GPS Status, within a couple seconds, it shows that the GPS is now working. I can then plug my phone back into my Chevy and Android Auto with either Waze or Google Maps will be working fine for as long as I'm using it.
I originally thought it was a Samsung software issue. Now I'm starting to wonder. If I use Waze or Google Maps as standalone, they seem to work most of the time. It seems to happen mostly using Android Auto first which then opens the navigation software and if I haven't used any apps that call for location recently. I'm stumped...
Looks like I may be on the right track and Android Auto could be the cause of my issues: https://support.google.com/androidauto/thread/17860576
I also found some other info that Adaptive Battery and battery optimization might also have something to do with it. I turned off adaptive battery by going into settings, then device care, then clicked on the battery icon. There are 3 dots in upper right which let you into battery settings. You can turn off adaptive battery there. Next, I went into settings, then apps, and first selected Android Auto. I clicked on the battery choice and then optimize battery usage. There in the top left, I switched from apps not optimized to all. From there I then found Android Auto and turned it off. I then while ein same screen turned off optimization for Maps and Waze. Unfortunately I dont drive that often and now with the VID, I am driving even less so it may be a while before I can verify that this worked.
An update to this. I reached out to the sub forum for Android Auto over on Google Support and got semi confirmation that the problem could actually be coming from Android Auto. One of the explanations given had something to do with Android Auto trying to get info from the vehicles gps device to make it more accurate but it may have problems communicating with the vehicle gps system. I do not have a dedicated navigation in my vehicle so not sure what it is trying to actually connect to so this could partially explain the problem. Why Android Auto would need to connect to any gps device in vehicle is beyond me because for years, my phones have always relied on the in phone GPS and have worked just fine. Here is that thread:
https://support.google.com/androidauto/thread/45792804?hl=en
So I'm having the same issue on an unbranded note 8. But I'm not using android auto. I can use gps tools and it holds a lock fine. But if additional programs are launched, waze, maps, jbv1 I lose lock.

Categories

Resources