Battery useage and Google Play services

[CU]

Just flashed my phone from 2.3.5 to CM 10.2 (4.3) and noticed my battery was draining much faster. Found out it was Google Play services and that if I unchecked WiFi and mobile network under location access and only left GPS checked my battery problem went away. Google Play services never shows up under battery usage anymore. What was Google Play services doing to use so much battery? And, why does it only run or use so much battery when WiFi and mobile network are checked? I haven't noticed any negative side effects from my change, so what does Google Play services do?

 

[tsupersonic]

If I have GPS enabled on either my One or N5, Google Play Services uses way too much battery. It is the top consumer and so annoying. It just started recently, and I can't figure it out. I've seen very similar complaints

 

[CU]

If I have GPS enabled on either my One or N5, Google Play Services uses way too much battery. It is the top consumer and so annoying. It just started recently, and I can't figure it out. I've seen very similar complaints

I have the opposite problem. GPS = low battery usage and WiFi & mobile = high battery usage.

 

[dawheat]

Just flashed my phone from 2.3.5 to CM 10.2 (4.3) and noticed my battery was draining much faster. Found out it was Google Play services and that if I unchecked WiFi and mobile network under location access and only left GPS checked my battery problem went away. Google Play services never shows up under battery usage anymore. What was Google Play services doing to use so much battery? And, why does it only run or use so much battery when WiFi and mobile network are checked? I haven't noticed any negative side effects from my change, so what does Google Play services do?

Identical issue with my Note 3 running 4.3. Leaving GPS on is fine (doesn't show up at all), but enabling use wifi networks always makes Play Services the #2 battery drain after the display.

From what I've read on xda, it's an issue with all devices running 4.3, pointing the finger at Google. 4.4 has better options regarding location which apparently "fixes" this issue.

 

[Dulanic]

It's a somewhat known issue. Most people recommend using GPS only now. This applies to 4.3 and 4.4. I would also use Greenify to cut down on requests for programs you don't want/need running in the background.

 

[CU]

Thanks. At least it isn't just me. I new 4.4 got new options, but I thought they just renamed them so they were easier to use. I will try it out when CM 11 hits stable.

 

[zerogear]

I had a problem with this, turned out Play services was corrupted for me, so I went in and disable/uninstall updates and clear cache. After that it worked great.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

It's a somewhat known issue. Most people recommend using GPS only now. This applies to 4.3 and 4.4. I would also use Greenify to cut down on requests for programs you don't want/need running in the background.

this makes any location based app useless unless you stand outside all day long.

Want to search a restaurant in Yelp? Oh, then you better plug in the location or be outside for a GPS lock. Forget searching 2 blocks away for what's nearby.

I find it disturbing we need to cut off the water main to fight a leak in the faucet. Google really needs to fix this.

 

[CU]

Based on my battery usage it was more like the water main ruptured, there was no leak. My battery lasts almost twice as long after I switched to only use GPS.

 

[Dulanic]

this makes any location based app useless unless you stand outside all day long.

Want to search a restaurant in Yelp? Oh, then you better plug in the location or be outside for a GPS lock. Forget searching 2 blocks away for what's nearby.

I find it disturbing we need to cut off the water main to fight a leak in the faucet. Google really needs to fix this.

While I agree that they need to fix it, it really isn't noticeable. Yelp opens ASAP and is accurate for me even indoors usually. While this may only be 20 minutes screen on time, it has made a huge difference and the change hasn't negatively impacted me in any way. I think overall it's the constant network/wifi scanning it does otherwise.

 

[dawheat]

While I agree that they need to fix it, it really isn't noticeable. Yelp opens ASAP and is accurate for me even indoors usually. While this may only be 20 minutes screen on time, it has made a huge difference and the change hasn't negatively impacted me in any way. I think overall it's the constant network/wifi scanning it does otherwise.

I'm in the middle - it doesn't make location based apps like Yelp useless, but it does make locking onto a location irritatingly long if 'use wifi networks' isn't enabled.

If I know I'm going to be using navigation, I have to enable this first, otherwise it doesn't track me nearly as accurately, especially in urban centers.

Google has to fix it - and from what I had heard and experienced on my Nexus 4 (though it's not my daily driver), it is better.

 

[Red Storm]

I have every location setting enabled and have not experienced any unusual battery drain.

Stock 4.4 Nexus 5.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm in the middle - it doesn't make location based apps like Yelp useless, but it does make locking onto a location irritatingly long if 'use wifi networks' isn't enabled.

If I know I'm going to be using navigation, I have to enable this first, otherwise it doesn't track me nearly as accurately, especially in urban centers.

Google has to fix it - and from what I had heard and experienced on my Nexus 4 (though it's not my daily driver), it is better.

I'm sitting indoors and I can't get a lock right now. I have wifi scanning turned off because it uses excessive power.

 

[dawheat]

I'm sitting indoors and I can't get a lock right now. I have wifi scanning turned off because it uses excessive power.

No disagreement from me - when only on GPS and indoors sometimes I get slow lock, sometimes I get no lock.

Are you on 4.3? I haven't really used my N4 on 4.4 much in the last couple months, but I did recall playing around with the different location options in the couple days I did carry it and remembering that it seemed to have less drain even when set to 'very accurate' or something like that.

On my Note 3, by the end of the day, it makes Play Services use 12-15% of my battery vs. not showing up in the top 10.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

No disagreement from me - when only on GPS and indoors sometimes I get slow lock, sometimes I get no lock.

Are you on 4.3? I haven't really used my N4 on 4.4 much in the last couple months, but I did recall playing around with the different location options in the couple days I did carry it and remembering that it seemed to have less drain even when set to 'very accurate' or something like that.

On my Note 3, by the end of the day, it makes Play Services use 12-15% of my battery vs. not showing up in the top 10.

I'm on 4.4, but whether or not Play services shows up in the battery use is a different story. It seems to only show up when you enable Location Reporting. If you turn off location reporting, it goes off, but I still see quite a bit of wakelocks regarding location.

There's 3 options in 4.4, but they're not clearly explained.

• High Accuracy: Utilizes Wifi (and wifi scanning if you have that on), mobile data, and GPS.
• Battery saving: No GPS, but uses Wifi and mobile data.
• Device only: GPS only.

My issue is that the first two are practically identical. If you don't have Maps open all day long or Yelp or whatever, then they should be pretty similar. I might open Yelp for a minute or so when I'm about to go to lunch, and probably all in all my GPS gets 2-3 minutes of use for the whole day. That shouldn't be a night and day difference in power use. This is why in pre 4.4 I've always questioned those who say to turn off GPS. My point is that the GPS shouldn't be firing up to begin with.

Google Latitude or other services will piggyback off GPS data when its available, but otherwise rely on mobile data for geolocation. Turning off GPS offers little benefit.

However in reality, the first two do seem to make a difference. My Nexus 10 will turn on GPS for 5-10 minutes a day for no apparent reason. However, I find that to be more of a bug with google location services than with the GPS. Perhaps Google should make sure the GPS doesn't flip on in the background unless you're specifically in an app that requests GPS.

Device only should offer huge savings because essentially nothing will ever ping for your location when your phone is idle. Google Now is dead, Yelp barely works, blah blah blah. This minimizes wakelocks quite a bit but probably renders your phone less effective.

 

[CU]

I have Google Now off anyway. It was one of the first things I turned off to see if it was eating my battery. It made no difference for me. Why would you want something to ping your location when your phone is idle? To find you your lost or stolen phone? Is that why google's android device management page will not find my phone? It will not ring it either. Are both because my location settings are set to GPS only?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I have Google Now off anyway. It was one of the first things I turned off to see if it was eating my battery. It made no difference for me. Why would you want something to ping your location when your phone is idle? To find you your lost or stolen phone? Is that why google's android device management page will not find my phone? It will not ring it either. Are both because my location settings are set to GPS only?

Ringing should be separate, but I would imagine it's difficult to find the location of your phone unless its outside and easy for a GPS lock. Android Device Manager does wait a bit to try to acquire the location of your device when you're trying to find the location.

 

[sweenish]

Play Services 4.1 is rolling out, supposedly diminishing this Location drain. Too soon to tell for me, plus my phone's battery sucks regardless (GNex).

 

[vshah]

battery life does seem a little better. at 61% after 9 hours with 1.5 hours screen on time.
I feel that i'm usually around the 50% mark around this time in the evening. I updated play services sometime late morning.

 

[Kelvinz]

I have every location setting enabled and have not experienced any unusual battery drain.

Stock 4.4 Nexus 5.

That's because Google Play is optimized on the Nexus 5 since this is Google's flagship for 2014.

 

[khha4113]

Play Services 4.1 is rolling out, supposedly diminishing this Location drain. To soon to tell for me, plus my phone's battery sucks regardless (GNex).

On my devices especially Asus TF701, I notice much improving on battery life. It usually was the second battery drain (after screen) now it's about 3-4 times less than before. I also see better battery life on my GS4 but on Nexus 5 not much.

 

[dawheat]

Play Services 4.1 is rolling out, supposedly diminishing this Location drain. To soon to tell for me, plus my phone's battery sucks regardless (GNex).

Thanks for the heads up - just downloaded it and have left 'use wifi' on. Should know by EOD today whether it's made a difference- either Google Play Services will be the #2 battery drain or it won't show up (or be much further down).

 

[CU]

I am running Google Play services 4.0.34. How do I update to 4.1? I don't see it in the apps store.

 

[dawheat]

Thanks for the heads up - just downloaded it and have left 'use wifi' on. Should know by EOD today whether it's made a difference- either Google Play Services will be the #2 battery drain or it won't show up (or be much further down).

Jury is out - Google Services is now the #2 item on my battery list at 13%, which is better I think than the 18-20% it used to draw by EOD when 'use wifi' for location is enabled. This compared to the low single digits when use wifi is disabled.

I'm going to do the normal full overnight charge and see how a full day goes tomorrow since I updated Play Services late morning today.

 

[dawheat]

Jury is out - Google Services is now the #2 item on my battery list at 13%, which is better I think than the 18-20% it used to draw by EOD when 'use wifi' for location is enabled. This compared to the low single digits when use wifi is disabled.

I'm going to do the normal full overnight charge and see how a full day goes tomorrow since I updated Play Services late morning today.

No improvement - even with Google Play Services 4.1.31, having location services use wifi makes a significant difference on my Note 3 running JB 4.3.

With 'use wifi' on, Google Services is the #2 battery drain, using 15-18%. With 'use wifi' off, it doesn't appear in my top 10 at all (so low single digits at most).

Dissapointing that the newest Play Services doesn't improve this at all on JB 4.3.