How to avoid losing GPS Log

Recent smartphones have strict power saving functions, and in some cases they may forcibly stop an application that takes GPS logs in the background.

In particular, recent models from Huawei are forced to turn off GPS when taking a break, and it is not recommended when taking GPS logs.

If you can not get GPS log properly, please check the following.

1. Do not use the power saving mode of the smartphone

2. Configure the app as a power saving exclusion

3. Do not use smartphone optimization and power saving application.

※ If you can not get GPS log from the very beginning of your hike,

4. Restart your smartphone

5. Confirm that location is enabled

6. Allow notification

1. Do not use the power saving mode of the smartphone

The name may differ depending on the model, but "STAININA mode (SONY Xperia)", "Battery saver (Google Nexus)" "Power saving mode (Samsung Galaxy)" and "Battery saver (Huawei)". Please use after turning OFF these functions. You can check the setting method at each link.

You can find these configurations in the "Battery" menu in Settings app.

■ In the case of Xperia (example)

Launch Settings app

→ Battery

→ STAMINA mode

→ Turn off STAMINA mode

2. Configure the app as a power saving exclusion

If the power saving mode does not work by the method 1 above, there is no problem, but just in case you can set it as a power saving mode, please set the Japan Alps Hiking Map application as an exclusion target.

In the menu button in the upper right in the "Battery" of the setting application is prepared with items such as "battery optimization". In the case of Huawei models in particular, there are special power saving functions. Please do ALL the following settings.

Example of Huawei smartphone setting

* Menu location and messages may be different. It depends on the model of your smartphone or the version of Android.

* This setting does not guarantee that the GPS log will be taken correctly.

• Launch Settings app -> Battery -> Launch -> Tap "Japan Alps Hiking Map", then set Manage Manually. Set On for Auto-launch, Secondary launch, Run in Background, then tap "OK"
• Launch Settings app -> Apps & notifications -> Apps -> Settings on bottom of the screen -> Special access -> Ignore battery optimization -> triangle icon in the top right of the screen -> All apps -> Japan Alps Hiking -> Allow
• Settings app -> Battery -> Set OFF for "Power saving mode" and "Ultra power saving mode"
• Settings app -> Battery -> Wheel icon in the top right of the screen -> Set OFF "Power-intensive prompt"
• Settings app -> Apps & notifications -> Apps -> Japan Alps Hiking Map -> Notifications -> Set ON or Enabled for all of items
• Settings app -> Apps & notifications -> Notifications & status bar -> Set ON for Notifications turn on screen

Some models require the settings below:

• Settings app -> Battery -> Wheel icon in the top right of the screen -> Set OFF "Close excessively power-intensive apps"
• Settings app -> Battery -> Set OFF "Close apps after screen lock"

Example of Xperia smartphone setting

Settings app -> Battery -> three dots icon on the very top right of the screen -> Battery optimization ->Apps tab -> check on Japan Alps Hiking Map

3. Do not use smartphone optimization and power saving application

The smartphone optimization app, the power saving app, and the task killer app have a function that forcibly stop the application running in the background.

If you are using such an application, please uninstall the application or set Japan Alps Hiking Map application not to stop on the setting screen of each application.

If you do not know how to set it, uninstall the power saving applications.

4. Restart your smartphone

If the sky is not open, such as in a valley, and it is difficult to see GPS satellites, it may not be possible to get GPS logs after you start hiking.

Normally, if you wait for a while, you can get a GPS log, but due to a problem with your smartphone, it may not be possible to get GPS signals.

In such cases, please try to restart your smartphone by long pressing the power button.

Also, if you are using a cheap SIM (MVNO sim), you may not be able to use the function called A-GPS to locate the GPS satellites.

In such a case, please install apps such as GPS Status & Toolbox and download the data required for A-GPS.

By using the app, you can also check how much your smartphone get GPS satellite signals.

5. Confirm that location is enabled

If the Japan Alps Hiking Map app is not able to use your location, GPS logs can not be taken.

If you can not get GPS log at all, please confirm that the location access is set to be enabled with "High accuracy".

Depending on the model, for example, there are settings in the following places.

Example for Huawei smartphone setting

Settings app -> Security & Privacy -> Location access -> turn Access my location ON

Settings app -> Security & Privacy -> Location access -> LOCATION MODE -> select High accuracy (Use GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks)

6. Allow notification

If you do not allow notification to Japan Alps Hiking Map application, "service" that stores GPS log may be stopped. Please confirm that "notification" is permitted (ON) to Japan Alps Hiking Map in the setting application of Android.

e.g.

Settings app -> Apps & notifications -> Apps -> Japan Alps Hiking Map -> Notifications -> turn Allow notifications ON and enable items as much as possible

Other advice

Even with the above power saving settings, if you run other apps in the background or in the foreground, the app may be terminated due to lack of memory.

• After operating other applications
• After starting to walk after a long break

Display the map and put the Japan Alps Hiking Map application on top of application screens. You can resume the GPS log even if the application has been forcibly terminated, and making it difficult for GPS logging process to be interrupted.

Recently, the power saving function of the Android smartphone has made the battery last longer, but as a disadvantage, the GPS log is forcibly stopped from Android OS.

It is an Android-specific behavior that can occur with any app. There is no perfect way to avoid it.

After recognizing the above premise, we hope you will enjoy the app.