Being new to Android, I'm trying to figure out the WiFi sleep policy setting and how the lock screen affects things.
My issue is that if I leave the tablet unplugged overnight, with the screen off, I lose about 10% power. The Battery Use History Details screen shows that WiFi is on consistently and it seems to be awake when it shouldn't be.
So here are my questions:
1. Does disabling the lock screen cause the device to stay awake when the screen is off? It seems like there is a correlation between when I disabled the lock screen and it staying awake consistently, but it might have been an app I installed.
2. If I did not activate the device on the cellular network, and disabled mobile data, is there a WiFi disconnect policy that will turn on WiFi only to poll once in a while for mail and other updates but not stay on consistently?
I think I might be running into one of the big differences between Android and iOS here. iOS' push updates allows the device to use data collections very efficiently to get updates from the network, because it only has to poll one data source to get updates for all apps who require it. In May 2010, Google introduced Cloud to Device Messaging for Android, but how many apps use it? And does the device have a WiFi policy that only lets apps that use C2DM do their updates and then shut the connection off?
rlabarca said:
Being new to Android, I'm trying to figure out the WiFi sleep policy setting and how the lock screen affects things.
My issue is that if I leave the tablet unplugged overnight, with the screen off, I lose about 10% power. The Battery Use History Details screen shows that WiFi is on consistently and it seems to be awake when it shouldn't be.
So here are my questions:
1. Does disabling the lock screen cause the device to stay awake when the screen is off? It seems like there is a correlation between when I disabled the lock screen and it staying awake consistently, but it might have been an app I installed.
2. If I did not activate the device on the cellular network, and disabled mobile data, is there a WiFi disconnect policy that will turn on WiFi only to poll once in a while for mail and other updates but not stay on consistently?
I think I might be running into one of the big differences between Android and iOS here. iOS' push updates allows the device to use data collections very efficiently to get updates from the network, because it only has to poll one data source to get updates for all apps who require it. In May 2010, Google introduced Cloud to Device Messaging for Android, but how many apps use it? And does the device have a WiFi policy that only lets apps that use C2DM do their updates and then shut the connection off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By default your wifi connection is set to never shut off. Settings/Wireless & networks/wifi settings/wifi disconnect policy. Change this to when screen is off.
Thanks, but I still want to be able to turn on my device and see new messages quickly. I assume it won't check for new mail at all with the WiFi off.
rlabarca said:
Thanks, but I still want to be able to turn on my device and see new messages quickly. I assume it won't check for new mail at all with the WiFi off.
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Click to collapse
I don't think you can do this with a stock android os. Its either on or off. Now you can download apps for phones, no idea if they work for tablet yet. Think one is called tasker and another juice defender. Basically they tell the tablet when it can and can't use data.
Related
The problem is that Background Data and Sync ignore the wi-fi policy meaning that the settings to disable wi-fi don't actually disable wi-fi, they just block applications from using wi-fi. The OS can still use it and it still drains power.
That basically means you can never disable wi-fi unless you go in and change multiple settings. The wi-fi policy when the screen is off is useless. Any toggle wi-fi widget you put on the page don't work.
Manually refreshing gmail shows 'no connection' - browser wont connect. But the OS can still get your email and download attachments. Relegating any wi-fi policy to a 'user stop function', not a 'data stop function'.
I have a toggle wi-fi widget on my home screen. I have wi-fi toggled off (also shows as off in settings) I *just* saw the widget flick on for a second, then flick back off. That's the Background data/ sync kicking in right there and that's my whole point.
Another point - if you have disabled wi-fi then turn it back on, it should be looking for the router and getting an IP address. It doesn't do that. When you turn it back on all it does is enable applications to connect. Meaning, when you disable it (via settings>disable wi-fi or disable wi-fi policy) all it does is make the software think you're not connected. It doesn't actually disconnect from the router.
It still shows in your routers wireless list (which it shouldn't if it's disconnected) and ping test will fail because it will refuse any incoming/outgoing requests that aren't from the OS (background data / sync)
If you wait for the background data/sync to connect, you can then ping your tablet and it will work. A security issue as far as I'm concerned.
UPDATE | May 05
An update. I can confirm that the wi-fi will never turn off for me. I have toggled it off and put it in airplane mode and I will still get email notifications.
Under battery power it even still shows wi-fi as taking 4% even though by all settings it is off.
The gmail application shows 'no connection'. If i refresh it, nothing happens. If i turn the screen off, eventually it will sync/connect and I will get email - even though I also have the wi-fi set to off when the screen is off.
So to sum-up - wi-fi never turns off. Ever.
You can help by testing!
Disable wi-fi
Set the policy for wi-fi to disable when screen is off
Go to home screen
Turn off the screen
From another location, send yourself an email
Wait for notification on your tablet or wait for about 5 minutes
Turn on your tablet, email should be waiting for you.
UPDATE | 12:15pm
On the phone with acer support and they confirmed this is the case. They started to explain about Background data and Sync and I stopped them right there. This isn't a settings issue, this is an OS/Hardware issue.
Going to the next tier.
UPDATE | 12:30pm
Everything is confirmed with tier 2 and for what it's worth, it'll be pushed further down the chain and looked into.
I had to clarify with them that the issue was with the OS/Hardware and it's not software. If the wi-fi is disabled and I can go into gmail and it show 'no connection' and i hit refresh and it wont get email, then open the browser and it tells me I'm not connected, then the software thinks the wi-fi is off.
The problem is that the wi-fi isn't off as far as the OS is concerned. It is still draining power and Background data/ Sync are still able to connect (and/or override your settings). This shouldn't be the case. The wi-fi setting should superseed all other settings. If i set the wi-fi to off, it should be off for everything and not be draining power. To me this means that the disable wi-fi setting doesn't actually disable the wi-fi, it just locks out software from using it... which is *not* disabling it.
Same issue here, have to get a widget to turn of the wifi. How can they oversee such simple things?
Also sometimes the power button just randomly lights up when its in sleep mode, it's a small light but very anoying if it's dark in the room (e.a on your bed stand).
Okay - Good to hear it's not just me then. But not so good in general.
If you're reading this thread, try it out. Set the wi-fi to disabled when the screen is off then email yourself from another computer and wait for the notification on your tablet. Or get a friend to email you a minute or so after you've turned your screen off (with wi-fi disabled on screen off)
You can reset the policy after.
If you get the notification then your wifi didn't disable while the screen is off like the setting is supposed to do.
mine is NOT giving me issues, but I have found that it can take up to 10 minutes for the wifi to go off. I just used ping to test it. In some cases it took a while but did turn off. My battery doesn't really go down at all when in standby with wifi off when screen off.
sgdossey said:
mine is NOT giving me issues, but I have found that it can take up to 10 minutes for the wifi to go off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updated OP
gammaRascal said:
I've set the wi-fi to disable itself when the screen goes off but unless I disable sync and background data, the wi-fi still stays on when the screen is off and I can hear my email/IM notifications still.
Anyone else have this issue?
I mean, I think it's an issue. If you set the policy to disable wi-fi when the screen is off in the OS it should override any apps - I shouldn't THEN have to go and disable sync and background data as well otherwise whats the point?
UPDATE | May 05
An update. I can confirm that the wi-fi will never turn off for me. I have toggled it off and put it in airplane mode and I will still get email notifications.
Under battery power it even still shows wi-fi as taking 4% even though by all settings it is off.
The gmail application shows 'no connection'. If i refresh it, nothing happens. If i turn the screen off, eventually it will sync/connect and I will get email - even though I also have the wi-fi set to off when when the screen is off.
So to sum-up - wi-fi never turns off. Ever.
You can help by testing!
Disable wi-fi
Set the policy for wi-fi to disable when screen is off
Go to home screen
Turn off the screen
From another location, send yourself an email
Wait for notification on your tablet or wait for about 5 minutes
Turn on your tablet, email should be waiting for you.
UPDATE | 12:15pm
On the phone with acer support and they confirmed this is the case. They started to explain about Background data and Sync and I stopped them right there. This isn't a settings issue, this is an OS/Hardware issue.
Going to the next tier.
UPDATE | 12:30pm
Everything is confirmed with tier 2 and for what it's worth, it'll be pushed further down the chain and looked into.
I had to clarify with them that the issue was with the OS/Hardware and it's not software. If the wi-fi is disabled and I can go into gmail and it show 'no connection' and i hit refresh and it wont get email, then open the browser and it tells me I'm not connected, then the software thinks the wi-fi is off.
The problem is that the wi-fi isn't off as far as the OS is concerned. It is still draining power and Background data/ Sync are still able to connect. This shouldn't be the case. The wi-fi setting should superseed all other settings. If i set the wi-fi to off, it should be off for everything and not be draining power. To me this means that the disable wi-fi setting doesn't actually disable the wi-fi, it just locks out software from using it... which is *not* disabling it.
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Click to collapse
Hi, I just ran these tests and unfortunately I can't reproduce your results.
When I disable wifi, I don't have any data connection.
As for wifi sleep, I don't know if it's a bug or intentional but it seems to put wifi into an extremely low power mode, but not necessarily disable it or turn it off when using the sleep policy.
As someone mentioned somewhere in this thread, it looks like wifi has some sort of 'cooldown' period until it turns the chip and process off completely.
I have used Wifi sleep and played Pandora and had Pandora play for hours until it finally disconnected.
The problem is that Background Data and Sync ignore the wi-fi policy meaning that the settings to disable wi-fi don't actually disable wi-fi, they just block applications from using wi-fi. The OS can still use it and it still drains power.
That basically means you can never disable wi-fi unless you go in and change multiple settings. The wi-fi policy when the screen is off is useless. Any toggle wi-fi widget you put on the page don't work.
Manually refreshing gmail shows 'no connection' - browser wont connect. But the OS can still get your email and download attachments. Relegating any wi-fi policy to a 'user stop function', not a 'data stop function'.
I have a toggle wi-fi widget on my home screen. I have wi-fi toggled off (also shows as off in settings) I *just* saw the widget flick on for a second, then flick back off. That's the Background data/ sync kicking in right there and that's my whole point.
Another point - if you have disabled wi-fi then turn it back on, it should be looking for the router and getting an IP address. It doesn't do that. When you turn it back on all it does is enable applications to connect. Meaning, when you disable it (via settings>disable wi-fi or disable wi-fi policy) all it does is make the software think you're not connected. It doesn't actually disconnect from the router.
It still shows in your routers wireless list (which it shouldn't if it's disconnected) and ping test will fail because it will refuse any incoming/outgoing requests that aren't from the OS (background data / sync)
If you wait for the background data/sync to connect, you can then ping your tablet and it will work. A security issue as far as I'm concerned.
I am happy to make one.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
My battery tips
1. Latitude : If you are logged in, it will update your location every few minutes. This will make a phone that should be on a very low power state, re-enable lots of things that suck power. (5hrs)
2. Home screen weather clocks : Just change the update interval to something more like every 3 hours and it won't kill your battery as quick. Make sure you don't have it use GPS for location. If you don't mind, set the location to be static. (1hr)
3. Chat programs that don't rely on push. If the program needs to keep your data connection alive, it will kill your battery.(1-5hrs)
4. Anything that will update automatically. The craigslist app for example will poll the site for changes, waking the connection and the processor each time.(1-5hrs)
5. Bluetooth. : I know it isn't an app, but if you aren't using it, don't have it on. It takes enough power to eat a few hours of battery life. Pretty major. (3hrs)
6. Leave 4G on. : This might not work for everyone, but when 4G is asleep, it doesn't seem to suck juice the same way 3G does. My EVO dies quick on 4G, my Epic battery lasts longer on 4G. (as long as you are in a 4G area). (3hrs)
Disable these things and you should get battery life that you hear others bragging about.
"Latitude" on my phone and others I've seen, does not update that often and really only constantly updates is when you have maps open. My wife and I both run latitude and have not noticed anymore of a battery drain than not running it.
sdrawkcab25 said:
"Latitude" on my phone and others I've seen, does not update that often and really only constantly updates is when you have maps open. My wife and I both run latitude and have not noticed anymore of a battery drain than not running it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine updates every few minutes on WM and Android. Turn on your history and you will see it updates hundreds of times a day. After my froyo update, I couldn't make it through the day. You might have location set to wifi or wireless, I probably should do that too, but I'd rather keep it active.
I subscribed to it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884684
i thought the whole idea of push was that it doesn't use data cause its a server side push instead of the phone polling at a set schedule
roghaj said:
Mine updates every few minutes on WM and Android. Turn on your history and you will see it updates hundreds of times a day. After my froyo update, I couldn't make it through the day. You might have location set to wifi or wireless, I probably should do that too, but I'd rather keep it active.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird, I have history on and the setting to update automatically, and still only updates only once every few hours on it's own. Maybe mine is "broken", but glad it is then. I'm on an htc Incredible.
If you are getting excessive drain while on wifi, check for unusual traffic on your network as the problem is probably not your phone and something else polling your device keeping it awake.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1087278
For me, the problem was HP's wireless printer software on one of my laptops.
I'm wondering if one of these 2 is a big sleep preventer:
1. "Background Data" (I used to think all you had to do was disable "Auto Sync" but when I uncheck "Background Data" I get a popup saying something about how I will save battery power if I agree to disable)
2. "Use Wireless Networks" (even if GPS is off).
I usually have been getting good results after unchecking a combo or both of these and sometimes I even have to reboot to get back to normal Epic sleep.
Hi,
when I am downloading a large file, my screen turns off after some time when I do nothing. So far so good. But when I resume to my Android I must see that the Wifi-connection was turned off, too - I think because of battery power saving.
But it was turned off during my file download, so I have to download it again and I have to keep my screen not to turn off by tapping on it periodically. That's what is annyoing me.
I recognized that the connection is not deactivated directly after the screen was turned off. It lasts some time (minutes?) then the wifi connection is turned off, too.
Is there a way to prevent the deacitivation of the wifi connection when the screen is turned off?
Thanks for your answers.
Yes,
Goto settings>wireless connections>wifi adjustments
There you should find an option for WiFi selection politics. Just choose not to never disconnect.
Cheers
Hmm, it is already set to "Never disconnect".
I think this setting is only useful when you want to switch automatically between mobile data (GPRS/UTMS) and WiFi.
lowlands said:
Hmm, it is already set to "Never disconnect".
I think this setting is only useful when you want to switch automatically between mobile data (GPRS/UTMS) and WiFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. That happens whether you want it or not if you have a wifi access.
Or I have a couple of busted phones at home that totally ignore this setting.
Tell your screen to never shut off, then change back.
Wifi used to turn off under standby on Windows Phone 7, which was the most stupidest feature in the whole OS I don't care what anyone says. Can anyone confirm if this is still present in WP8?
Since nobody got their hands on a device that's not even out yet, we can't answer that.
How can anyone confirm such a statement when the os isn't even out yet? (and some features may be still on the work, since the sdk isn't the final version yet?)
ammarmalik said:
Wifi used to turn off under standby on Windows Phone 7, which was the most stupidest feature in the whole OS I don't care what anyone says. Can anyone confirm if this is still present in WP8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is/are an app(s) for that!
Even if it is still present in WP8, you can always have an app to help you add this feature (like other OS always does!)
Hi,
It would be really great if you could let me know the name of any of the apps which helps in keeping the wifi on all the time.
I am not having a rooted handset so I cannot change the registry entries and would only be able to get an app which is already in the marketplace
shamreez said:
Hi,
It would be really great if you could let me know the name of any of the apps which helps in keeping the wifi on all the time.
I am not having a rooted handset so I cannot change the registry entries and would only be able to get an app which is already in the marketplace
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its called keep alive
it has a logo of a heart
look it up in the market place
FWIW, even though the Wifi is switched off when the screen is off, I believe the OS does switch on & off the wifi as and when it needs to (checking emails, receiving push notifications etc) without fully waking the phone (ie the display stays off)
I run an app that polls a local server every few hours to check for new items. The local IP 192.168.1.65, as it appears on the local network, is the IP it checks. Every morning when I check my phone, the live tile has been updated overnight. It can't have made contact with the server unless it was connecting via Wifi, so therefore the Wifi is indeed being used even when the screen is off.
Therefore, I have no use for Keepalive or any of these apps. I'm not sure why people need it?
There were some recent news which mentioned that Live apps (Don't ask) will most likely remain active, even with the screen locked.
Also, seems that enabling your app as a GPS app will most likely let your app. However, these are discussions and rumors.
Wifi does not get completely shut down when you lock the screen. It simply enters a power-saving mode, cause you won't actively need your connection while phone is locked.
You can check this in easy steps. Get an app that updates itself over internet everytime you run it (say a whether app) and lock the screen at the exact moment when the app goes past the loading screen. You if you press the power button, you will see wifi is active in the status bar.
If you lock it the usual way, while nobody needs wifi, you will see wifi gets turned off almost instantly.
What if you are downloading bunch of podcasts ? Will the podcast app keep the wi-fi on until it finishes ? Also.. skype (or any other chat program) needs to check for updates as well.
I am sure they've made it seamless..
If you are on Stock Motorola Lollipop 5.0.2, check your Battery History in System Settings - you may notice Wi-Fi is constantly active, even when you turn it off.
In my case, the following setting in Viber was the cause: Settings > General > Wi-Fi sleep policy > Change to 'Use device's settings'
Instructions:
Firstly, go to: Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced Wi-Fi > Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep > Change to 'Never.'
The issue appears to be that certain apps are keeping Wi-Fi active in Lollipop. Not every app may offer this setting related to 'sleep policy', a workaround is to use the App Settings Xposed Module - which allows you to disable such a permission for individual apps.
The permission can be known as: Change_Network_State.
After making these changes you may need to turn off Wi-Fi and restart phone.
Related: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=79368
Thanks . it solve my real problem.
i have question. If we have change Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep to 'Never.' Will programs like Whatsapp or Viber get the gcm notifications when phone is going to sleep?
Dizzyrul3z said:
i have question. If we have change Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep to 'Never.' Will programs like Whatsapp or Viber get the gcm notifications when phone is going to sleep?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true, when phone sleeps - there is no Wi-Fi data connection.
Rather than leaving Wi-Fi on however, some people might prefer the phone wakes up every 15 minutes / 30 minutes / 1 hour, and enables Wi-Fi for 1 minute - allowing any messages to arrive. Many apps can do this, one example is DS Battery Saver.
There is also an argument that if you use Wi-Fi a lot, it's better to leave Wi-Fi on during sleep, because excessively enabling and disabling it is costly in terms of battery-life.
I've been using stock Lollipop on XT1008(Moto G Forte, I read it was just a "commercial" variant of the XT1032).
As far as I can tell, my phone doesn't report high Wi-Fi usage, but I disabled an option that I think it´s more responsible than the one mentioned here, that's "Search Always Available", this one was turning on my wifi when I even shut it down, wasting more battery than keeping it on.
Currently, my phone has been on like 13 hours and has 13% left, with a WiFi usage around 85% of the time.
Thanks for making us aware of that option in Viber.
But even after disabling that option in Viber, in the battery graphic seems like wi-fi is always active. Is it because I will also need to set "Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep" to "never"? But if it's set to never, doesn't it mean that when phone screen is off, it automatically switches off wi-fi even if you kept it on from the toggle?
lollerblade said:
Thanks for making us aware of that option in Viber.
But even after disabling that option in Viber, in the battery graphic seems like wi-fi is always active. Is it because I will also need to set "Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep" to "never"? But if it's set to never, doesn't it mean that when phone screen is off, it automatically switches off wi-fi even if you kept it on from the toggle?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, 'never' means Wi-Fi is off when phone is sleeping. There is also the advance Wi-Fi option 'Scanning always available - which' you might want to disable.
Double check you have changed the setting in Viber, and you may need to reboot phone. It's also possible another app is causing Wi-Fi to always be active, for some it's Whatsapp.
lost101 said:
Yes, 'never' means Wi-Fi is off when phone is sleeping. There is also the advance Wi-Fi option 'Scanning always available - which' you might want to disable.
Double check you have changed the setting in Viber, and you may need to reboot phone. It's also possible another app is causing Wi-Fi to always be active, for some it's Whatsapp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so that option works as I thought, so for correctly receiving notifications with screen off it should be set on "always". I double checked on Viber's option and it's set correctly, then rebooted, plus scanning always available is off, geolocation (which can keep wi-fi on) is off and apparently there are no things that can keep wi-fi on.
Whatsapp does not allow to set wi-fi behavior, and the strange thing is that I have the same apps I had on Kitkat, where I didn't have such problem of viewing in battery graphic.
I am having the doubt if this may be only a Lollipop graphic issue or if wi-fi actually stays on...
lollerblade said:
Whatsapp does not allow to set wi-fi behavior, and the strange thing is that I have the same apps I had on Kitkat, where I didn't have such problem of viewing in battery graphic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I mention the 'App Settings' module in OP. I believe Whatsapp can and does cause this issue - there is just no setting within the app itself. You can check what permissions apps have by using 'App Settings.'
lost101 said:
That's why I mention the 'App Settings' module in OP. I believe Whatsapp can and does cause this issue. You can check what permissions apps have by using 'App Settings.'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm yes I saw that...but I'm guessing that without root there's nothing else to do, right?
lollerblade said:
Mmm yes I saw that...but I'm guessing that without root there's nothing else to do, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Root would be necessary for changing permissions. However this issue may have been resolved in Android 5.1 - removing the need for this fix.
Wifi should be lefy alone as default to "never sleep"
Wifi should never sleep, even if the phone's cpu sleeps. Wifi will receive messages from whatsapp or whatever and wake up the cpu.
But if you put wifi chip to sleep, the phone will connect using 2g or worse, 3g or HSPA, and drain even more battery.
Wifi comes by default to "never sleep" for this reason, it is more battery efficient than 2g/3g.
And if you dont have wifi at home, all you have to do is slide down the menu and turn of Wifi. No need to change internal configuration on behaviour who only make things worse.
On the other hand, Viber is known for years to be a battery abuser.
I have been using android for years, and wifi policy was always the same, and my phones have idle times of several days
i even published some screen shots of my moto defy and moto G with a full week Idle without charging.with whatsapp and Wifi polocy never sleep.. With viber i wouldnt even try to make it last 2 days.