[Android] How do I improve location accuracy?

If you have an Android device and your location is not updating please follow the below steps. 

Also, if your friends' location is not updating on your device and they have an Android device, please refer them to this page.  

🗺️Check the location settings on the device.

Many different settings on your Android device can impact your location accuracy. Please check the following settings.

Enable Location Services (GPS)

iSharing will not be able to detect your location if location services are turned off. Check that location services are on by the following:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Touch and turn on "Location"

Turn on Google Location Accuracy

Android 12 & higher

1. Enter Settings
2. Tap Location
3. Tap Location Services
4. Tap Google Location Accuracy
5. Turn Improve Location Accuracy on

Android 11 & lower

1. Enter Settings
2. Tap Location
3. Tap Advanced
4. Tap Google Location Accuracy
5. Turn Improve Location Accuracy on

Give Location Access Permission to iSharing

General (e.g. Nexus, Pixel) 

Android 10+

• Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > iSharing > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time.

Android ~9

• Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > iSharing > Permissions > Location > enable

Samsung

Android 12+

• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time & Use precise location.

Android 10 & 11

• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time.

Android ~9

• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Permissions > Location > enable

🌐Make sure the Internet connection is active.

Since iSharing updates your location via data and WiFi, your device should always be connected to the internet to ensure continuous location detection.

Leave WiFi turned on 

WiFi should be turned on regardless of whether you're connected to a WiFi network. Nearby signals are used to detect your location even more precisely.

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Touch and turn on "WiFi"

Turn on WiFi and Bluetooth Scanning

Android 12 & higher

1. Enter Settings
2. Tap Location
3. Tap Location Services
4. Under Improve Accuracy, turn Wi-Fi Scanning and Bluetooth Scanning on

Android 11 & lower

1. Enter Settings
2. Tap Location
3. Tap Advanced
4. Under Improve Accuracy, turn Wi-Fi Scanning and Bluetooth Scanning on

Enable Mobile Data Usage

General (e.g. Nexus, Pixel, LG..) 

• Settings > Network & internet > Mobile network > Mobile data > ON

Samsung 

• Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data > ON

Huawei

• Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile network > Mobile data > ON

Xiaomi

• Settings > Sim cards & mobile networks > Mobile data > ON

Disable Data Saver / Data Restriction

General (e.g. Nexus, Pixel, LG..) 

• Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Use Data Saver > OFF 
  • or Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Unrestricted data > iSharing > ON (an option for users who want to turn on data saver)

Samsung

• Settings > Connections > Data usage > Data saver > OFF
  • or Settings > > Connections > Data usage > Data saver > Allow app while Data saver on > iSharing > ON (an option for users who want to turn on data saver)

Huawei

• Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile data > Data saver > OFF

Xiaomi

• Settings > Sim cards & mobile networks >  Data enabled > ON

🔋Turn off Battery Saver and/or Battery Optimizations  

Android devices now have a battery optimization mode that essentially puts apps to sleep if you haven't engaged with the specific app in a while. Please make sure that iSharing is excluded from this battery optimization, as it can significantly impact real-time location updates.

General Android (e.g. Nexus, Pixel, LG..)

Android 12+

• Settings > Apps & notifications > iSharing > Battery > Unrestricted

Android 11

• Settings > Apps & notifications > Special app access > Battery optimization > change “Not optimized” to “All apps” > iSharing > Don’t optimize

Android 9 and 10

• Settings > Battery > Battery Saver > Turn off now
• Settings > Battery > Battery usage (top right) > iSharing > Battery optimization > Background restriction > Remove restriction (if applicable) 

Android 8 and below

• Settings > Battery > Battery Saver > Off / Never turn on automatically 
• Settings > Battery > Battery optimization (top right) > iSharing > Don’t optimize

Samsung

Android 12+

• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Battery > Unrestricted

Android 11

• Settings > Apps > top-right menu > Special access > Optimize battery usage > change “Apps not optimized” to “All” > turn off for iSharing
• Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Power saving mode off
• Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits > Sleeping apps > Remove iSharing if added
• Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits > Deep sleeping apps > Remove iSharing if added
• Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits > Apps slated for deep sleep > check > Remove iSharing if added
• Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits > Never sleeping apps > Add iSharing

Android 10

• Settings > Device care > Battery > App power management > Sleeping apps > Remove iSharing if added
• Settings > Device care > Battery > App power management > Deep Sleeping apps > Remove iSharing if added
• Settings > Device care > Battery > App power management > Apps that won't be put to sleep > Add iSharing

Android 9

• Settings > Device care > Battery > Power mode > Optimized
• Settings > Device care > Auto optimization (top right) > OFF 
• Settings > Device care > Battery > Settings(Top right) > Sleeping apps > Remove iSharing if added

Android 7 and 8

• Settings > Device maintenance > Battery > Power saving mode > OFF
• Settings > Device maintenance > Battery > Unmonitored apps > Add apps > iSharing > Done

Android 6

• Settings > Battery > Detail > iSharing > App power saving: Turned off

Android 5

• Battery > App optimisation: Detail > ON / iSharing > Disabled

Huawei

Android 7 and 8

• Settings > Battery > Power saving mode > OFF
• Settings > Battery > Close apps after screen lock > iSharing: OFF
• Settings > Battery > Optimize > XX apps are running when the screen is off, close to save battery power > iSharing > Close after screen locked: OFF
• Settings > Battery > Optimize > XX apps are running when the screen is off, close to save battery power > iSharing > Close after screen locked: OFF
• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Battery > Close after screen locked: OFF
• Settings > Mobile data > Data saver > iSharing: ON

Android 6

• Settings > Advanced Settings > Battery Manager > Protected apps > iSharing: ON
• Settings > Apps > iSharing > Batterie > Keep running after screen off: ON

Sony

Android 7 and 8

• STAMINA > STAMINA level > Balanced power saving OR Device performance preferred
• OR you can access the STAMINA settings from 'Battery'
• Ultra STAMINA mode should not be activated

Xiaomi

Android 10

• Battery & performance > Battery saver > OFF
• Battery & performance > Ultra battery saver > OFF
• Battery & performance > right upper corner settings > App battery saver > iSharing > No restrictions

Android 9

• Battery & performance > Battery saver > OFF
• Battery & performance > App battery saver > iSharing > No restrictions

Android 8 and below

• Additional settings > Battery & performance > Manage apps battery usage > Choose apps > iSharing > Background settings: no restrictions + Background location: Allow 
• OR Power saving mode: Standard or OFF
• Security > Permissions > Autostart > iSharing: ON
• Task management > Lock the app, prevent iSharing being killed by cleanup background tasks.

Asus

• Auto-start Manager > Enable iSharing

OPPO

• Security Center > Privacy Permissions > Startup manager and allow "iSharing" to run in the background.
• Auto-start Manager > Enable iSharing

⚙️Check other device settings

Check Google Play Services is up to date

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps & notifications See all apps
   • Or, Apps
3. Scroll down and tap Google Play Services.
4. Scroll down and tap App Details.
5. Tap Update or Install.

Check 3rd party auto-clean application

Some third-party auto-cleanup applications can prevent iSharing from running. If you have downloaded any cache-cleaning or memory-cleaning apps. please verify that iSharing is exempt.

Ensure that iSharing is allowed to auto-start 

Some devices have settings that exclude some applications from starting. The most common phones to have these applications are Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo.

🔨Reboot iSharing

In certain cases, simply rebooting the app can help refresh your phone's connection to the internet and our servers.

• Turn your phone off and then back on.
• If the issue continues, try deleting the app and re-download it.