Battery optimization is a feature present in recent Android devices to help preserve the device's battery throughout the day. While this may be advantageous for general use, it can affect the performance of mobile apps, such as ExakTime Mobile and GeoTrakker. GeoTrakker functions ideally with ExakTime Mobile running in the foreground or the background constantly. Battery optimization hinders GeoTrakker by automatically suspending or closing ExakTime Mobile in the background to preserve the battery. Once suspended or closed, GeoTrakker will not function properly.
Before disabling/adjusting any of the battery settings below, keep in mind that it may affect the overall battery life of the device as apps can run in the background.
As Android devices can be customized by the manufacturer and offer varying versions, the steps to whitelist ExakTime Mobile from battery optimization can differ. We will try to provide generalized steps below and more precise steps where we can.
Table of Contents
What Version of Android?
As the battery optimization settings can differ between different versions, it is best to confirm what version of Android you are currently using. If you are unsure what version of Android you are using, they are usually found in the Settings menu of your device. We have provided some general steps below, but your device may be slightly different.
- Go to Settings.
- Look for and press About Phone, then press Software Information.
- Look for the Android version number.
Samsung
Samsung devices have some of the most aggressive built-in battery monitors hat can auto-close/sleep apps it sees as using too much battery when not being directly used. Any employee(s) that is using a Samsung device can follow these steps to whitelist the Exaktime Mobile app from these battery-saving settings to see if that will remedy any issues.
These suggested changes do not guarantee perfect reliability due to hidden or forced options from Samsung, but an attempt to increase the reliablity as much as we can.
Keep App Open
To help prevent closing ExakTime Mobile from the Recent Apps screen, you can set one app to be kept "Open" and make it harder to accidentally close.
- Open ExakTime Mobile.
- Go to your Recent Apps menu and look for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press the ExakTime Mobile icon and press Keep Open. A lock icon will appear on the ExakTime Mobile app in the recent apps menu.
Disable Memory/Battery Guardian
Memory and Battery Guardian are special apps offered by Samsung through their Good Guardian app which allows more control over memory and battery usage. If you are using either of these apps, you may need to consider disabling or whitelisting 'ExakTime Mobile', if possible, to not be closed or suspended.
Retain Permissions if App is Unused
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile.
- Disable 'Remove permission if app is unused'
Optimize Battery Usage
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press Battery.
- Press Unrestricted.
Disable "Put Unused Apps to Sleep"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Device care.
- Press Battery.
- Press Background usage limits.
- Disable "Put unused apps to sleep".
"Lock/Pin" the App
To help prevent closing ExakTime Mobile from the Recent Apps screen, you can set the app to be kept "Open" and make it harder to accidentally close.
- Open ExakTime Mobile.
- Go to your Recent Apps menu and look for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press the ExakTime Mobile icon and press Keep Open. A lock icon will appear on the ExakTime Mobile app in the recent apps menu. Only one app can be kept open. If "Keep Open" is grayed out, you will need to stop keeping another app open.
Optimize Battery Usage
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press Battery.
- Press Unrestricted.
Disable "Adaptive Battery"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery and device care.
- Press Battery.
- Press More battery settings.
- Disable "Adaptive battery".
Disable "Put Unused Apps to Sleep"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery and device care.
- Press Battery.
- Press Background usage limits.
- Disable "Put unused apps to sleep".
"Lock/Pin" the App
To help prevent closing ExakTime Mobile from the Recent Apps screen, you can set the app to be kept "Open" and make it harder to accidentally close.
- Open ExakTime Mobile.
- Go to your Recent Apps menu and look for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press the ExakTime Mobile icon and press Keep Open. A lock icon will appear on the ExakTime Mobile app in the recent apps menu. Only one app can be kept open. If "Keep Open" is grayed out, you will need to stop keeping another app open.
Optimize Battery Usage (1)
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile.
- Press Battery.
- Press Optimize battery usage.
- Press Apps not optimized from the top of the app and switch to All.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile and disable it.
Optimize Battery Usage (2)
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Press the three dots in the top-right and press Special Access.
- Press Optimize battery usage.
- Press Apps not optimized from the top of the app and switch to All.
- Search for ExakTime Mobile and disable it.
Disable "Auto Optimization"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery and device care.
- Press the three dots in the top-right and press Automation or Advanced. This can differ depending on the most recent update the phone received.
- Disable "Auto optimize daily" and "Adaptive power saving" or "Auto optimization" and "Optimize settings". This can differ depending on the most recent update the phone received.
Disable "Adaptive Battery"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery and device care.
- Press Battery.
- Press More battery settings.
- Disable "Adaptive battery".
Disable "Put Unused Apps to Sleep"
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery and device care.
- Press Battery.
- Press Background usage limits.
- Disable "Put unused apps to sleep".
Optimize Battery Usage
- Go to Settings.
- Press Apps.
- Search for and press ExakTime Mobile.
- Press Optimize battery usage.
- Switch from Apps not optimized to All.
- Set ExakTime Mobile to not be optimized.
Sleeping Apps
- Go to Settings.
- Press Device care.
- Press Battery.
- Go to App power management.
- Disable "Put unused apps to sleep".
- Go to Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps and remove ExakTime Mobile, if listed.
- Go to Apps that won't be put to sleep and add ExakTime Mobile.
Additional Notes
- Some of the above settings can be re-enabled, disabled, and/or reset after updating the firmware of your Samsung device. In the event of these firmware updates, it is best for you and/or your employees to double-check the settings again so ExakTime Mobile and GeoTrakker can function as expected.
- Samsung phones may have notifications throughout the day asking users to "Optimize" an app. Optimizing the app can affect how it works in the background and put apps to sleep.
- Data Saver on Samsung phones can prevent ExakTime Mobile from transmitting data in the background.
- Go to Settings.
- Press Connections.
- Press Data saver.
- Disable Data saver or allow ExakTime Mobile to use data while Data saver is turned on.
Other and/or Older Android Devices (Pixel, Motorola, etc.)
Android Version 9+
Battery Optimization
- Go to the Settings menu and press Apps & Notifications.
- Look for ExakTime Mobile in the apps list and press it.
- Press Advanced to show more options.
- Press the Battery option.
- Under Battery Optimization, if it says "Optimizing Battery Use," press Battery Optimization.
- Near the top will be a drop-down menu. Press the menu to switch from Not Optimized to All Apps.
- Find the ExakTime Mobile to whitelist, press it and choose Don't Optimize.
Adaptive Battery
For recent Android devices, Google has introduced "Adaptive Battery" so it can be a baseline battery saver function of a majority of Android devices. This is similar to Samsung's battery monitor as it will learn how apps are being used and put them to sleep/stop sending data automatically.
To disable "Adaptive Battery" you will:
- Go to Settings.
- Press Battery.
- Press Adaptive preferences.
- Turn off Adaptive Battery.
Android Version 8
- Go to the Settings menu and press Battery.
- Press the Menu icon symbol in the top right corner and press Battery optimization.
- Near the stop will be a drop-down menu. Press the menu to switch from Not Optimized to All Apps.
- Find the ExakTime Mobile to whitelist, press it and choose Don't Optimize.