Android location access: User cannot choose "Allow all the time"

[speckro]

First I want to thank you for providing this plugin!

Environment

Android API level 29

Context

When the user is asked how the device is allowed to access the location, no option "Allow all the time" is shown.

Expected Behavior

The following location access options should be shown to the user:

• Allow all the time
• Allow only while using the app
• Deny & don't ask again

Actual Behavior

The following location access options are currently shown to the user:

• Allow only while using the app
• Deny
• Deny & don't ask again

Possible Fix

Update array PERMISSIONS inside file BackgroundGeolocationFacade.java

public static final String[] PERMISSIONS = {
        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,
        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
        Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
        
};

Also see Android docs. "If your app targets Android 10 or higher, you must declare the ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION permission ...".

Steps to Reproduce

Use plugin with Android API level 29 and check location access dialog.

[spinninghamster]

Yes, that appears to be the fix. See:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61909313/allow-all-the-time-location-prompt-not-coming-in-android-sdk-29

[DominikMair]

The possible correction of speckro in combination with the comment of spinninghamster solved the problem for us. However, it only worked for Android 10. Android <= 9 also requested permission, but can no longer start the background process. EDIT: After applying the fix of speckro the backgroundgeolocation plugin throws following after giving permissions on Android 9:
I/com.marianhello.bgloc.BackgroundGeolocationFacade: User denied requested permissions
I think the plugin now checks for the ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION although it is not present on Android 9.

[spinninghamster]

The possible correction of speckro in combination with the comment of spinninghamster solved the problem for us. However, it only worked for Android 10. Android <= 9 also requested permission, but can no longer start the background process. EDIT: After applying the fix of speckro the backgroundgeolocation plugin throws following after giving permissions on Android 9:
I/com.marianhello.bgloc.BackgroundGeolocationFacade: User denied requested permissions
I think the plugin now checks for the ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION although it is not present on Android 9.

What if you target API level 28 instead of 29?

[DominikMair]

The problem remained the same. However we were able to resolve the issue by adding following lines inside of BackgroundGeolocationFacade.java :

       public static final String[] PERMISSIONS10 = {
                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,
                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
        };
        private String[] PERMISSIONSNEW = PERMISSIONS; 

... and by changing the public void start() function in the same file to :

public void start() {
        if(android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT <= Build.VERSION_CODES.P) {
            PERMISSIONSNEW = PERMISSIONS;
        }else {
            PERMISSIONSNEW = PERMISSIONS10;
        }
            logger.debug("Starting service");
        PermissionManager permissionManager = PermissionManager.getInstance(getContext());
        permissionManager.checkPermissions(Arrays.asList(PERMISSIONSNEW), new PermissionManager.PermissionRequestListener() {
            @Override
            public void onPermissionGranted() {
                logger.info("User granted requested permissions");
                // watch location mode changes
                registerLocationModeChangeReceiver();
                registerServiceBroadcast();
                startBackgroundService();
            }

            @Override
            public void onPermissionDenied() {
                logger.info("User denied requested permissions");
                if (mDelegate != null) {
                    mDelegate.onAuthorizationChanged(BackgroundGeolocationFacade.AUTHORIZATION_DENIED);
                }
            }
        });
    }

We also added following in the AndroidManifest.xml file:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION" />

[dabaaaz]

Hi guys,

thanks for that fix !

But now I have the notification "Background Tracking ENABLED" which is always there, like #699

Do you know how to clear it ?

[CoooWeee]

Hi Guys,

thanks too. It also fixed it for me.

@dabaaaz If I "swipe" my app (close complete). My notification disappears (if stopOnTerminate: true).

Cheers

[HarelM]

There's also the service type that this docs describe:
https://developer.android.com/training/location/permissions
Have any of you implemented the type=location thing?

[HarelM]

@DominikMair do you have a fork with your fix by any chance?
Also API level 29 is now required for new apps so this fix is mandatory I guess...

[HarelM]

Sent a PR, I hope it will be merged...
mauron85/background-geolocation-android#58

[OstapBO]

@DominikMair thanks for your fix. Work as I expected

[dabaaaz]

@OstapBO @DominikMair does this code still working fine ?
I mean, does the app a wake up when the user is walking/driving ?!

[HarelM]

After deeply looking into this subject and looking for info I found this great lecture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7zwfTwrDEs&feature=youtu.be
I'm using the plugin in service foreground mode so I basically don't really need the allow all the time.
Having said that, I probably need the location type to one of the services.
I'm guessing that this is the relevant service:

<service android:enabled="true" android:exported="false" android:name="com.marianhello.bgloc.service.LocationServiceImpl"/>

I still don't have most of the answers as this still requires testing...