With the latest release of Android called Marshmallow,Starting a Bluetooth Low Energy scan requires permission from Location group.
As a result of that one of the following permissions are required:
ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Any reason why we need to switch on GPS
for BLE
scan?
BLE beacons can be used to get location information using nothing more than the BLE broadcast UUID data and an internet connection (e.g. iBeacon, AltBeacon etc.) Since this is possible and the data can be acquired via scan, a permission for location is required. In reality, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
is the required level in order to get NetworkProvider
level of permission. By using, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
you get NetworkProvider
as well as GPS.
Bluetooth permissions let you scan beacons in the foreground without location permissions, but for background scanning you will need location permissions turned on.
if you are adding this permissions
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN" />
then
you will have to use this permission also
<uses-permission
android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION”/>
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location.gps" />
see developer guide here