Use mock location without setting it in settings

问题:

I am writing an App which makes use of the location mocking possibility in android.

What I would like to achive is to mock my location without setting the "allow mock locations" flag in the developer options.

I know that it is possible, because is works with this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexa.fakegps&hl=en

What I tried:

Generate an apk, move it to /system/app, do a reboot
And I also tried it with and without the ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION permission in the manifest.

But it all lead to this exception:
RuntimeException: Unable to start Activity: SecurityException: Requires ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION secure setting

回答1:

I have decompiled com.lexa.fakegps you mentioned in question, and what it do like this:

private int setMockLocationSettings() {
    int value = 1;
    try {
        value = Settings.Secure.getInt(getContentResolver(),
                Settings.Secure.ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION);
        Settings.Secure.putInt(getContentResolver(),
                Settings.Secure.ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION, 1);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
    return value;
}

private void restoreMockLocationSettings(int restore_value) {
    try {
        Settings.Secure.putInt(getContentResolver(),
                Settings.Secure.ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION, restore_value);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

/* every time you mock location, you should use these code */
int value = setMockLocationSettings();//toggle ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION on
try {
    mLocationManager.setTestProviderLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, fake_location);
} catch (SecurityException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
    restoreMockLocationSettings(value);//toggle ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION off
}

Because the execution time of these code is very short, other apps can hardly detect the change of ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION.

Also you need,
1. require root access to your device
2. move your app to /system/app or /system/priv-app

I tried it in my project and it works fine.

回答2:

You would require root access to your device to do that.

回答3:

Try this http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.brandonnalls.mockmocklocations

Some apps won't let you use them if "Allow mock locations" is turned on, even if you aren't mocking your location. This helps prevent apps from detecting that "Allow mock locations" is turned on.