How can I enable or disable the GPS programmatical

Question

I know that the question about turning on/off GPS programatically on android has been discussed many times, and the answer is always the same:

"You can't for security/privacy reasons, you have to forward to location preferences screen and let the user enable/disable it."

I understand that, however I recently bought Tasker from the market and, among many other things that you can accomplish with it, you can set rules to auto-enable GPS on entering pre-determined applications and disable it on exit (see here for the tutorial on how to do it, and it just works!) and this app can't be signed with the firmware signing key as it works on many android versions and different devices and you don't even need to be rooted.

I would like to do this in my app. Of course, I don't want to blow up the users privacy, so I would first ask the user if he wants to turn it on automatically with the typical "remember my decision" checkbox and if he answers yes, enable it.

Does anybody have any idea or clue on how Tasker achieves this?

Answer 1

This code works on ROOTED phones:

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        String[] cmds = {"cd /system/bin" ,"settings put secure location_providers_allowed +gps"};
        try {
            Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su");
            DataOutputStream os = new DataOutputStream(p.getOutputStream());
            for (String tmpCmd : cmds) {
                os.writeBytes(tmpCmd + "\n");
            }
            os.writeBytes("exit\n");
            os.flush();
        }
        catch (IOException e){
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

For turning off GPS you can use this command instead

settings put secure location_providers_allowed -gps

You can also toggle network accuracy using the following commands: for turning on use:

settings put secure location_providers_allowed +network

and for turning off you can use:

settings put secure location_providers_allowed -network

Answer 2

All these answers are not allowed now. Here is the correct one:

For all those still looking for the Answer:

Here is how OLA Cabs and other such apps are doing it.

Add this in your onCreate

if (googleApiClient == null) {
    googleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this)
            .addApi(LocationServices.API).addConnectionCallbacks(this)
            .addOnConnectionFailedListener(Login.this).build();
    googleApiClient.connect();
            LocationRequest locationRequest = LocationRequest.create();
    locationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
    locationRequest.setInterval(30 * 1000);
    locationRequest.setFastestInterval(5 * 1000);
    LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest.Builder()
            .addLocationRequest(locationRequest);

    // **************************
    builder.setAlwaysShow(true); // this is the key ingredient
    // **************************

    PendingResult<LocationSettingsResult> result = LocationServices.SettingsApi
            .checkLocationSettings(googleApiClient, builder.build());
    result.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<LocationSettingsResult>() {
        @Override
        public void onResult(LocationSettingsResult result) {
            final Status status = result.getStatus();
            final LocationSettingsStates state = result
                    .getLocationSettingsStates();
            switch (status.getStatusCode()) {
            case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SUCCESS:
                // All location settings are satisfied. The client can
                // initialize location
                // requests here.
                break;
            case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.RESOLUTION_REQUIRED:
                // Location settings are not satisfied. But could be
                // fixed by showing the user
                // a dialog.
                try {
                    // Show the dialog by calling
                    // startResolutionForResult(),
                    // and check the result in onActivityResult().
                    status.startResolutionForResult(Login.this, 1000);
                } catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
                    // Ignore the error.
                }
                break;
            case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SETTINGS_CHANGE_UNAVAILABLE:
                // Location settings are not satisfied. However, we have
                // no way to fix the
                // settings so we won't show the dialog.
                break;
            }
        }
    });
}

These are the implmented methods:

@Override
public void onConnected(Bundle arg0) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

@Override
public void onConnectionSuspended(int arg0) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

@Override
public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult arg0) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

Here is the Android Documentation for the same.

This is to help other guys if they are still struggling:

Edit: Adding Irfan Raza's comment for more help.

@Override protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
     if (requestCode == 1000) {
         if(resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK){
             String result=data.getStringExtra("result"); 
         } if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_CANCELED) {
             //Write your code if there's no result 
         } 
    } 
} 

Answer 3

Instead of using intent Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS you can directly able to show pop up in your app like Google Map & on Gps on click of ok button their is no need to redirect to setting simply you need to use my code as

Note : This line of code automatic open the dialog box if Location is not on. This piece of line is used in Google Map also

 public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity
    implements GoogleApiClient.ConnectionCallbacks,
    GoogleApiClient.OnConnectionFailedListener {


LocationRequest mLocationRequest;
GoogleApiClient mGoogleApiClient;
PendingResult<LocationSettingsResult> result;
final static int REQUEST_LOCATION = 199;

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    mGoogleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this)
            .addApi(LocationServices.API)
            .addConnectionCallbacks(this)
            .addOnConnectionFailedListener(this).build();
    mGoogleApiClient.connect();

}

@Override
public void onConnected(Bundle bundle) {

    mLocationRequest = LocationRequest.create();
    mLocationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
    mLocationRequest.setInterval(30 * 1000);
    mLocationRequest.setFastestInterval(5 * 1000);

    LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest.Builder()
            .addLocationRequest(mLocationRequest);
    builder.setAlwaysShow(true);

    result = LocationServices.SettingsApi.checkLocationSettings(mGoogleApiClient, builder.build());

    result.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<LocationSettingsResult>() {
        @Override
        public void onResult(LocationSettingsResult result) {
            final Status status = result.getStatus();
            //final LocationSettingsStates state = result.getLocationSettingsStates();
            switch (status.getStatusCode()) {
                case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SUCCESS:
                    // All location settings are satisfied. The client can initialize location
                    // requests here.
                    //...
                    break;
                case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.RESOLUTION_REQUIRED:
                    // Location settings are not satisfied. But could be fixed by showing the user
                    // a dialog.
                    try {
                        // Show the dialog by calling startResolutionForResult(),
                        // and check the result in onActivityResult().
                        status.startResolutionForResult(
                                MainActivity.this,
                                REQUEST_LOCATION);
                    } catch (SendIntentException e) {
                        // Ignore the error.
                    }
                    break;
                case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SETTINGS_CHANGE_UNAVAILABLE:
                    // Location settings are not satisfied. However, we have no way to fix the
                    // settings so we won't show the dialog.
                    //...
                    break;
            }
        }
    });

}

@Override
public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data)
{
    Log.d("onActivityResult()", Integer.toString(resultCode));

    //final LocationSettingsStates states = LocationSettingsStates.fromIntent(data);
    switch (requestCode)
    {
        case REQUEST_LOCATION:
            switch (resultCode)
            {
                case Activity.RESULT_OK:
                {
                    // All required changes were successfully made
                    Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Location enabled by user!", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
                    break;
                }
                case Activity.RESULT_CANCELED:
                {
                    // The user was asked to change settings, but chose not to
                    Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Location not enabled, user cancelled.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
                    break;
                }
                default:
                {
                    break;
                }
            }
            break;
    }
}

@Override
public void onConnectionSuspended(int i) {

}

@Override
public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult connectionResult) {

}

}

Note : This line of code automatic open the dialog box if Location is not on. This piece of line is used in Google Map also

Answer 4

You just need to remove the LocationListener from LocationManager

manager.removeUpdates(listener);

Answer 5

An answer was developed in another question, but it was closed, and I'd like the community to try it out as well.

boolean gpsStatus = locmanager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
if (!gpsStatus) {
    Settings.Secure.putString(getContentResolver(), Settings.Secure.LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED, "network,gps");
}

See this comment

This solution would require the WRITE_SETTINGS and WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permissions.

Answer 6

This is the best solution provided by Google Developers. Simply call this method in onResume of onCreate after initializing GoogleApiClient.

private void updateMarkers() {
    if (mMap == null) {
        return;
    }

    if (mLocationPermissionGranted) {
        // Get the businesses and other points of interest located
        // nearest to the device's current location.
         mGoogleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this)
                .addApi(LocationServices.API).build();
        mGoogleApiClient.connect();
        LocationRequest locationRequest = LocationRequest.create();
        locationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
        locationRequest.setInterval(10000);
        locationRequest.setFastestInterval(10000 / 2);

        LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest.Builder().addLocationRequest(locationRequest);
        builder.setAlwaysShow(true);


        LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest
                .Builder()
                .addLocationRequest(mLocationRequest);
        PendingResult<LocationSettingsResult> resultPendingResult = LocationServices
                .SettingsApi
                .checkLocationSettings(mGoogleApiClient, builder.build());

        resultPendingResult.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<LocationSettingsResult>() {
            @Override
            public void onResult(@NonNull LocationSettingsResult locationSettingsResult) {
                final Status status = locationSettingsResult.getStatus();
                final LocationSettingsStates locationSettingsStates = locationSettingsResult.getLocationSettingsStates();
                switch (status.getStatusCode()) {
                    case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SUCCESS:
                        // All location settings are satisfied. The client can
                        // initialize location requests here.

                        break;
                    case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.RESOLUTION_REQUIRED:
                        // Location settings are not satisfied, but this can be fixed
                        // by showing the user a dialog.


                        try {
                            // Show the dialog by calling startResolutionForResult(),
                            // and check the result in onActivityResult().
                            status.startResolutionForResult(
                                    MainActivity.this,
                                    PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION);
                        } catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
                            // Ignore the error.


                        }
                        break;
                    case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SETTINGS_CHANGE_UNAVAILABLE:
                        // Location settings are not satisfied. However, we have no way
                        // to fix the settings so we won't show the dialog.


                        break;
                }

            }
        });


        @SuppressWarnings("MissingPermission")
        PendingResult<PlaceLikelihoodBuffer> result = Places.PlaceDetectionApi
                .getCurrentPlace(mGoogleApiClient, null);
        result.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<PlaceLikelihoodBuffer>() {
            @Override
            public void onResult(@NonNull PlaceLikelihoodBuffer likelyPlaces) {
                for (PlaceLikelihood placeLikelihood : likelyPlaces) {
                    // Add a marker for each place near the device's current location, with an
                    // info window showing place information.
                    String attributions = (String) placeLikelihood.getPlace().getAttributions();
                    String snippet = (String) placeLikelihood.getPlace().getAddress();
                    if (attributions != null) {
                        snippet = snippet + "\n" + attributions;
                    }

                    mMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
                            .position(placeLikelihood.getPlace().getLatLng())
                            .title((String) placeLikelihood.getPlace().getName())
                            .snippet(snippet));
                }
                // Release the place likelihood buffer.
                likelyPlaces.release();
            }
        });
    } else {
        mMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
                .position(mDefaultLocation)
                .title(getString(R.string.default_info_title))
                .snippet(getString(R.string.default_info_snippet)));
    }
}

Note : This line of code automatic open the dialog box if Location is not on. This piece of line is used in Google Map also

 status.startResolutionForResult(
 MainActivity.this,
 PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION);