[Question]: Background location has gaps - how to configure?

[rossrossp]

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Your question

Hello everyone,

I have set up background location tracking by following the instructions, but I am noticing some gaps between positions that I would not expect (see below screenshots).

This is with "Always" permissions enabled, and battery optimisation set to unrestricted for the app.

I believe I see more gaps within journeys by car/train, but I have seen one gap whilst the app is stationary.

Here are some relevant settings:

AndroidManifest.xml:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

tracking_page.dart:

void _startStopTracking() {
    _positionSubscription?.cancel();
    if (!_isTracking) {
      _positionSubscription = getPositionStream().listen((Position position) {
        _addPosition(position);
      });
    }
   
    setState(() {
      _isTracking = !_isTracking;
    });
  }

Stream<Position> getPositionStream() {
  late LocationSettings locationSettings = LocationSettings(
    accuracy: LocationAccuracy.high,
    distanceFilter: 1,
  );

  if (Platform.isAndroid) {
    locationSettings = AndroidSettings(
      accuracy: LocationAccuracy.high,
      distanceFilter: 1,
      foregroundNotificationConfig: const ForegroundNotificationConfig(
        notificationText:
            "The app will continue to receive your location even when you aren't using it",
        notificationTitle: "Running in Background",
        enableWakeLock: true,
      ),
    );
  }
  return Geolocator.getPositionStream(locationSettings: locationSettings);
}

The foreground notification is showing, as seen here:

Having said that, I have seen that just because the notification is showing it doesn't mean that a foreground service is running - is geolocator explicitly running a foreground service?

In general, can you see anything obvious here that would cause there to be gaps in positional data whilst the app is in the background? Or anything you'd suggest?

Version

14.0.0

[TimHoogstrate]

Hi @rossrossp,

I don't know if it helps but can you perhaps add the forceAndroidLocationManager to true in the following settings?

if (Platform.isAndroid) {
    locationSettings = AndroidSettings(
      accuracy: LocationAccuracy.high,
      distanceFilter: 1,
      foregroundNotificationConfig: const ForegroundNotificationConfig(
        notificationText:
            "The app will continue to receive your location even when you aren't using it",
        notificationTitle: "Running in Background",
        enableWakeLock: true,
      ),
    );
  }

Let's see if that makes a difference.

Kind regards,