Android version: how to keep tracking when phone screen off

[flpaoli]

I've been testing OpenCPN on my PC and Android phone and tablets. Very impressed with the overall product.

There is one thing I haven't figured out: when I turn on tracking, it works fine, except when I turn the screen off. If the phone turns the screen off because nobody touched it for a while, or if I press the power button to turn the screen off, then tracking stops recording, only to continue tracking when phone unlocked again and app is opened.

Is there a way to keep OpenCPN running and tracking when screen off? Or when another app in use?

I'm using Dave Register's version from the Google Play Store.

Thanks

[nohal]

Ope the OpenCPN settings from the application menu in the upper right corner and check the "Do not sleep" option is active, it instructs Android that the application needs to be active even when the device is not being actively used.

[flpaoli]

Went out today to sail, and tried it out.


On my phone, an Android 13 (Samsung S20), it ensured the phone wouldn't sleep while OpenCPN was tracking, but, if I turned the screen off, or changed to another app and forgot to go back to OpenCPN, the tracking paused.


When I got back to OpenCPN the tracking continued, but a straight line was drawn from the last point before I turned the screen off or switched to another app to my location.


So clearly it wasn't recording in the background.


Wonder if there is something I need to do in app privileges. Will research that later when I have some time.

[flpaoli]

Yeah, looking at the app permissions it only asks for precise location tracking when on the foreground.


So I do need to keep the screen on and the app on the foreground to keep the tracking, it seems.