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GPS tracking stops when Pacer is in background (Android)

Pacer Support

When you start an outdoor activity in Pacer, the app uses your phone’s GPS to log your route and distance.  On many Android phones power‑saving settings put apps to sleep when the screen is off and can shut down GPS tracking.  Some manufacturers also restrict apps running in the background.  This can cause your walk or run to stop recording as soon as Pacer isn’t on screen.

 

Why this happens

  • Aggressive battery saving:  Many Android versions include features such as Adaptive battery, Doze, Background usage limits and Put unused apps to sleep that automatically kill apps running in the background.  These restrictions can cause GPS to stop updating while Pacer is minimized. 
  • Battery optimization/Power saving mode:  Phone manufacturers sometimes put location‑tracking apps into a deep sleep to conserve power, which shuts off GPS when the screen is locked. 
  • Location permission:  Newer Android versions require the app to have location permission set to Allow all the time; “While using the app” may prevent Pacer from tracking when the phone is locked.

 

Step‑by‑step fix

The steps below should prevent Android from shutting Pacer off while you track an activity.  The names of menus may differ slightly on different devices.

 

  1. Allow Pacer to always access location

    1. Press and hold the Pacer app icon and tap App info (or go to Settings → Apps → Pacer). 

    2. Tap Permissions → Location and set it to Allow all the time.  Allowing location “only while using the app” isn’t enough for GPS tracking when the screen is off.

  2. Turn off battery optimization for Pacer

    Battery optimization can put Pacer to sleep when it runs in the background.  Exempting the app keeps GPS active.

    • Android 12 and later – Long‑press the Pacer app icon → App info → Battery → select Unrestricted.  This prevents the operating system from throttling background GPS. 

    • Android 11 and earlier – Long‑press the Pacer app icon → App info → Battery → Optimize Battery Usage → change the drop‑down from Apps Not Optimized to All and toggle Pacer off.  This removes Pacer from battery optimization.

  3. Remove Pacer from “Sleeping apps” lists (Samsung and similar devices)

    Some phones (especially Samsung) automatically put unused apps into “Sleeping” or “Deep sleeping” lists, which stops GPS updates.  Remove Pacer from these lists:

    1. Open Settings → Battery and Device care → Battery → Background Usage Limits. 

    2. Turn off Put unused apps to sleep. 

    3. Under Sleeping apps and Deep sleeping apps, remove Pacer. 

    4. Add Pacer to Apps that won’t be put to sleep (sometimes called Never sleeping apps) so it can run uninterrupted in the background.

  4. Set Pacer’s battery usage to “Unrestricted”

    If your device has a battery usage setting for each app, set Pacer to Unrestricted or Don’t optimize:

    1. Go to Settings → Apps → Pacer → Battery. 

    2. Choose Unrestricted (or Don’t Optimize) so that the system doesn’t limit Pacer’s background activity.

  5. Turn off global power‑saving modes during tracking

    On some devices, enabling Power saving mode, Battery saver or Adaptive battery will throttle or disable GPS in all apps.  Before tracking, turn off these modes: open Settings → Battery and ensure Power saving or Battery saver is switched off.

  6. Brand‑specific settings (Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.)

    Manufacturers often hide extra battery‑saving features in different menus.  Examples include:

    • Huawei / Honor: Settings → Apps → Advanced → Ignore optimisations → All apps → Pacer → Allow. 

    • Xiaomi / Redmi / MIUI: Settings → Additional Settings → Battery & performance → Manage apps’ battery usage → Pacer → Don’t restrict.  Make sure Location is set to High accuracy and allow location access. 

    • OnePlus / OPPO / vivo: Settings → Battery → Battery optimization → All apps → Pacer → Don’t optimize. 

    • Sony, LG, Motorola and other brands: look for Battery optimization, Power saving or Memory cleanup settings and add Pacer to the list of exceptions.  See dontkillmyapp.com for screenshots and instructions for specific models.

 

Final check

After making these changes:

  • Start an outdoor activity in Pacer. 
  • Lock your phone screen and keep Pacer running in the background. 
  • Check periodically that the GPS icon remains visible and that distance/time continue to update.

 

If GPS still stops when Pacer runs in the background, confirm that the battery optimization settings did not reset after an Android update (this can happen automatically ).  You can also revoke and re‑grant location permission and restart your phone.

 

With these adjustments, Pacer should stay alive in the background and record your full route without interruption.  If problems persist, please contact Pacer Support with your device model and Android version.