Help "google services" using most of my battery

[rcyphermd]

Google services are listed as my biggest battery consumer, more than the screen! What can I do about that? Included Packages are contacts sync, services framework, account manager, network location and play services. Suggestions?

 

[Colchicine]

The same thing happened to me today and yesterday. I know of one other that has noticed it. The only thing I've changed about my phone is downloading the Netflix and Chromecast apps.

 

[Sandroidfan]

Is your GPS radio enabled? If so, try turning off. I noticed google service battery usage goes up with GPS on.

Also check your google map setting and if location report, history are checked, then uncheck them too if you have don't need them. That will increase battery drain through google location service.

 

[rcyphermd]

Is your GPS radio enabled? If so, try turning off. I noticed google service battery usage goes up with GPS on.

Also check your google map setting and if location report, history are checked, then uncheck them too if you have don't need them. That will increase battery drain through google location service.

My GPS was off. I unchecked the items you suggested. Thanks for the information.

 

[Podivin]

Also make sure that Location Sharing is turned off in Google+, if you have that installed.
I've seen reports that this also causes a drain reported as 'Google Services'.

 

[speedlever]

I used to leave my GPS off. I've since learned that the GPS may be safely left on and will not drain power unnecessarily, only on demand. On an older Android OS (2.3.6), I had to constantly turn off the GPS in order to help maintain battery capacity.

I suppose the trick is finding the apps and disabling location settings on those specific apps where you don't need/want constant GPS updates. (rather than turning off location services across the board).

I'm getting extremely good battery life on a stock GS4 (i337) other than Nova Prime launcher. I ended a 15+ hour day (from when I pulled it off the charger) with about 65% remaining with reasonable use yesterday. Wifi, GPS, data, most gestures and motions, etc. are all on... as is power saving mode. I made/received numerous phone calls, texts, checked weather radar (Weather Bug), created new contacts, checked email, checked my battery checking and wakelock apps, etc.

This shows about 22 hours off the charger:

 

[jamsterdm]

Same thing, Ive just turned all the location related stuff off!

 

[speedlever]

Same thing, Ive just turned all the location related stuff off!

Do you mean across the board or selectively? There are some apps that make good use of location services, but that will vary by individual usage.

 

[Colchicine]

The wife (S3) and I (S4) both downloaded the Netflix for use with Chromecast, and both had poor battery life. We've since uninstalled that app to see if it improves.

Edit: I do not think it was Netflix. Disregard.

 

[speedlever]

Interesting. I d/l Netflix and have it as an app on a home screen. It is not in the list of currently running apps. So just having it on the phone shouldn't be a battery drain issue. Do you leave it running or kill it by swiping it closed from the running app list when you're done with it?

 

[bills742]

I have the same issue with Google services draining the battery and it seems like a good number of other people are experiencing the same recently. I didn't download any new apps. I think one of the Google apps must have updated and the new update is causing unnecessary drain on some people's phones. I can't figure it out though.

 

[Colchicine]

So far today, I'm back to normal battery drawdown. 4 hours @ 91%, G Services doesn't even show up on the battery usage.

I didn't say the Netflix made sense, and I knew it was highly circumstantial. Nevertheless...

 

[jj14x]

What version of the play store do you have? Apparently, 4.1.6 had a bug that would cause play services to drain battery for some folks.

Download: Google Play Store 4.1.10 (Fixes battery drain)

I believe the current version is 4.2.9
Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.2.9 [Updated]

 

[bills742]

What version of the play store do you have? Apparently, 4.1.6 had a bug that would cause play services to drain battery for some folks.

Download: Google Play Store 4.1.10 (Fixes battery drain)

I believe the current version is 4.2.9
Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.2.9 [Updated]

I've got 4.2.9 and have drain.

 

[Colchicine]

I happened to have 4.1.6 and I successfully installed the latest version. THANKS!

 

[speedlever]

I also have 4.1.6. Hmm.

 

[Adara]

Just yesterday, Google Now cheerfully told me that, since its location services randomly keeps track of where I am, it can now estimate how much I've walked or biked of late.

It was another one of those creepy "oh, Google knows way too much about me" moments. I couldn't tell from the little pop-up card if it meant that Google's location services were keeping a closer eye on me than previously (y'know, in order to get all that good walking/biking data), or if it was just using the data it already had in a new way.

I'll be curious to see if things seem more battery drain-y.

(As a rule, I'd rather carry a spare battery then turn off occasionally-useful features. I like occasionally-useful features. Where's the fun in my shiny new S4 if I can't make it do cool stuff?)

 

[bills742]

Google services magically disappeared with no change to apps or settings. Must have been something on Google's end causing the huge drain.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sorka]

Also make sure that Location Sharing is turned off in Google+, if you have that installed.
I've seen reports that this also causes a drain reported as 'Google Services'.

I just turned this on last night and it now accounts for 60% of my battery usage. I did this because Latitude, which is far superior to the their f&^**ed up location sharing, is about to be turned off. I'm PISSED at google right now.

 

[icedtea]

What version of the play store do you have? Apparently, 4.1.6 had a bug that would cause play services to drain battery for some folks.

Download: Google Play Store 4.1.10 (Fixes battery drain)

I believe the current version is 4.2.9
Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.2.9 [Updated]

hi, is this proven? no need for the s4 to be rooted??

 

[jmt9779]

i just wanna jump in on this. i'm having the same issue. a few notes for my situation...

- i do not have "standalone GPS" turned on. i have "VZW location services" enabled as well as "wifi & mobile network location" enabled.

- google+ is installed on my phone because VZW put it there, but i do not have an account and have never signed into it.

- i do not have location sharing or google latitude either.

-i am still running google play store 4.1.6, though. i'm a little funny about installing apps not through the play store though, and i just did a quick in the play store and an update did not turn up. shady...

 

[jamsterdm]

Download: Latest Google Play Store 4.3.10 With New 'Recently Updated' Section, Combined Update Notifications, And More [Teardown]

New playstore up