Help Samsung Galaxy S2 & Ice Cream Sandwich

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

Since upgrading to ICS with my Galaxy S2, one of the changes is you can no longer disable "data background services".

When I bought my phone a couple of months ago I was told in the o2 shop to disable data background services to enhance the battery life. I did this and the battery lasted really well as I only enabled the service when I needed to.

This facility has now gone and I am finding my battery life really quite poor.

I don't use the mobile network for internet as have wifi at home and work so my phone is connected to that. I notice it must be doing things in the background as I get alerts for Facebook, Twitter etc so I presume it is working hard in the background and that is what using the battery.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can improve the battery life.

It is really annoying that this has gone with the upgrade as it certainly made a big difference.

Thanks

Forbidden 403 · Apr 19, 2012

I am sorry but the option to disable data services has not been removed in ICS.

Did you check the power button long press menu?

If it is not there. Try here:
Settings -> More -> Mobile networks -> Use packet data

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

Forbidden 403

I don't have mobile package data switched on so so when I press the power switch Date Network mode shows "Data network deactivated" so I cannot disable it.

How can I stop updating Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc without having to disconnect from wifi?

Milkerman I am sorry I don't understand your post :thinking:

Forbidden 403 · Apr 19, 2012

aah I think I had misread/misunderstood your original post.

You just want that the apps do not attempt to update automatically and only update when you are on wifi or using the app. Am I right now?

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

Yes thanks. I don't need FB, twitter updates on my phone so if I can find a way to disable this that would be great thanks. I am assumign this is what is maybe draining the battery?

Forbidden 403 · Apr 19, 2012

Why don't you just uninstall those apps or unlink your accounts from them? If there are no accounts on the apps it won't sync in the background.

sntaylor · Apr 19, 2012

When in data usage, press the options (soft keys bottom left), there is an option to restrict background data...this will maybe be of some help, I hope

evohicks · Apr 19, 2012

How about going to 'accounts and sync' in settings and at the top you can slide the slider right to on and left to off, this looks like it works like auto sync when turned on.

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

sntaylor, thanks. Just tried that but get a message saying restricting background data is possible only when you have set a mobile data limit?

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

evohicks, thanks it is already set to off?

Forbidden 403 · Apr 19, 2012

evohicks said:
How about going to 'accounts and sync' in settings and at the top you can slide the slider right to on and left to off, this looks like it works like auto sync when turned on.

If you do this then even the google account won't sync.
Instead in this same screen you can check/uncheck which accounts to sync.
Just remove the social networking sites you do not wish to sync with.

Forbidden 403 · Apr 19, 2012

c2lass said:
evohicks, thanks it is already set to off?

If it's already set to off then nothing is syncing in the background buddy, you are set

Nothing more to do.

c2lass · Apr 19, 2012

Thanks all for the help and replies. However one last question. If my sync is set to off (which it has been since I upgraded to ICS) how come I am getting notifications for new facebook messages and twitter mentions?

evohicks · Apr 19, 2012

c2lass said:
Thanks all for the help and replies. However one last question. If my sync is set to off (which it has been since I upgraded to ICS) how come I am getting notifications for new facebook messages and twitter mentions?

Maybe it checks for messages when you open the app concerned?

sntaylor · Apr 19, 2012

c2lass said:
sntaylor, thanks. Just tried that but get a message saying restricting background data is possible only when you have set a mobile data limit?

have you tried to set a limit? My contacted allowance with o2 is 500mbs, so I have my limit set at 400mbs between the 19th of each month and the 18th of the next (contracted months!)

Or have I missed the point completely? Lol

sntaylor · Apr 19, 2012

Sorry I kinda did miss the point, you want it to stop doing things in the background even when using the wifi to do it..... Sorry, will have a play about to see if I can help though.lol

Russell Ng · Apr 20, 2012

Not sure if this helps, but I had Onavo last time and it had the option to restrict any apps data use. For example preventing it from connecting or only connect when wifi available. Am sure there are alternatives besides Onavo if you don't like those.

Cheers

chillibean · Apr 20, 2012

Settings, data usage, settings. Option to turn off there or on data usage screen you can turn off mobile data

c2lass · Apr 20, 2012

Thanks for the replies but just to re-iterate I do not have mobile data switched on as I don't need it at home or at work as I connect to wifi, so my mobile data network has/is switched to off

Russell Ng · Apr 21, 2012

You mentioned getting notification for facebook and twitter. If you already off data, then you should be only getting notification when connected via wifi. Don't make sense otherwise.

I think most people take it as you want to ensure data is off and from what is read, it doesn't seem to be. After all, you mentioned that ICS no longer have the option to disable background services in the first post. Anyway, just make sure the data is off. And the full proof method I know is to long press power button to get that option.

As for general battery life, I hear it takes a couple of weeks before it shows some improvement.

Cheers

Taza · May 3, 2012

Since upgrading my Samsung galaxy s2 to ICE i now get prompts asking if i want to continue and clearly i do. Eg if i hold power button down and select sound to off it confirms if i want to. Never had this issue with gingerbread 2.3.6

Cheers
Taza

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