Fixing GPS errors on Android

It’s worth noting that not all versions of the devices below will have the same settings referenced in this guide. Please reach out directly to us at support@alltrails.com if you have questions or concerns about a specific device setting.

If you’re experiencing GPS issues on AllTrails: blue dot isn't moving, your recorded track shows straight lines between far-apart points, or AllTrails seems to stop recording while it is backgrounded, a few quick adjustments will usually get you back up and running. Modern Android devices include a range of battery-saving features that can pause or slow down apps running in the background, and AllTrails needs a handful of those features enabled so it can record your walk and provide navigation guidance.

This guide walks you through updating those settings on your device so AllTrails can reliably record your hike, run, or ride. 

Before you start: Choose the right tracking mode

The AllTrails Android app has two tracking modes. For most use cases, the default mode is preferred. However, if you’re experiencing issues, you can toggle between the two modes anytime. To toggle the tracking mode, head to Profile > Settings > GPS tracking method. You will see two options: 

• Better Accuracy (default, recommended) — uses various location sources to determine your position. This mode is the most power-efficient, and works well for the vast majority of trails.
• Alternative — uses GPS-only data. This mode consumes more power and will drain your battery faster, but it can be more accurate in remote areas with limited sky visibility. If you consistently see accuracy issues with Better Accuracy in remote areas, this mode is worth trying.

A note on "stuck GPS": if your location freezes or stops recording the moment you lock your screen or switch to another app, that's usually a background-activity setting rather than a tracking mode issue. The steps below address that directly.

Universal steps (all Android devices)

Start here regardless of your device manufacturer.

1. Grant AllTrails "Allow only while using the app" location permission. Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Permissions > Location > Allow only while using the app. This allows AllTrails to continue receiving location updates when the app isn't on-screen.
2. Set AllTrails battery usage to Unrestricted. Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Battery > Unrestricted (or "Don't optimise"). This lets AllTrails run indefinitely while it's recording your activity, preventing it from being shut down by the operating system.
3. Turn off "Manage app if unused". Settings > Apps > AllTrails > (scroll to bottom or tap "Permissions") > uncheck Manage app if unused. This keeps your location permission active even if you go a few months between walks.
4. Keep notifications enabled for AllTrails. Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications > make sure notifications are allowed. While you're recording, AllTrails displays a persistent notification that lets your phone know tracking is actively in progress — keeping notifications on helps ensure your activity records without interruption. Specifically, make sure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled.

If you plan to use other apps or lock your phone during your activity, the manufacturer-specific steps below will help keep tracking running smoothly.

Samsung (One UI / Galaxy devices)

Samsung's One UI includes several background activity settings that work together, and a few of them need to be adjusted for AllTrails to track reliably.

1. Add AllTrails to "Never auto sleeping apps"

This will prevent your Samsung device from throttling/stopping AllTrails while it runs in the background while your device is locked.

• Settings > Battery and device care (or just Battery) > Background usage limits > Never auto sleeping apps
• Tap + (Add) > select AllTrails > Add.

Also confirm AllTrails is not listed under Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps. If it is, remove it.

2. Turn off "Put unused apps to sleep"

In the same Background usage limits screen, toggle Put unused apps to sleep OFF.

Tip: This setting can sometimes be re-enabled after firmware updates, or AllTrails can get re-added to the sleeping list automatically. If you notice tracking issues returning weeks after you thought you'd fixed them, this is a good place to check first.

3. Turn off Adaptive battery

• Settings > Battery > Background Usage Limits > 3-dot menu > Adaptive Battery > toggle Adaptive battery OFF.

Adaptive battery adjusts app behaviour based on your usage patterns, which can pause AllTrails between activities. Turning it off ensures AllTrails is always ready to track.

4. Set AllTrails battery usage to "Unrestricted"

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Battery > select Unrestricted.

5. (Android 13+) Check Alarms & Reminders permission

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Permissions > Alarms & reminders > Allow.

6. (Optional) Lock AllTrails in Recents

Open AllTrails, then open the Recent apps view. Tap the app icon at the top of the AllTrails card and select Keep open (or the padlock icon). This helps keep AllTrails in memory while you're using other apps.

7. Enable recording notifications for AllTrails

On Samsung, you may need to enable notification channels - go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > and toggle "Manage notification categories for each app".

Now, go to system Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed, and ensure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled. Note: you need to have recorded a hike in the AllTrails app at least once for these channels to appear in these settings.

OnePlus (OxygenOS)

OnePlus devices sometimes revert battery optimisation settings after firmware updates, so it's a good idea to re-check these settings occasionally — especially after a major OS update.

1. Disable battery optimisation for AllTrails

• Settings > Apps > (gear icon) > Special access > Battery optimisation > switch the dropdown to All apps > find AllTrails > Don't optimise.

2. Allow App Auto-Launch

• Settings > Apps > App Auto-Launch (or Startup manager on some models) > make sure AllTrails is allowed to auto-launch.

3. Turn off Deep/Advanced optimisation

• Settings > Battery > Battery optimisation > ⋮ (three-dot menu) > Advanced optimisation
• Turn off Deep optimisation (also called Adaptive Battery on newer OnePlus devices)
• Turn off Sleep standby optimisation

4. Lock AllTrails in Recents

• Open AllTrails > open Recent apps > long-press anywhere on the AllTrails card > tap the Lock (padlock) icon in the upper-right corner.

Locking the app in Recents is the most reliable way to keep your battery settings for AllTrails in place. When the setting is locked, you'll see a closed padlock icon on the card.

5. Check Recent apps clearing behaviour

On some OnePlus devices, swiping an app away in Recents fully closes it, which stops tracking. If you typically swipe away recent apps out of habit, consider locking AllTrails (step 4 above) or leaving it untouched in Recents while an activity is recording.

6. Enable recording notifications for AllTrails

Go to system Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed. Specifically, make sure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled.

Huawei (EMUI / HarmonyOS)

Huawei devices include several background activity controls. The exact path varies by EMUI version, but the core steps are similar.

1. Set App launch to "Manage manually"

This is the most important setting on Huawei devices.

• Settings > Battery > App launch > find AllTrails
• Turn OFF Manage automatically
• In the dialog that appears, enable all three: Auto-launch, Secondary launch, and Run in background.

2. Allow AllTrails through battery optimisation

• Settings > search for Battery optimisation (or Ignore battery optimisations)
• Tap the dropdown > All apps > AllTrails > Don't allow (which, in Huawei's terms, means "don't restrict").

3. Add AllTrails to Protected apps (EMUI 6 and newer)

• Settings > Advanced Settings > Battery manager > Protected apps (called Launch on some models) > enable AllTrails.

4. App-level battery settings

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Battery
• Uncheck Power-intensive prompt
• Check Keep running after screen off

5. (EMUI 9+, if applicable) Check for PowerGenie

Some Huawei devices running EMUI 9 and later include a built-in background management service called PowerGenie that limits which apps can run in the background to a pre-defined list. If AllTrails still experiences tracking interruptions on a newer Huawei device after completing the steps above, PowerGenie may be the reason.

Adjusting PowerGenie is an advanced step and typically requires ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer. Because the exact process varies by device, we recommend searching for a current guide specific to your model before attempting it. As a simpler alternative, you can try disabling PowerGenie in Settings > Apps, though this may need to be redone after each reboot.

6. Check Startup manager

• Settings > search for Startup manager > ensure AllTrails is enabled.

7. Enable recording notifications for AllTrails

Go to system Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed. Specifically, make sure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled.

Motorola

Motorola devices run close to stock Android but have a few custom battery features — and one of the most important settings (Unrestricted battery usage) is tucked behind an extra tap that's easy to miss.

1. Set AllTrails battery usage to Unrestricted (two-tap path)

On newer Motorola devices, the "Unrestricted" option is hidden one level deeper than on most other manufacturers.

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > App battery usage
• Make sure Allow background activity is toggled ON
• Then tap the row itself (not just the toggle) to open the hidden menu
• Select Unrestricted

2. Turn off Adaptive battery

• Settings > Battery > toggle Adaptive battery OFF.

Adaptive battery on Motorola can be more aggressive than it sounds — the "infrequently used apps" criteria often includes apps like AllTrails that you might only use on weekends.

3. Remove background activity restrictions

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Advanced > Battery > Background restriction (or Background limits)
• If it says Background activity restricted, tap it and select Remove.

4. Check "Managing background apps"

This setting is hidden from the main Settings layout and only surfaces through search.

• Open Settings > tap the search bar at the top > type managing background apps
• Open the result and make sure AllTrails is toggled to allow background activity.

5. (If applicable) Turn off Battery Care's "Improve battery while inactive"

Some newer Motorola devices include a Battery Care feature that uses AI to decide when to pause apps. It can continue to restrict apps even after being turned off in settings.

• Settings > Battery > turn off Improve battery while inactive.

7. Enable recording notifications for AllTrails

Go to system Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed. Specifically, make sure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled.

Google Pixel and stock Android

Pixel and stock Android devices generally have fewer background restrictions to adjust, but there are still a couple of settings that commonly affect tracking.

1. Set AllTrails battery usage to Unrestricted

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > App battery usage (or Battery) > Unrestricted.

2. Make sure Background restrictions is OFF

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > App battery usage > confirm Background restricted is not enabled.

If this is on, AllTrails won't be able to record while your screen is locked. This option is sometimes enabled accidentally, so it's worth double-checking.

3. "Allow only while using the app" location permission

• Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Permissions > Location > Allow only while using the app.

4. Enable recording notifications for AllTrails

Go to system Settings > Apps > AllTrails > Notifications. Make sure notifications are allowed. Specifically, make sure the "AllTrails Activities" and "AllTrails Navigator" channels are both enabled.

Still having issues?

If you've worked through the steps for your manufacturer and you're still seeing tracking issues:

• Try switching tracking modes — if you're on Better Accuracy, try Alternative (GPS-only), or vice versa. Alternative mode uses more battery but relies only on GPS.
• Check that Location Services is on at the system level and set to High accuracy mode.
• Restart your phone before your next activity. Some settings only take full effect after a reboot.
• Contact AllTrails support with your device model, Android version, and tracking mode. The more specific you can be about when the issue happened (e.g., "after locking my screen," "after opening another app," "after 30 minutes of recording"), the faster we can help narrow it down.
• Send us a log file as soon as you experience the problem. Just go to Profile > Settings > "Send a log file" and send to android-support@alltrails.com.

Quick reference: Settings by manufacturer