Android hourly location updates inconsistent when devices are idleSolved

Participant
Discussion
12 hours ago Jul 30, 2026

We have a location tracking policy configured to collect device location every hour. The same shared policy is applied to both iOS and Android devices. iOS devices seem to report location every hour as expected, but Android devices are inconsistent. Some Android devices update 3–5 times a day, while others can go a couple of days without a new location update.

If I use Scan Device Location from the dashboard, the Android device reports its location immediately. The Android test device has mostly been sitting idle on a desk. The Hexnode app is running, battery saver is disabled, and I expected it to use GPS or Wi-Fi-based location. Is this expected behavior on Android, or is something wrong with the policy?

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Hexnode Expert
8 hours ago Jul 30, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review

This behavior is generally expected when the Android device is stationary or idle.

The hourly interval in the location tracking policy does not always mean the device will generate and upload a fresh GPS/location point every hour regardless of its state. On Android, when a device remains still for a long time, the OS can enter power-saving or deep sleep behavior that restricts background activity. Hexnode also avoids uploading duplicate location data when there is no meaningful coordinate change, which helps reduce battery usage and network traffic.

That is why you may see the following behavior:

– Manual Scan Device Location works because it actively requests the current location.

– Automatic location history may appear inconsistent if the Android device is idle and not physically moving.

– Disabling battery saver does not always override Android’s OS-level background and location optimizations.

– Wi-Fi or network-based location can help determine location, but it does not necessarily force a new upload if the device has not moved.

To validate the policy, test with an Android device that is actively moving. Location reporting should resume when the device detects movement or a meaningful change in coordinates.

Regards,
Mary Romero

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