Memory-Map for All is designed to record a tracklog showing in detail where you have been. By default, this will operate in the background, while the device is turned off, or while you are using another app. However, on Android you may have to adjust your system settings to enable background recording.
If you find that the app is not recording a detailed track in the background, here are some things to check:
- In the Memory-Map for All Overlays menu, tap "Record Track" to start track recording. The menu command changes to "Stop Recording" when recording is active. Remember to tap "Stop Logging" when you finish your track.
- Tap Menu, Settings, GPS Settings, and enable "Record Track in Background"
- Use the "Home" button or gesture (swipe up twice from the bottom of the screen) if you want to switch to another app. Don't use the "Back" button or gesture (swipe from the side of the screen). Using "Back" instead of "Home" will close down the app and stop the track recording. It is ok use the power button to turn off the screen, or just let it time-out.
- While Memory-Map for All is running in the background, it must be able to display a small notification icon at the top left of the screen. Use the Home button or gesture and check that the notification is visible. If you disable this notification, then Memory-Map won't run in the background and won't record your track. Go to the Android settings app > Apps > Memory-Map for All > Notifications. "All notifications" must be enabled and under Other, "Memory-Map Service" must be enabled.
- Also in Android settings app > Apps > Memory-Map for All, look under Permissions > Location. There should be three location permission options. The correct option is "Allow only while using the app". There is no "Allow all the time" option. The permissions are not intuitive, but as long as the notification is displayed, then android considers the app to be "in use". Technically, the app is running a "foreground service", which means it is showing a notification, even while another app or home screen is on the display. The "Allow all the time" option is now only for apps that use the location service without giving the user any indication that their position is being monitored, and Google does not permit apps to do that.
- Look in Android settings app > Battery. You will find different battery options depending on the manufacturer and age of your device. Phone makers compete on battery life and they try to maximize the battery life using proprietary methods to shut down things that run in the background. There is no standardization. If there is something called "Battery Saver", turn it off, or ensure the battery is sufficiently charged to ensure the phone is not in battery saver mode.
- Also in the Battery options, you might find "Adaptive Battery". Turn this off if you want background recording and notifications to work reliably.
- On Samsung devices, there are several power-saving schemes that may be preventing background track recording.
- In the Battery settings, under Power Saving, turn off "Limit Apps and Home screen".
- Under "Background Usage Limits", turn off "Put unused apps to sleep"
- Add Memory-Map for All to the list of "Never auto sleeping apps", or "Unmonitored apps"
- Ensure Memory-Map for All is not in the "Deep sleeping apps" list
- Is the battery charged? If the battery is below 20% Android will start shutting down apps to save power. You may be able to extend the recording time if you set up an exeption or mark Memory-Map for All as an "Essential" app, but since the GPS uses quite a bit of power, it is the first piece of hardware the operating system will shut down to save power.
- Is the storage full? Memory-Map for All cannot save your tracklog data if there is limited space available. Most people take photos and video and don't ever clean up, but this will cause problems for Memory-Map for All eventually. The operating system will reserve a lot of space for "essential" tasks, so it is best to keep, say, less than 75% full at most.
- Too many overlays? Memory-Map for All holds all the overlay data in RAM and writes it all back to storage when you close the app. The operating system only gives the app a very limited amount of time to complete and if you have too many overlays, the operating system can force-close the app while it is writing.