Do Location Tracking Apps Drain Mobile Battery? 

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Published Date: March 16, 2024

Do Location Tracking Apps Drain Mobile Battery?

Do Location Tracking Apps Drain Mobile Battery? 

These days, mobile phones are an indispensable part of our everyday life. They make it easier for people to find their way around in new places, provide us prompt notification based on where we are, and even automate home systems when we get home or leave. These functions frequently depend on GPS and location-tracking apps. Nevertheless, a lot of employees have observed that their smartphone batteries seem to run out more rapidly as longer they rely on these functions. Organizations ought to think about efficient methods and guidance when it comes to staff GPS tracking and battery longevity in order to maintain battery power conservation with monitoring.


What Is A GPS/Location Tracking App?

Applications that utilize the GPS technology encompassed on mobile devices are known as location-tracking apps. Apps are able to locate people anywhere on the earth simply through GPS signals. The advancement of technology has made it possible for people to achieve absolute precision in geolocation with location-monitoring apps. 


Whether it’s for managing the business shipment, monitoring field staff, locating a missing product, or even ensuring the safety of loved ones, these applications provide people with real-time data and a feeling of safety. Apps for location tracking make use of multiple methods to determine and track the whereabouts of a device, usually a tablet or smartphone.


Why GPS/Location Tracking Apps Are Important In Business?

Have you ever thought about how last-mile delivery companies or taxi services would operate in the absence of a GPS tracker? Location tracking is becoming a standard procedure for companies all around the world. Businesses that use mobile workforce have workers dispersed throughout the globe. Because of this, location monitoring, or geo-tracking, has grown necessary—despite being rather intrusive—to guarantee worker efficiency and security.


Businesses are finding themselves with fewer ways of acquiring control over their employees due to the rapid changes in business practices. Despite being viewed as a breach of privacy in the past, geo-tracking is being employed by many companies globally to increase transparency among employees. Location tracking apps are a vital tool since they give businesses the ability to do more than monitor staff actions.


Furthermore, employees are more likely to get around cautiously, adhere to speed constraints, and choose the quickest routes when they know they are being tracked. Companies can use data like vehicle time, distance travelled, speed, and idle times with built-in field staff timesheets to monitor employee performance.

Do Location Tracking Apps Drain Mobile Battery?

Their worries aren’t entirely unjustified. It has been demonstrated that location-tracking applications use battery power all day long. The tool employs an amalgamation of GPS, Wi-Fi, and phone networks to identify and update the exact location when the location data is activated. The increased power needed to access these services impacts the mobile device’s battery life. 


Location tracking applications employ satellites to identify an employee’s location, which is slower than optic fibers. Despite the fact that the employee’s screen is turned off, their mobile device remains operational and consumes battery life throughout this period. That is, the more time it takes to identify and update a current position, the more energy the app will consume in order to accomplish its duty. GPS apps must update employees’ whereabouts on a regular basis because they track them constantly. Although regular location checks maintain a precise, up-to-date status on the map, they can drain batteries.


Why Location Tracking Apps Drain The Battery On The Mobile Devices?

  • Continuous GPS Usage: Location tracking necessitates continual contact with satellites, which drains battery life. The app is continually receiving location updates, which causes the battery to deplete more quickly. 
  • Background Operations: GPS and location apps frequently operate in the background, monitoring and updating location information even when not in use. This continual operation in the background adds to battery consumption over time. 
  • Data Transmission: Location tracking applications often send geolocation information to databases for real-time monitoring. This data transfer technique uses more battery power, particularly via mobile connections like Wi-Fi.
  • High-Frequency Scanning: For a mobile device to reliably determine its location, it must be in continual contact with a minimum of two to four GPS satellites. This two-way interaction occurs numerous times each second and requires significant processing power as well as energy.
  • Visual Data: When utilizing GPS, the screen must typically be on for a longer amount of time, particularly during travel. The screen is one of the greatest power-driven parts of a mobile device.

Tips To Save Battery Life With A Location Tracking App


Run Apps In The Background

When searching for location-tracking applications, make sure you select one that can operate in the background while still providing reliable tracking information. In this manner, the GPS-dependent app won’t use up the battery while performing its activities.


Setting Up The Right Configuration

Depending on business requirements, you can modify the tracking period or update frequency. Extended intervals and less frequent updates can help improve the battery’s lifespan. Also, disable any superfluous settings or notifications that may waste extra power.


Update Apps Regularly

There are numerous reasons why apps should be updated regularly. It will not just improve security but will also aid in improving the battery life. With each successive update, vendors enhance their products and address security problems. Part of this upgrade is to increase the app’s functionality while also optimizing storage and mobile battery power. 


Choose Which Apps Can Access Your Location

Many think that GPS drains an enormous amount of battery life, however when properly handled, even location-tracking apps consume minimal amounts of battery. For instance, where feasible, limit the screen time while utilizing apps to find a location. 


Enable Battery Saving Mode

The majority of smartphones offer a power-saving mode that may be used either manually or automatically to help retain battery life. This is accomplished by closing unnecessary background programs, disabling notifications, and lowering the screen intensity. 


Minimize Screen Brightness

Current screens are more effective, bigger, and more potent, but they additionally drain the battery faster when turned on. Lowering screen brightness may substantially improve battery life. The ideal brightness for the eyes is frequently less than what is set automatically by the device. Another wonderful option for minimizing screen consumption is to enable auto-lock, which switches off the screen following a few minutes of idleness. 

Backup Charging Options

When employees operate remotely or in the field for a prolonged amount of time, backup recharging solutions can help ensure continuous GPS tracking. Give portable power banks or vehicle chargers to staff who regularly work or travel outside of the workplace. To address battery depletion issues, think about investing in devices with better battery power or changeable batteries. 


Conclusion

Location-tracking apps are crucial tools that offer a variety of beneficial functions, including routing and automation. However, the application comes at a cost: quick battery drain. While changes are being implemented to maximize battery consumption for these services, identifying the causes of power depletion will help businesses make more informed decisions about whether to utilize them.


Lastly, know that things are going to keep getting better. When employees monitor the battery consumption over time, they’ll discover that switching on GPS tracking has absolutely no effect on their battery life. Until then, choose a location-tracking software that uses as minimal battery power as feasible to deliver the most precise location details. 


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